Empowering Learners with Disabilities:Unique Challenges, Best Practices

Rebecca Oxley, Christie Kodama, & Dr. Mega Subramaniam

University of Maryland, College of Information Studies

Defining Disability

– What is disability?: Visual, Aural, Speech and Language, Cognitive, Autism/Pervasive Development Disorder (PDD), Asperger’s Syndrome, Orthopedic, Muscular-skeletal, Emotional, Learning, Traumatic Brain Injury, Multiple Complex Disabilities, Medical Frailty

– Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): Department of Education - 1975, 2004

– Architectural Barriers Accessibility (ABA) & American with Disabilities Act (ADA): Department of Justice - 1968, 1990, 2004

– Universal Design (UD) and Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

Ivymount | Introduction

The Ivymount School – Rockville, MD

Empowering learners ages 4-21 with Asperger’s Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder since 1961

Ivymount | Facilities

PHYSICAL ACCESS

– Library media center in close proximity to computer lab

– Mixed lighting

– Low pile carpet

– Story time area

– Work spaces

Ivymount | Facilities

INTELLECTUAL ACCESS– OPAC

– Wireless Internet access

– Dually-encoded shelf signage appropriate for learners with low-vision and autism

– Colorful rug in story time area

– Information cards and shelf markers

– Literacy posters

– Dually-encoded Dewey signage

– Map of the media center

Ivymount | CollectionFORMATS – Print - Juvenile, chapter

books, easy readers, big books, picture books, graphic novels & manga

– Books on tape

– Non-fiction VHS

– Music CDs and LPs

– Tools for Life digital resources

– E-books in triple formats

– Classroom Suite digital resources

Ivymount | Collection

READERS’ ADVISORY

– Reader interviews

– Promoting self-selection

– Expand on reader “focus”

DEVELOPMENT

– Trust publishers that address learning needs like Capstone

– Selections often have heavy visual elements

– Provide a wide range in variety of formats

Ivymount | Technologies

INSTRUCTIONAL

AV unit, computer supporting search in the LMC, printers, Mimio board, keyboard with headphones, mp3 players, instructor laptop and iPad, full

computer lab, CD and record players, Epson LCD projector

Ivymount | Technologies

ASSISTIVE

Kurzweil Read & Write Gold, large screen monitors, trackball mice, dictation software, talking browser, optical scanner, high contrast

oversized keyboards, e-Instruction Notepad, Intellikeyboard

Maryland School for the Blind | Introduction

Maryland School for the Blind - Baltimore, MDEmpowering learners 3-21 with vision disabilities since 1853

Maryland School for the Blind | Facilities

– ground floor– low pile

carpeting– comfort egg-

shaped seats– wide center

aisle spans entire space

PHYSICAL ACCESS

Maryland School for the Blind | Facilities

– large print and Braille signs

– dual encoded shelf signage plus Braille

– talking signs– literacy posters– Dewey signage– bilingual posters

(Spanish)– Miss Nancy’s Corner

children’s area– posters acting as

“windows to the world,”

– stuffed animals and toys

– high contrast textured and Braille puzzles

INTELLECTUAL ACCESS

Maryland School for the Blind | Collection

– Picture books

– large print

– chapter books

– talking books

– audio books

– music LPs

– oversized fine art prints

– contracted and uncontracted Braille

– dual-encoded print and Braille

– tactile maps and globes

– talking globes

– tactile teaching resources

– transparent teaching resources

– periodicals

– professional journals

FORMATS

Maryland School for the Blind | Collection

— Trusts publishers that meet learner needs like Seedlings and Literacy Bridge of Thorndike

— Coordinates with National Library Services for the Blind and Handicapped (NLS)

— Mines book lists from ALA

DEVELOPMENT READERS’ ADVISORY

— Encourages literacy connections between mandatory school reading and pleasure reading

— Invites authors for book talks

— Students participate in BookShare program

Maryland School for the Blind | Technologies

– small computer lab plus computer for children

– internet connection

– mobile AV unit

– printer

– scanner

– record player

INSTRUCTIONAL

Maryland School for the Blind | Technologies

ASSISTIVE– high contrast oversized keyboard

– large screen monitors

– Perkins APH Brailler

– JAWS

–Kurzweil 3000

– Boardmaker

– TTY/TTD dictation software

–talking browsers

– optical scanner

– CC TVs

Kennedy Krieger | Introduction

The Kennedy Krieger School, Fairmount Campus - Baltimore, MD

Empowering K-8 learners with Autism, Traumatic Brain Injury, Muscular-Skeletal, Cognitive, Learning, and Emotional disabilities

since 1937

Kennedy Krieger | Facilities

– ground floor

– low pile carpet

– large space

– high ceilings

– excellent mixed lighting

– wheelchair accessible auditorium space with corner stage

– comfort reading area with sofas and armchairs

– adjustable workspace

PHYSICAL ACCESS

Kennedy Krieger | Facilities– OPAC with 24/7 access

– wireless Internet access

– lots of oversized sculptures hung from ceiling

– architectural models

– completed 3D puzzles

– wall art of popular children’s literature

– dual encoded shelf signage with large font

– reference cards

– Dewey signage

– literacy posters

– posters acting as “windows to the world”

–stuffed animals, toys

INTELLECTUAL ACCESS

Kennedy Krieger | Collection

– Juvenile fiction and non-fiction

– encyclopedias

– chapter books

– easy readers

– big books

– picture books

– graphic novels and manga

– e-books

– digital storybooks

– VHS & DVDs

– audio books

– music CDs and LPs

FORMATS

– professional development collection

– rich variety of databases (TumbleBooks, Enchanted Learning, Brain Pop, Study Island, etc.)

Kennedy Krieger | Collection

Selects resources that are most accessible and

stimulating to learners, aligns with MSDE, reads

reviews from professional and peer-

reviewed journals, replacing outmoded media formats with

newer formats.

DEVELOPMENT

Builds a strong personal relationship with each student and has special programs like Read Dog & Adopt-A-Shelf.

READERS’ ADVISORY

Kennedy Krieger | Technologies

small computer lab, printer, SMARTboard, Epson LCD projector, mobile AV unit, flip cameras, speakers, microphone with stand, record player

INSTRUCTIONAL

Reading pens, Alpha Smarts, talking browserASSISTIVE

-Dana, school librarian to students with disabilities

Challenges

– ADA-ABA & 508 Compliancy: aligning physical and intellectual access

– Information access: diverse collections, preferred formats, assistive technology

– Stakeholder perceptions: focus on the disability

– Instruction: time constraints in teaching 21st century literacies, collaboration

– Isolation: staying informed and gaining support

Best Practices

– UD: accommodating ALL learners

– Access: coordinate with public and school libraries, national organizations, reflective collection

– Communication: people-first language, focus on the individual learner’s potential, respect limitations

– Instruction: UDL, adaptable lessons, close planning, attend all IEP and staff meetings, SPED collaboration

– Professional Development: peer-reviewed journals and research, professional associations, conferences, listservs, networking though social media, further education

Thank You!

Follow us on

Becca: @LibrariansFTW

Christie: @ckodama152

Mega: @mmsubram

University of Maryland’s iSchool: @iUMD