Creating an Assistive Technology Center for Immaculata University’s Gabriele Library
Executive Summary
Imagine for a moment that you are sitting in front of your computer, getting ready to write a
research paper for class. Now close your eyes. Begin typing. You are bound to make mistakes,
however, how will you know?
The disabled segment of our population – including sight and hearing impaired, as well as
physically disabled individuals – accounts for a total of approximately 68 million Americans (Alexander,
2005), with approximately 26,000 disabled students in higher education in the 2005-6 academic school
year (Bird et al, 2006). Immaculata University may experience an average of less than 1 percent of its
student population of 4,000 within this segment. However, one goal of librarians is to provide equal
access to all patrons. Currently, Immaculata University’s Gabriele Library lacks the equipment and
software to adequately provide visually-, hearing- and physically-impaired individuals with equal and
easy access to information.
As the Library Director at Immaculata University’ Gabriele Library, I am requesting a grant in the
amount of $58,500 to create a Center within the Library for computer software and hardware designed
to help the hearing- and sight-impaired student/faculty member, as well as for those who are physicallydisabled or wheel-chair bound. This technology is also known as assistive technology, and as such, the
newly created Center will be known as the Assistive Technology Center or ATC. Assistive technology will
allow the individual to be able to more easily use the academic library computer equipment to access
the information resources that are currently available. Our objective is to accommodate these
particular students and faculty members with assistive technology that will help them to be more
effective, confident, productive and independent. In addition, this equipment, together with the
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current wheelchair-accessible library and dormitory, will allow Immaculata to attract more students
with disabilities and provide them with a higher-quality learning experience.
Background of Immaculata University
Immaculata University (http://www.immaculata.edu/) is a private, Catholic university, offering
bachelor, master and doctoral degrees, with a significant number of adult learners, online students, and
students in accelerated and continuing education programs (Fast Facts, 2009).
Immaculata’s Gabriele Library http://library.immaculata.edu/ is situated around the middle of
the sprawling 375-acre campus serving about 4,000 total students (Fast Facts, 2009), including 1,600
students annually who take only online courses. There is a very large plaque, at the Library’s entrance,
inscribed with “A Library for Tomorrow… Today”, which is the credo we work toward. Gabriele Library
welcomes everyone through their doors; however, we only provide library services to the Immaculata
students, faculty and alumni. Out of this group of people, there have been a varying number of students
with hearing and sight issues and those with physical disabilities of varying severity. Although the library
cannot provide for every possible disability, this grant will help to service the majority of disabled
students that fall within these three particular areas.
Sixty-one percent of students with disabilities are expected to go to college, and if they do, are
likely to only attend a two-year college. In addition, only 67 percent of hearing-impaired students and
69 percent of student with visual impairments attended college following high school. This group of
student, however, is 40 percent likelier to attend a four-year college (College and the Disabled Student,
2005). It is very important to make the University and Library as inviting and effective to disabled
students and faculty as possible.
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Gabriele Library Personnel
My organization consists of a total staff of 17, including 4 librarians, a few audio visual experts, a
webmaster/system administrator, a number of employees for the circulation department, one person to
coordinate acquisitions, and a few others (Personal Conversation with Mr. Rollison, 2010). All staff,
including me as Library Director, are trained annually on diversity and ethics through the school
administration.
Two of the full-time librarians and the one webmaster/systems administrator employed by
Gabriele Library will be devoted to learning the new software and hardware intricacies so they can be of
assistance to the student or faculty member when necessary. It is obviously important for the staff to
be cognizant of the diversity of students, while being able to provide the best service possible. This
knowledgeable staff helps to put the students and parents at ease, since the staff exudes this
compassion and confidence. They will also be required to attend a one-time Disability Awareness
Training session in order to provide additional awareness to the concerns and difficulties that the
disabled individual may encounter. All the software and hardware available will not make the student
comfortable if the staff is not adept at dealing with the trials and tribulations of the various disabilities
they may come across. The diversity and ethics training is complementary training and will continue on
an annual basis.
Other Local Colleges/Universities
Some of the local colleges and universities, such as Villanova University, Delaware College
Community College (DCCC), and Drexel’s Hagerty Library have assistive technology available for their
students. The proposal equipment and software requirements list was coordinated with these area
educational facilities in order to ensure a comprehensive Assistive Technology Center. Drexel
University’s Hagerty Library contains many of software and hardware products listed below (Services for
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Patrons with Disabilities, 2010) as does Villanova University (Personal Conversation with Mr. Fugale,
2010). Since these organizations have had an established assistive technology area for some time, it
made sense to collaborate with them and determine which products were considered the most
effective. We were able to learn from the many lessons that these universities encountered in their
process.
The number of disabled students in Ivy League schools consists of approximately 3-4 percent of
their total, although the makeup at Princeton in New Jersey is less than 2% (Chong, 2009). The
difference in reported numbers is important here because the potential reason for the discrepancy
might be those students who choose to remain silent regarding their disability. This aspect is to be
factored into our plan for the assistive technology. The privacy of the student must be upheld by staff,
and the library must recognize that the number of disable students reported may not equate to the
number of disabled students encountered. We do not want students to encounter the type of reaction
experienced by Lindsey Hornbuckle at Princeton, who had to “lay my soul bare, my entire medical
history” (Chong, 2009), in order for the Princeton administration to help her with her disability. She
“had no idea that Princeton was behind in providing services” (Chong, 2009).
One disabled student from DCCC, Michelle Carolous, commented, “The new workstations have
made my academic life much easier," she said. "I increased my productivity while cutting my work time
in half“ (Delaware County Community College Receives Grant, 2008). This is exactly the type of reaction
we are expecting from the students who need to utilize the new technology. In addition, although the
neighboring campuses listed above are located within 20 miles of Immaculata, we feel that it would be
more difficult and time-consuming for the disabled student to visit these other universities to utilize
their assistive technology, particularly the student who is living on-campus at Immaculata. Therefore,
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the best overall solution is to create the Assistive Technology Center, or ATC, for our own Immaculata
students and faculty members to utilize.
Statement of Need
The mission of Immaculata’s Gabriele Library is to “support the educational goals of Immaculata
University and its student body…with belief in the dignity and potential of all men and women,
Immaculata integrates students into a community of service and empowers them to assume meaningful
roles in a diverse and changing world” (About Immaculata: Mission Statement, 2009). In order to fully
meet this mission, we must be able to provide equally for all types of student and faculty members,
particularly those who are disabled.
The campus life can accommodate disabled students in the dormitories since there are a
number of students with varying levels of disabilities. Fortunately, Gabriele Library is currently a
handicapped-accessible building, in that it has cut-out sidewalks, automatic entrance doors, a wide
elevator to all floors, and bathrooms that are wheelchair accessible. Therefore, the library building
complies in these ways, and others, with the American Disabilities Act of 1992. In many ways, the
campus and library can accommodate physical disabilities; however, the information resources within
the library – lacking the assistive hardware and software –are not necessarily friendly to this group of
students and faculty. This grant request of $58,500 will go a long way to make any students or faculty
with disabilities more of a valued member of the Immaculata family as well as providing them with more
independence.
Gabriele Library Renovations for Assistive Technology Center
Gabriele Library is a 3-floor building that is currently certified as ADA compliant. There is a large
open area on the main floor of Gabriele Library that will be renovated with the new assistive technology.
It will be created into an Assistive Technology Center (ATC) and dedicated to the disabled student and
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faculty. Ease of access is a main issue for choosing this particular area as well as the fact that it is fairly
close to the Circulation and Information Desks if any additional assistance is necessary. We do want this
area to be easily accessible for those who actually need to use it. The Center will be clearly identified as
an area containing assistive technology for the disabled in order to keep all other students from using
the area. This library area was specifically chosen as it will provide a bit of privacy while still being
accessible the library staff if necessary.
The renovations are expected to begin as the Spring sessions wind down and completed by the
start of 2010 Fall school year, beginning 24 Aug 2010, so the summer will be consumed by the
construction of this area within the Library. The timing of the renovations was coordinated in such a
way as to avoid disrupting the school year, as well as ensure the ATC would be available for the students
beginning the new school year.
Advertising/Marketing
Gabriele Library currently creates a hardcopy monthly newsletter, also available online, and will
add a series of articles introducing the new Assistive Technology Center to the student body, parents
and faculty. In addition, we will get local newspaper press to cover the new ATC. Gabriele Library will
create a new section within its existing website which solely focuses on this new Center. The
Philadelphia Institute of Technology has offered a $5,000 contribution to the creation of this website
section by providing information technology assistance. See proposed labor costs below.
Evaluation Method
Hardcopy and online surveys will be made available from the start of the ATC opening, with
hardcopy surveys available at the Information Desk as well. In addition, the online Library website
currently solicits feedback and suggestions from all who visit it. The Library staff will actively solicit
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individual feedback each semester from the students who are using this area, as long as each is willing
to participate, in order to find out whether the new technology is making the student more productive,
research is made easier, and barriers are reduced. Any additional costs incurred here is included in the
advertising/marketing costs below.
In addition, many software products have usage counters built into the code to help determine
usage statistics. This can be used as an adjunct to the evaluations provided by any users.
Proposed Budget
Labor Costs

Labor hours required for training on new hardware and software for two (2) librarians and one (1)
webmaster/systems administrator.

Labor hours required for a new ATC section on the Gabriele Library website by one (1)
webmaster/systems administrator.

Labor hours required for the advertising and marketing of the new ATC section of Gabriele Library
by the two (2) librarians and one (1) webmaster/systems administrator. Additional costs will be
required for advertising and marketing material, including evaluation materials.

Disability Awareness Training provided by the Diversity Training Group, Inc. in Herndon, VA for two
(2) librarian and one (1) webmaster/systems administrator.
Total labor costs for training/website administration/marketing/advertising = $12,000 - $5,000 from
Philadelphia Institute of Technology = $7,000
Material Costs for Marketing/Advertising and Evaluation
Material costs are minimal for any hardcopy advertising/marketing material that may be
produced over and above the Gabriele Library newsletter. Also included in the material costs are for
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ATC signage identifying the library area accordingly as well as some material costs for hardcopy
evaluations printed for ATC users to complete.
Total material costs for marketing/advertising/evaluation = $1,500
Equipment/Software
Gabriele Library is going to provide $5,000 from its own budget toward the purchase of the
assistive technology listed below which is reflected in the projected costs below.

Telesensory Aladdin Genie magnification system that allows printed material to be enlarged on
to a monitor.

Monitor, 21” to provide larger-than-normal viewing areas.

Double-sided Braille Embosser

Epson Printer for Braille Embosser

Braille Translator for Windows to complement Braille Embosser

JAWS (Job Access With Speech) screen reading software. There is no mouse necessary, but
knowledge of the keyboard and typing is necessary.

Kurweil software scans books and documents and reads on-screen text aloud.

Superprint 4425 Telephone Typewriter (TTY) or text telephone

Zoomtext enlarges documents onto a computer monitor, making the text easier to read.

Dragon’s Naturally Speaking software is voice recognition software which predicts text input (to
reduce typing), reads text aloud, and magnifies the screen for those who are visually impaired.

Read & Write 8.1 software is designed to assist those who have difficulty with reading or
composing text.

Flatbed Scanner
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
CCTV Video Magnifier

Desk with variable keyboard heights
Telesensory Aladdin Genie
21” Monitor
Braille
Embosser/Translator/Printer
JAWS
Kurweil
TTY
Zoomtext Software
Dragon’s Naturally Speaking
Read Write 8.1
Flatbed Scanner
CCTV Video Magnifier
Desk w/variable keyboard heights
Visually Impaired
X
X
X
Hearing Impaired
Physically Disabled
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Total equipment and software costs for assistive technology= $25,000.00- $5,000 from Immaculata’s
library funding = $20,000.
Proposed Budget Total
Total $$
Renovations of Gabriele Library for Assistive Technology Center
$30,000
Labor Costs for Training, Web Site Admin and Marketing
$ 7,000
Advertising/Marketing/Eval Material Costs
$ 1,500
Assistive Technology (Equipment and Software)
$20,000
Total proposed costs for Assistive Technology Center =
$58,500.00
Implementation Schedule
Order assistive technology equipment and software
03 May 2010 (6 weeks delivery)
Speak with contractors regarding Library renovations
Choose contractor and solidify requirements
03 May 2010
31 May 2010
Delivery of all equipment and software
Begin installation
14 Jun 2010
18 Jun 2010 (two weeks)
Review renovation requirements and start contractor
14 Jun 2010 (45 days)
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Begin updating Library web site
Create/print Marketing corresponding material
21 Jun 2010 (two weeks)
Grand opening of Assistive Technology Center (ATC)
16 Aug 2010
(in time for the 2010 Fall Semester –Classes begin 24 Aug 2010)
Total proposed time from Start Date to Completion:
16 Weeks
Potential Risks
There are numerous risks involved in the creation of an Assistive Technology Center. Below are the
potential risks, their possible impacts, and probability of occurrence.
1. Risk: Renovations take longer than anticipated.
We are currently allocating 30 days to determine the requirements and to vet a contractor. In
addition, Immaculata currently employs two different contractors to handle the ongoing issues
which occur on the school premises. The plan is to solicit two outside contractors who are
familiar with this type of renovation, as well as request quotes from the two current
contractors. Recommendations for the two outside contractors will be most important if the
decision comes down to one of these. We are also starting the renovations early after the
Spring school year has ended, particularly since the delivery lead times for the equipment and
software are not long.
Impact: High. The impact is considered high because the expectation is that the ATC will be
available at the start of the Fall school year.
Probability: Low
2. Risk: Other individuals utilize equipment, leaving the disabled students without access.
This is a possibility because the area will not be restricted, although it will be made clear –
through advertising and marketing material as well as signage in the library – that the ATC
contains special equipment and software for disabled individuals. It would be expected that the
students will be self-policing. As previously stated, there are students who might not actively
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seek out assistance with their disabilities. This does not insinuate that a disability doesn’t exist,
but that the individual does not wish to actively advertise it. The solution in the library will be
addressed if there are complaints lodged with the Librarians. At that time, we will address if
additional advertising about the importance of this resource to disabled students, or if
additional equipment and software might actually be required.
Impact: High. The impact is considered high because of the anticipated frustration from
disabled students who cannot utilize the technology when necessary.
Probability of other students utilizing the assistive technology: Medium
3. Risk: Additional equipment or software is necessary sooner than anticipated.
The renovations will be made in such as way as to be able to handle additional equipment if
necessary in the future. And, as indicated above, we recognize that the report number of
disabled students is not necessarily an accurate indication of all the disabled students enrolled,
and we’ve attempted to account for the potential discrepancy when scoping the assistive
technology requirements. In addition, we have coordinated our requirements list with other
local universities and are commensurate with these other schools who have similar reported
disabled students and who have installed similar technology.
Impact: Low.
Probability: Low.
Conclusion
The Assistive Technology Center at the Gabriele Library will be a great asset to any disabled
student, faculty member, or alumnus who wishes to comfortably and effectively obtain information…or
just read a book. It is our obligation, as an integral part of an educational institution, to provide the
means by which anyone can easily learn. This is imperative to ensure all individuals can provide their
best to society in whatever occupation they have chosen to pursue. On behalf of the Gabriele Library,
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we would be very grateful to be awarded the grant in the amount of $58,500 to fund a new Assistive
Technology Center.
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References
About Immaculata: Mission Statement. (2009). Immaculata Gabriele Library Mission Statement.
Retrieved 07 Mar 2010 from http://www.immaculata.edu/AboutImmaculata.
Bird, Mary, Heath, Emily and Hine, Alice. (Summer/Autumn 2006). All change: delivering library
services to disabled students in a changing context. SCONUL Focus, 38.
Chong, Joanne. Princeton reports lower number of disabled students than peer institutions. University
Wire, 24 Feb 2009. Retrieved from Nexis.com on 08 Mar 2010.
College and the Disabled Student. (2005) Retrieved 07 Mar 2010 from
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2005/07/29/disabled.
Delaware County Community College Receives Grant: New Technology For Blind and Vision Impaired.
(28 Jan 2008). US Fed News. Retrieved 07 Mar 2010 from Nexis.com.
Fast Facts. (2009). Immaculata University. Retrieved 26 Jan 2010 from
http://www.immaculata.edu/node/681.
Personal conversation with Mr. Jeffrey Rollison, the Library Director from Immaculata University’s
Gabriele Library, 21 Jan 2010, http://library.immaculata.edu/.
Personal conversation with Mr. Stephen Fugale, the CIO from Villanova University, 22 Feb 2010,
http://www.villanova.edu/.
Services for Patrons with Disabilities: Drexel University Libraries. (2010). Retrieved 10 Mar 2010 from
Drexel University Libraries from http://www.library.drexel.edu/services/accessibility.
Appendix Materials
1) Gabrielle Library Budget
2) Philadelphia Institute of Technology Assistance Grant
3) Resume for Librarians and Webmaster/Systems Administrator
4) List of assistive technology software being requested, including specifications and quotes
5) List of assistive technology equipment being requested, including specifications and quotes
6) Description and quote for Disability Awareness Training
7) Requirements and quote for renovations from contractor
8) Evaluation surveys
9) Project schedule
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Grant Proposal Outline Submitted 23 Feb 2010
1) Executive Summary – brief description of the issue, similar to the above paragraph.
a. Summarize the current situation in addition to the desired state
b. Explain why this is necessary (student needs, no other facilities nearby)
c. Total cost being requested
2) Introduction to current academic library, current equipment and how the library can be
improved with this addition of this new equipment. State the current population of those who
might utilize equipment.
3) Details/specifications about the equipment, training, service, maintenance required.
4) Outline budget in detail
a. Equipment costs/supplies/annual maintenance
b. Additional personnel
i. Will dedicate one librarian to be the liaison
ii. Need the IT administrators versed on new hardware/software
c. Facilities changes
i. Designate one particular area of the library for this equipment
d. Training
i. One librarian and IT administrator
e. Advertising/Marketing
5) Proposed schedule of implementation
6) Method of evaluation to determine effectiveness
a. Survey of students/faculty
b. Statistics of equipment use
7) Conclusion
a. Summarize problem/solution
b. Request the funds
8) References
9) Appendix of Materials
a. Library’s overall budget
b. Resume of one (1) librarian and one (1) IT administrator to be involved in training and
software management
Submitted 16 Mar 2010 by Beth Moretti for INFO 520
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