DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS

DEPARTMENT OF DISABILITY SERVICES

December 20, 2016

RE: Kara Thomas

To Whom It May Concern:

Kara Thomas served as a volunteer peer note-taker for Disability Services at Texas A&M University in
the Fall 2016 semester. As a peer note-taker, Kara provided a critical service to our office and students
with disabilities at the University. Volunteer note-takers demonstrate many of the Aggie core values
such as respect, selfless service, and leadership by supporting their peers and helping to provide an
accessible and inclusive learning experience for all Aggies.
Kara was selected after being among the first to respond to a request for volunteer note-takers.
Volunteering, however, is only the first step as Kara continued to engage and share notes throughout
the semester. To be a successful note-taker, the volunteer must be present for class, take clear legible
notes, and upload them to our digital sharing platform in a timely manner. Our department made
several changes as we improved the peer note-taker system during the semester, and Kara continued to
work with us through the evolving process to provide this valuable service.
Disability Services began managing volunteer peer note-takers directly in Fall 2016. The volunteer
note-taker service has allowed this new endeavor to successfully improve access to notes for students
with disabilities. Disability Services places great value on our collaborations with individuals across
the campus community, such as Kara, that help make Aggieland a welcoming and inclusive
environment for students with disabilities. We express our sincerest gratitude for these services that
Kara provided throughout the Fall 2016 semester.

Sincerely,

Kristie Orr, Ph.D.

Director

1224 TAMU | College Station, TX 77843-1224

Tel. 979.845.1637 (v/tty) | Fax 979.458.1214 | disability@tamu.edu | http://disability.tamu.edu