About
Digital note-taking tools are software applications that assist employees in organising, recording, and retrieving information quickly and efficiently. These tools can be particularly beneficial for employees with health conditions that impact their memory, focus, or cognitive processing abilities.
Digital note-taking is also a helpful accommodation for people with physical disabilities or chronic illnesses because it reduces physical strain, especially for those who have difficulty writing due to pain, fatigue, or limited mobility.
Tools like typing, voice-to-text, and customisable displays make note-taking more accessible and less physically demanding. Digital notes can also sync across devices, making it easier to keep up with tasks from anywhere, and they eliminate the need to carry heavy materials. Plus, digital organisation and automatic backups help prevent the loss of important information during health flare-ups or hospital visits.
By using digital note-taking apps like OneNote or Evernote, employees can capture meeting notes, reminders, task lists, and ideas in real-time, ensuring that they don’t forget important information and reducing the mental load of remembering details.
Digital note-taking tools provide an affordable and effective accommodation for employees with disabilities, helping them manage memory, recall, physical and cognitive challenges in the workplace. These tools offer flexibility, structure, and ease of access, ensuring that employees have the support they need to stay organised and focused on their tasks.
By implementing digital note-taking tools, employers can help employees reduce stress, improve job performance, and foster a more inclusive and supportive workplace.
Costs and Funding
The cost of digital note-taking tools is relatively low, and many platforms offer free versions that are suitable for most workplace needs. However, some features or advanced versions may require a subscription or one-time purchase.
OneNote and Evernote
- OneNote: Available as part of Microsoft 365, which may already be used by the organisation. A free version is available with basic features, while the premium version costs about $7.00 per month as part of the Microsoft 365 subscription.
- Evernote: Offers a free version with limited features, such as 60MB of uploads per month. The premium version costs approximately $9.99 per month, which includes advanced features like offline access, larger upload capacity, and better organisation tools.
Additional Costs
If employees need devices like tablets, smartphones, or laptops for accessing these tools, there may be additional costs. However, many employees already use such devices as part of their work, meaning there may be no need for additional purchases.
For companies offering full access to digital note-taking tools, the cost of the subscription or licensing for software (e.g., Microsoft 365 or Evernote Premium) would be incurred, typically between $70 to $100 per employee annually.
Related Accommodations
Help Us Improve the Knowledge Hub
This Knowledge Hub is a living library that relies on community feedback to stay current, accurate, and effective for everyone. We welcome all submissions, whether you've spotted an error, have an improvement idea, or want to suggest a new topic.
Report an Inaccuracy
Help us correct outdated information, broken links, or any factual errors you find.
Suggest an Improvement
Suggest an improvement to make an existing profile or resource much clearer.