Beyond Assistive Technology

Kate Todd

Texas Library Association

April 2014

Agenda for program today

Identify patrons with disabilities.

How are you helping patrons with disabilities?

Group discussion of real world scenario.

Develop a plan for improving services.

Does this person have a disability?

Is there a disability in this picture?

Does this person have a disability?

Does this person have a disability?

Does this person have a disability?

List how your library serves people with disabilities?

1. Physical space

2. Collections

3. Communications

4. Staff Development

5. Programming

6. Partnership

Examples of physical space accommodations

1. Ramps

2. Elevators

3. Unobstructed Aisles

4. Shelf height

5. Accessible bathrooms

6. Signage

Resources for evaluating physical spaceIFLA checklist

Institute for Human Centered Design

http://archive.ifla.org/VII/s9/nd1/iflapr-89e.pdf http://www.devihcdesign.org/universal-design

Department of Justice Standards

http://www.ada.gov

Examples of ways collections assist people with disabilities

1. Formats: large print, audio books, closed captioned films, Braille

2. Fiction, biography, films that portray people who have disabilities

3. Medical collections

4. Reading lists

Communication Etiquette People with a disability often visit

the library with a companion

Always speak directly to the patron,

not the companion

Use a normal voice level

Do not finish their sentences

It is all right to say you did not

understand

Ask questions that can be answered

by Yes or No

Be patient and flexible

People First Language

Put the person first, then a

disability if it is relevant to the

occasion

Do not use the disability to

define a person

Focus on what a person is able

to do rather than inability

Do not use “normal” to refer to

people without disabilities

Avoid negative descriptors like

“suffers from” or “afflicted by”

Alternative CommunicationSome individuals who have a disability use alternative modes of communication to supplement or replaces oral speech, and the reading and writing based on oral language.

American Sign Language (ASL) Braille

Picture Communication Systems

Special Fonts

ASL Fingerspelling Font

http://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-layout/gallaudettruetypefont.htm

Fonts for Dyslexia

http://opendyslexic.org/

http://www.dyslexiefont.com

Scenario for group discussion

Loudoun mother files ADA complaint over library incident

The Washington Post, May 10, 2013

http://bit.ly/libraryADA

Discussion Questions

1. What are the facts of this story?2. How did the mother and daughter react? 3. How did other members of the public react?4. How did the library staff react?5. Have you had a situation similar to this at your

library? Describe what happened.6. If this had been your library, what might you

have done?7. Are there library policies that would support your

plan of action?8. Have you attended training about handling

difficult situations like this?

Dealing with Meltdowns

Meltdowns involve anger or aggression in response to a trigger event.

Give the person space. Move other people to a safe distance.

Remove the trigger event, if possible.

Give short verbal, concrete directions.

Add nonverbal prompts that are not threatening.

Respond consistently.

Meltdowns generally last less than ten minutes.

Examples of Programs Sensory Story Time or Film Program

Book discussions (Next Chapter Book Club)

Apps for people with disabilities

Described and captioned film programs

Read to therapy dogs

Sensory Story Times

Book Discussions

http://chaptersahead.org/what-we-do/next-chapter-book-club/

Apps for people with Disabilities

Described and Captioned Films

http://www.dcmp.org/about-dcmp

Read to Therapy Dogs

http://austindogalliance.org/pet-therapy/bow-wow-reading-dogs/

Some valuable partnerships

Schools/Special education staff

Parents/other family members

Library Advisory Committee

Senior Citizen Centers

Job programs

Veterans Groups

Questions to ask before developing a plan

1. Are there people with Disabilities already using your library?

2. What agencies or schools for people with disabilities exist in your community?

3. Do you have an advisory committee that includes representation for people with disabilities?

4. What are the barriers that keep people with disabilities from using your library?

5. If you could do only one thing to improve services for people with disabilities, what would it be?

Kate ToddEduKateTodd@gmail.com

This presentation is available on Slide Share athttp://www.slideshare.net/edukatetodd/beyond-at-txla2014