E V A L U A T I N G A C C E S S I B I L I T Y F O R T H E V I S U A L LY I M PA I R E D A T J A C K S O N L I B R A R Y

A VISION FOR HELPING OTHERS:

FAMOUS BLIND PERSONS

Image used from: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f9/Hellen_Keller_circa_1920.jpg

Image used from: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/Stevie_Wonder.jpg

Image used from http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Ray_Charles_%28cropped%29.jpg

Image of Helen Keller, circa 1920

Image of Stevie Wonder, circa 1981

Image of Ray Charles, circa 1989

BLINDNESS IN AMERICA

• 21 million Americans are classified as blind or visually disabled (American Foundation for the Blind, 2013).

• This represents roughly 6.77% of the entire American populace

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

• Passed in 1990 with several additions since• Prohibits discrimination

based on disability• Technological

innovation not considered when act was passed

Image of man with walking cane

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ADA CONTINUED

• All public entities required to:• furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary to afford

qualified individuals with disabilities, including applicants, participants, companions, and members of the public, an equal opportunity to participate in, and enjoy the benefits of, a service, program, or activity of a public entity (United States Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, 2010,  para 35.160).

This is very general, not specific rules and regulations!

ADA IN LIBRARIES

• Some materials in format that cannot be digitized (eg. artifacts).• “undue financial and

administrative” clause• Cost in terms of time for

making resources accessible

One woman teaches another woman with blindness how to read Braille

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RESEARCH METHODS EMPLOYED

• Surveys• Focus group• Interviews• Prior research

• Results:No survey response was given by any member of the user group

No attendee signed up for focus group

Most information compiled came from interviews with library staff

TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES

• Types of advances:• Audio books • Screen readers • JAWS• Microsoft Narrator

• Zoom Text for computer monitors• Blio – can find, acquire, read

books in print and audio• OCR• eBooks

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PROBLEMS WITH E-BOOKS

• E-books are not all inclusive • Lack of standardization in various formats• Not all are compatible for screen readers• Only most popular titles are accessible• May not be compatible with older computer systems• “expensive, often abridged, and don’t come in format that is

easily accessible by the visually impaired.” (Associated Press, 2010.)

A CASE STUDY/OARS

• Purpose of Study: How well does Jackson Library at UNC-Greensboro address accessibility under ADA?

• OARS• Office of Accessibility and Resources and Services• Formerly Office of Disability Services (ODS)• Responsible for training library staff in relation to

students with disabilities

EVALUATING ACCESSIBILITY AT JACKSON: THE GOOD

• Screen reader technology exists on multiple computers• Access to databases that have readable text embedded• Staff to assist location and retrieval of materials• Access to materials in Braille print• A website that is compatible with screen readers and

contains tailored information for them

EVALUATING ACCESSIBILITY AT JACKSON: THE BAD

• Scanners for patron use do not use screen reader technology• Unfamiliarity with JAWS, Microsoft Narrator• Library staff required to leave workstation• Computers not automatically running assistive

technologies• Infrequent use of Braille books• Hand-written or microfiche resources cannot be

accessed

EVALUATING ACCESSIBILITY AT JACKSON: THE BAD (CONTINUED)

• Various formatting styles of databases provided by third party vendors• Library website often

viewed in regards of compatibility with screen readers, but not necessarily usability

Outside of Jackson Library from mall Image used from

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EVALUATING ACCESSIBILITY AT JACKSON LIBRARY: THE UGLY

• Lack of communication abounds• Many individuals still refer to OARS as ODS• Lack of response from members of user group for

research• Committee comprised of OARS and library staff for

digital projects has never met• Training of library staff is infrequent and lacking• Often is once every year or two

ADVOCACY

• Suggestion for student group on Facebook for better group communication and support.• Computer workstation automatically set to run assistive

technologies• Improved communication between library and OARS

and committees• Area for feedback on usability of library website for

user group• Little to no cost to implement

Bibliography

American Foundation for the Blind. (2013). Statistical snapshots from the American Foundation for the Blind.  Retrieved from

http://www.afb.org/section.aspx?SectionID=15.

Associated Press. (2010). 1M books to go online for visually impaired. Retrieved from

http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-205_162-6464528.html

United States Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division.  (2010). Americans with Disabilities Act Title II Regulations: Non-discrimination on the basis of disability in state and local government services. Retrieved fromhttp://www.ada.gov/regs2010/titleII_2010_regulations.htm#a35153