SAC First in Texas to Pilot Jamworks Software for Students with Disabilities

San Antonio College has launched a groundbreaking pilot program this fall, becoming the first higher education institution in Texas to roll out Jamworks, an innovative note-taking and transcription software designed to support students with disabilities.

The program, which began in August, provides free access to more than 21,000 licenses for SAC students, faculty, and staff. Jamworks uses artificial intelligence to record lectures, generate outlines, and highlight key terms. The software can reformat complex math and science content, build practice quizzes, and even translate notes into multiple languages.

Transforming Accessibility at SAC
Traditionally, students who are deaf or hard of hearing relied on either an interpreter or a transcription service – but not both, due to cost. Jamworks bridges that gap by offering certified transcription, allowing students to fully engage with interpreters in class while still receiving accurate lecture notes.

This gives students the ability to participate without juggling between watching an interpreter and scrambling to take notes,” said Student Accessibility Services Director Benjamin Romo. “It levels the playing field so they can focus on learning.”

The software is also proving transformative for students who are blind, those with learning or cognitive disabilities, and others who struggle with note-taking. Romo said that one student who is blind described the difference as “life-changing,” no longer needing to replay unclear audio recordings repeatedly to memorize lectures.

From Pilot to Universal Design
The college discovered Jamworks at the national technology conference Assistive Technology Industry Association: ATIA and has been working with the company since January 2025 to prepare for launch. After clearing Texas Risk and Authorization Management Program (TX-RAMP), SAC began loading students into the platform in late August.

While the initial rollout prioritizes students registered with Student Accessibility Services, SAC is also piloting Jamworks with entire cohorts of students enrolled in Dual Credit, GED Programs, Adult Learners and in disciplines like Natural Sciences, Mathematics, Engineering, and Computer Information Systems,  and Languages and Philosophy The college is working with academic leadership to grant licenses to instructors so they can learn how the software works and better support students. This broader test will measure whether the tool boosts retention, persistence, and completion rates across the general student population.

“Ultimately, our goal is universal design – making learning more accessible for everyone,” Romo said. “If the pilot continues to prove successful, this could become a standard tool for all students, not just those with accommodations.”

Expanding Impact Across Alamo Colleges
Through SAC’s interpreter services manager Jo Hilton, Jamworks is also being made available to deaf and hard of hearing students across the entire Alamo Colleges District. Instructors and administrators are testing the software as well, ensuring they understand the student experience firsthand.

Early adoption has already shown promise. Faculty are integrating Jamworks into coursework, students are exploring self-quizzing features, and English language learners are discovering translation tools that help bridge comprehension gaps.

“This is more than just note-taking,” Romo said. “It’s about reducing the additional effort students with disabilities often face and giving them the same opportunities as every other student. That’s what makes this so exciting, the ability to learn while actively participating in class without scrambling to take written notes, which may or may not be helpful depending on the quality of note-taking skills.

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