Central Issues and Strategies for Public and Academic Librarians to Provide Inclusive Services

Dan Weiss & Meg KolayaDecember 12, 2014

Libraries and Autism: We’re Connected Applying Universal Design principles and

Universal Design for Learning strategies to library programs, spaces and services

Serving patrons with ASD and their families

Evaluating Library accessibility Customer Service Attitudes and perceptions Limits in providing inclusive service

Central Issues and Strategies for Public and Academic Librarians to Provide Inclusive Services

Universal Access / Design

Products, built environments, services Usable to the greatest extent by everyone

– or anyone – regardless of age, ability, etc.

Physical approaches: curb cuts, ramps, lever handles not knobs,

Barrier free: removing barriers to access & participation

Flexible, varied approaches to serve all differences, needs, etc.

7 Principals of Universal Design for Instruction

At the Center on Universal Design at North Carolina State University a group of architects, product designers, engineers, and environmental design researchers established seven principles of universal design to provide guidance in the design of environments and products. Equitable use. The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities. Example: A professor's website is designed so that it is accessible to everyone, including students who are blind and using speech-to-text software.Flexibility in use. The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities. Example: A museum, visited as a field trip for a course, allows each student to choose to read or listen to a description of the contents of display cases.Simple and intuitive. Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user's experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level. Example: Control buttons on science equipment are labeled with text and symbols that are simple and intuitive to understand.Perceptible information. The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user's sensory abilities. Example: A video presentation projected in a course includes captions. Tolerance for error. The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions. Example: Educational software provides guidance and background information when the student makes an inappropriate response. Low physical effort. The design can be used efficiently and comfortably, and with a minimum of fatigue. Example: Doors to a lecture hall open automatically for people with a wide variety of physical characteristics.Size and space for approach and use. Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use regardless of the user's body size, posture, or mobility. Example: A flexible science lab

Challenges Serving Patrons with ASD

Lack of knowledge about ASD – public and staff

Behavior is communication Inclusion – modeling by staff Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Evaluating Your Library

Services Physical Space Programming

Customer Service

What is it? Why should you care Common sense, the Golden Rule Proscribed by management Our video and website

www.librariesandautism.org

Basic customer services skills and techniques provided can serve as universal models for best-practices library service to all members of the public.

Attitudes and Perceptions

The right frame of mind – how do you look at things

Person-first language Being empathetic and proactive in the

moment “Nothing about us without us”

Limits to inclusion

Where to draw the accommodation line? Rules and policy Inclusion vs. Special

Resources

www.autismandlibraries.org This is My Library Non-verbal communication guide

Including Families of Children with Special Needs by Carrie Banks

Planning for Library Services to People with Disabilities by Rhea Rubin

National Center on Universal Design for Learning www.udlcenter.org/implementation/examples

National Center on Accessible Instruction Materials aim.cast.org/learn/historyarchive/backgroundpapers/promise_of_udl/what_udl

- .VIH_KNalYUY

Disability is Natural www.disabilityisnatural.com/

The Wakanheza Project (wa-’khan-ja) www.co.ramsey.mn.us/ph/cp/wakanheza.htm