Assistive Technologies in the Library by Barbara T. Mates; William R. Reed IV (Contribution by)There are plenty of products out there for making information accessible to all users, but how can administrators and managers determine which are the most practical and economical for their particular library?
ISBN: 9780838910702
Publication Date: 2010-12-01
Creating Inclusive Library Environments by Michelle Kowalsky; John Woodruff
ISBN: 0838914853
Publication Date: 2016-11-01
Including Families of Children with Special Needs by Sandra FeinbergLegislation has focused attention on the integration of children with special needs into the community. The contributors to this guide offer advice on how to make all sectors of the population feel welcome in a traditional library setting."
ISBN: 9781555707910
Publication Date: 2013-07-01
Making the Library Accessible for All by Jane VincentAny library open to the public has a legal and ethical obligation to make their services accessible. This book is intended to be a single-source guide relevant to all library functions that librarians can easily refer to when planning, remediating, or evaluating for accessibility. It has a unique holistic perspective, as well as an emphasis on perceiving people with disabilities as providing resources to meet a common goal rather than as a population to be served. Accessibility is becoming an issue that libraries can no longer ignore. Making the Library Accessible for All provides a holistic guide to accessibility that addresses common issues and gives strategies for responding to unique situations. Topics addressed include: .Increasing effectiveness of interactions with patrons who have disabilities .Interpreting the real intent behind architectural and website accessibility guidelines .Making events and trainings inclusive for everyone"
ISBN: 9780810891463
Publication Date: 2014-04-15
Programming for Children and Teens with Autism Spectrum Disorder by Barbara KlipperThose who understand the unique sensitivities of young people with autism spectrum disorder, now the second most commonly diagnosed serious developmental disability, know that ordinary library programming guides are not up to the task of effectively serving these library users. Klipper has presented at conferences and trained librarians from around the country in autism awareness, and the grant-funded Sensory Storytime programming she developed at The Ferguson Library in Stamford, Connecticut is a model for
Dollar General grants supporting all types of literacy programs
Sensitivity Video from DC City Government
What Does This Symbol Actually Mean?
Community Needs Assessment
Start with a Community Needs Assessment. There are many ways to find out what your community needs but an essential step is to ask them! The resources below include many ideas for determining needs and then identifying key findings.
"The library should be an expression of its community’s vision and creativity; this can only happen if we involve them actively in decision-making and planning."
"Turning outward" is a step-by-step process developed by The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation. It entails taking steps to better understand communities; changing processes and thinking to make conversations more community-focused; being proactive to community issues; and putting community aspirations first.
MassRelay is a free, confidential 24/7 service enabling hearing people or people who do not use a text telephone (TTY) to communicate over regular telephone lines with people who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, late deafened, or speech disabled.