CENTRAL ISSUES AND
STRATEGIES FOR PUBLIC AND
ACADEMIC LIBRARIANS TO
PROVIDE INCLUSIVE SERVICES
December 12, 2014
Dan Weiss & Meg Kolaya
Central Issues and Strategies for Public and Academic
Librarians to Provide Inclusive Services
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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
Universal Access / Design
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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
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Lack of knowledge about ASD – public and staff
Behavior is communication
Inclusion – modeling by staff
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Evaluating Your Library
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Services
Physical Space
Programming
Customer Service
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What is it?
Why should you care
Common sense, the Golden Rule
Proscribed by management
Our video and website
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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
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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
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Where to draw the accommodation line?
Rules and policy
Inclusion vs. Special
Resources
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www.autismandlibraries.org
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This is My Library
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Non-verbal communication guide
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Including Families of Children with Special Needs by Carrie Banks
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Planning for Library Services to People with Disabilities by Rhea Rubin
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National Center on Universal Design for Learning
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National Center on Accessible Instruction Materials
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aim.cast.org/learn/historyarchive/backgroundpapers/promise_of_udl/what_udl - .VIH_KNalYUY
Disability is Natural
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www.udlcenter.org/implementation/examples
www.disabilityisnatural.com/
The Wakanheza Project (wa-’khan-ja)
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www.co.ramsey.mn.us/ph/cp/wakanheza.htm