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Not just for the severely disabled

Libraries must use adaptive technology to meet the needs of all patrons. Disabled persons now make up the largest minority group in our country. But adaptive technology is not just for the severely disabled. Many people have disabilities that are not obvious but still benefit from technologies such as e- books and other audio resources. The sight-impaired can include anyone from someone who wears glasses to someone who is totally blind. People with learning disabilities such as dyslexia can also benefit from audio resources. Additionally, language-learners can often understand material better when it is spoken rather than written, especially if the speed of the device can be controlled. The Association for Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies, a division of the American Library Association, found that a surprising number of patrons benefit when adaptive technology is incorporated into a library setting.
ASCLA/ALA
Serving Students with Disabilities

Assistive Technology Video

Assistive Technology

Assistive technology or (AT) is a generic term that includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for people with disabilities and includes the process used in selecting, locating, and using such devices. This technology is most commonly used by those who are blind or visually impaired, though any device, piece of equipment, or apparatus designed to help others to compensate for impairment is, by definition an assistive technology. This type of technology is most often applied to computers enabling ease of use and internet surfing and can be prominently found in libraries! Libraries, such as Washington State University, Palomar Collage and provide common types of assistive technology that include; screen magnifiers and screen reading software such as voice synthesizers, navigators, scanners, text enlargement software, and Braille output devices. Some common enlargement devices include; A1 Squared, Freedom Scientific and Dolphin’s Lunar and Super Nova programs. Commonly used reading software includes; GW Micro, Freedom Scientific and Dolphin, all of which are very user friendly and allow the user to easily control the amount of magnification and/or allow the user to have their chosen text to be read aloud to them. Other forms of assistive technology focus on the use of keyboards and the computer mouse; Oversize keyboards with large keys afford users with limited dexterity a greater chance of pressing the correct key. Smaller keyboards, similar to those on cellular phones, can help individuals who have limited movement in their hands. On-screen keyboards are available for someone who cannot use his or her hands but is able to control the movement of his or her head. Patrons unable to learn the layout of the keyboard will benefit from products such as Intellikeys, a device that offers keyboard layouts to fit specific needs. There are also alternatives to the standard mouse. Senior-friendly models with a larger mouse and larger buttons can be useful to individuals with cognitive disabilities. There are also models with differently colored click-function buttons, making it easier to comprehend and execute tasks. For users who cannot adjust to using a standard mouse, trackballs and joysticks similar to those found with gaming consoles will simulate the mouse’s job. All this technology can become confusing, however, to ensure that library staff has a rudimentary knowledge of how to work with persons with disabilities, American Library Association (ALA’s) Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) has developed a helpful toolkit of etiquette tip sheets. The sheets, which can be read and assimilated relatively quickly, suggest appropriate behaviors for staff working with persons who have specific disabilities, and identify materials and assistive technologies that will help disabled individuals use the library more successfully. The toolkit will be a useful supplement to training organized by a library’s human resources department. The many types of assistive technology that can be found in libraries can help to enable users to master tasks at home, school, and work. It can also increase their independence and quality of life by allowing users to be more efficient and successful throughout their daily life!

Assistive Technology in Libraries

Assistive technology serves to make library services easier to use for users with disabilities. Most of these technologies are targeted to make public computers easy to use. Screen magnifying software is used to help patrons with low vision more clearly by enabling them to control the magnification of the screen. A screen reading software enables patrons with no or low vision to access library materials on a computer. This software reads aloud the text that appears on the computer; the patron may choose different voices, pronunciation and speed with which the text that is read. Touchpad or trackball controllers serve patrons who are unable to use a standard mouse. This tool exerts less pressure on the arm, wrist and hand of the user. The on-screen keyboard serves to help patrons enter text without having to use the actual keyboard.
Other assistive technology include teletypewriters, closed-captioning at DVD or video viewing stations, book/periodical magnifiers, Braille translators, and more. At my library I have seen hearing aid type earphones and a computer that is specifically for people with disabilities to use. It has a larger screen and is located near the front of the library.

The following is an informative video about using various assistive technologies at the library.



The following links contain information on services for persons with disabilities offered by San Diego Public Libraries.


http://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/services/disability.shtml

http://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/pdf/icanperiodicals.pdf

http://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/services/disability.shtml#branches

Disability Resources

One of the important roles libraries have in our society is to provide access to information for all. Not everyone's needs are the same, and libraries should make every effort to meet those needs. Disability Resources Monthly provides numerous resources on its Web site, including "Librarians' Connections": www.disabilityresources.org/DRMlibs.html

The Web site could certainly be more attractive, but it nonetheless provides a valuable resource for librarians. As is pointed out on the Web site, providing these resources for librarians is important to Disability Resources. The editor of DRM is a librarian, and many of the subscribers to the periodical are libraries. Disability Resources believes that libraries "can play a vital role in connecting people with disabilities with information that can help them lead productive, independent lives."

Just by browsing through the Web site's resources, you'll see that there is a huge amount of information available online. Disability Resources helpfully brings together and organizes the best and most useful to libraries.

The "General Information" page alone is full of useful links, categorized by "Web Sites," "Policies, Standards, and Guidelines," "Articles, Speeches, and Documents," and more. This is a good place to start. Other pages provide links to listservs, professional organizations, and pages with resources specifically for resources to assist patrons with visual and hearing disabilities.

Overall, this is a great place for library workers to go to find out how to better serve patrons with disabilities. Bookmark it and make it the first place to check for online resources.

Mashups

Libraries use multiple data sources in mashups to provide services to their clients. A common example is linking a Google Map that shows library locations to the library home page. San Diego County Library uses a Google Map mashup on their site: San Diego County Libraries.

YouTube is a social network video site that can be used as a library resource. Many libraries post videos about how to search their library catalogs or other databases. Educational YouTube videos can be show to classes in a school library setting. I like to show the Dewey Decimal Rap Video when introducing the Dewey Decimal System to classes.