Library Technology for People
with Disabilities
Holly Mabry
Virtual Reference Librarian
Chatstaff
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Types of Disability
•
•
•
•
Vision
Hearing
Mobility
Cognitive
http://accessibility.unc.edu/eligibility/types-disabilities
Library Services for People with
Disabilities
• In 2001, the American Library Association
approved a policy for providing equal
information access to patrons with disabilities
• http://www.ala.org/ascla/asclaissues/libraryse
rvices
• These policies apply to facilities, collections,
library school education, professional
development, technology solutions and
conferences.
Library Accessibility Tipsheets
• The Association of Specialized and
Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA), a
division of ALA, has a set of tip sheets to help
libraries ensure that their facilities and
services are fully accessible.
• http://www.ala.org/ascla/asclaprotools/acces
sibilitytipsheets
- Last updated in 2010
A little history…
• In the not-too-distant past, people with disabilities
relied heavily on special equipment or services to
access information.
Examples
• Braille books
• Large print books
• CCTV
• TTY
• JAWS for Windows
image credit: flickr
And then came the iPhone…
image credit: flickr
What the Mobile Technology Means
for Accessibility in Libraries
• Built in screen reader – VoiceOver
• Zoom and Color Contrast settings for easier
reading
• Platform offers a large collection of free or low
cost accessibility apps.
• E-book readers (Kindle, iBooks, PDF)
• No more large, cumbersome equipment
iOS and Android Apps for People with
Disabilities
Image credit: flickr
MagLight
• Compatible with iOS 6 or
higher
• Works on both iPhone and iPad
• Includes a slider for font
adjustment
• Light and brightness settings
• Great for reading small print
books and call numbers
Magnifying Glass Flashlight for Android
• MagLight alternative for Android phone users
• Compatible with Android 3.1 or higher
See It - Video Magnifier
• Compatible with iOS 5 and
later
• Works on both iPhone and
iPad
• Includes font zoom slider
• Invert color option
• Includes different color
settings
See It - Color and Invert Settings
Caption Apps for the Deaf and Hard of
Hearing
There are a couple of options for real time
captioned phone calls. These are available on
all major smartphone and tablet platforms, as
well as for Mac and PC.
• Hamilton CapTel
• Clear Captions
American Sign Language
• ASL Dictionary – available both in iOS and
Android
• Great for learning basic signs
• Includes over 4800 signed words
http://www.healthyhearing.com/content/articles/Technology/Wireless/47829
-The-best-apps-for-learning-sign-language
Dictation – Speech to Text
• Some people with
mobility or cognitive
impairments that prevent
them from being able to
type, use diction
software.
– Siri – has some work to do
with accuracy, but is a
dictation option
– Dragon Dictation – a free
app for iPhone and iPad
– Dragon Mobile Assistant –
Android equivalent
http://www.nuance.com/for-business/by-solution/mobile-application/index.htm
Library Outreach
• Libraries can use their website and other
technologies such as social media, virtual
reference and e-books to reach out to patrons
who cannot get to a physical library location.
• Patrons are free to use technology they’re
most comfortable with.
Library Website Accessibility
• Can users get the
information they
need on your
website?
• Good color contrast
• Keyboard-only
navigation
• Alternate text for
images
• Easy-to-read, plain
language
• Clearly defined
headings
• Captions and
transcripts for videos
• Minimize carousels
and other animations
http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20/
Website Accessibility cont.
Guidelines
• Association of Research •
Libraries Web Accessibility
Toolkit
•
(http://accessibility.arl.org
/)
•
• Section 508 and WCAG
2.0 guidelines
Tools
Color Contrast Analyzer
tool
WAVE Web Accessibility
Tool
Described and Transcribed
Media Program
(http://dcmp.org/)
“Web accessibility means creating digital
resources on the web that everyone can
use.”
http://accessibility.arl.org/standards-best-practices/
Caption and Transcripts
• Captions
– YouTube: very basic captions
– Adobe Captivate
• Transcripts
– Volunteers
– Student workers
– Outsource – Rev
http://www.rev.com/transcription
Content Management Systems
• WordPress – big push for accessible themes and
plugins
– http://codex.wordpress.org/Accessibility
– WordPress Accessibility plug in
• LibGuides
–
–
–
–
Be careful to not go crazy with the tabs
Use good color contrast
Standardized layout
New version coming soon that has a more “website
look-and-feel”
Twitter
• Good tool for the deaf and hard of hearing to
follow conferences and events.
– Use hashtags
• Twitter accessible alternative for the blind:
EasyChirp http://www.easychirp.com/
Virtual Reference
• Communicate with a librarian via email,
phone, or chat:
– Many libraries in NC already staff their own chat
service with LibraryH3lp software
– NCknows provides statewide backup chat
reference service, including overnight coverage.
– Helps eliminate the “intimidation factor” when
asking for help at a physical service desk
http://ncknows.org/
E-Books and Audiobooks
• E-books and audiobooks can be checked out
and downloaded from home via a computer
or from mobile devices.
– OverDrive – NC Digital Library
– E-Books on EBSCOHost
– NC LIVE e-book and audiobook collection
E-Books and Audiobooks - Examples
• In many cases, e-books rely on the
accessibility settings available for the device
they’re housed in.
– E-ink Kindle has adjustable font sizes and offers a
text-to-speech option
– Kindle app for iPhone offers color contrast settings
Bookshare
• Large accessible digital book repository:
https://www.bookshare.org/.
• Agreement with authors and publishers to
create accessible book formats
• Serves members with vision, mobility and
learning disabilities
– Provides audio and text formats
• Free for students: both K-12 and higher
education
Future trends
• sAssistive technology is moving towards
continued integration with mainstream
technology devices. This brings people with
disabilities on to a more level playing field
when accessing information.
• Future trends suggest that the technology will
be there to facilitate creation of accessible
technology by disabled users themselves.
Global Public Information
Infrastructure (GPII)
• Project currently in development to create
customized cloud-based assistive technology.
• Patrons can login on any electronic device to
access a set of tools based on their own needs
for whatever device their using.
• Libraries can provide access to GPII and let the
patrons use the technology and services that
fit the disabled patron’s individual assistive
technology needs.
http://gpii.net/
3D printing
• 3D printing in relation to libraries is just
starting to take off.
– NCSU Hunt Library
– UNCG Jackson Library
• 3D printing has the potential to allow people
with disabilities to design, create and modify
objects to meet their own needs.
• Think tactile educational materials, adding
braille to objects, and more.
Resources
• Slides and transcript of this presentation will
be available on my blog:
www.accesstechgeek.com.
• Want to continue the conversation? Contact
me at:
– Email: hfmabry@gmail.com
– Twitter: hfmabry
Questions?