Lydia reminds you that a tape recorder during lectures is one of her accommodations. Although you see the utility of this accommodation, and have no clear personal reason why you should not provide the accommodation, you have heard other instructors say that they do not allow tape recorders in their lectures because they infringe upon their "academic freedom" and/or "copyright."
Some instructors believe using tape recorders is tantamount to cheating because they know the students are sharing the tapes not only with students who are not attending classes but also with online "notes" services that are not sponsored by the college. You decide to do some checking and inquire with your DSS office as well as several journals including "Disability Compliance in Higher Education." What do you expect to find?
Answer: Tape recorders are allowed, both through OCR letters of finding and in the Section 504 regulation itself. In Section 504, Subpart E, 104.44, tape recorders are specifically mentioned in the following manner:
"§ 104.44 Academic adjustments.…
(b) Other rules. A recipient to which this subpart applies may not impose upon handicapped students other rules, such as the prohibition of tape recorders in classrooms or of dog guides in campus buildings, that have the effect of limiting the participation of handicapped students in the recipient's education program or activity."
