Disability Resource Centre (DRC)

Recording lectures

Please contact the DRC if you have a disability and need to record lectures

The University of Cambridge wishes to make every effort to assist disabled students with specific learning requirements and, to this end, such students may record lectures provided they agree to comply with the procedures outlined below.

Adherence to these procedures will ensure that the University is able to make a reasonable adjustment under the terms of the Disability Discrimination Act in respect of providing equal treatment and equal access to educational opportunity for all students regardless of any disability, whilst respecting matters of intellectual property and copyright.

The recording of lectures is generally considered to be a "reasonable adjustment" under the Disability Discrimination Act (1995, 2005), and the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (SENDA 2001), for those students who are unable otherwise to take handwritten notes because of the nature of any disability.

If there are particular reasons why you find it difficult or impossible to take lecture notes (for example, because of: a visual impairment, dyslexia, dyspraxia, mobility impairments, you are deaf or have a hearing impairment, or the effects of medication or fatigue) and therefore you need to record oral lectures you must follow the following procedures:

  1. Inform the Disability Resource Centre of your particular needs. This will assist the University in making an appropriate adjustment to improve your learning experience and will also help the University to facilitate the recording of lectures.
  2. Make it clear whether you are happy for Lecturers to be told why you are recording lectures in order to help them meet your learning needs, or alternatively, whether you wish those reasons to remain confidential.
  3. You should confirm that you understand that the Lecturer will be told that the lecture is being recorded, but that the Lecturer will not be told the specific reason for this, or your name, unless you have given permission.
  4. These procedures form part of the learning agreement between you and the University and must be adhered to by all students.