What IS a Print Disability? An Answer and Resources
By Kelli Bragg, MLIS Student
Libraries are commonly understood to be the repositories of the human experience, storehouses which take that human experience and from it, create opportunities for library consumers to “learn, grow, and know” (quoted phrase attributed to Jim Rettig in his November 2008 President’s Message, American Libraries).
During my time in the UA’s SLIS program, I’ve realized that there are certain directions where I’d like to see my career head. One main area of interests, thanks to excellent instructors for my Information Technology and Metadata classes, is the universal accessibility described in the ALA’s Bill of Rights: “A person’s right to use the library should not be denied or abridged because of disabilities.”
We can achieve that unabridged library use for all consumers, but first word needs to get out as widely as possible about what exactly print disabilities are, and then how to use our talents to create an equal library experience.
I’ve no doubt that combining Web technology with the power of metadata will allow us to provide all customers equal access to items that let them “learn, grow, and know.” Why do I have no doubt? Because, as librarians, once we know a situation needs attention, we roll up our sleeves and get to work – it’s in our genes.
Therefore, I would like to occasionally contribute posts to help get the word out about print disabilities; I hope you find them informative. __________________________________________________________
As of today, according to http://www.ifla.org/en/lpd, it’s stated that only 5% of the world’s published information is fully accessible to persons with a print disability; it’s my career goal to help increase that percentage as much as I can.
Some people reading this blog may be wondering exactly what constitutes a “print disability.” A print disability is quite simply any aspect that hinders a person’s ability to access print in the “standard” way, whether it’s because of a visual impairment, learning disability or physical disability.
Resources:
- If you’re a teacher, and want to help students in your classroom, visit the Web site Learning Through Listening.
- If you’re a parent, this article at the Web site LD Online can provide both information and solutions for making the printed word easier to understand for you children through e-text.
- An online resource, Bookshare, “Books without Barriers”, is the largest provider of accessible reading materials for those with print disabilities; their Web site states: “…unlimited access to accessible books, textbooks, newspapers and magazines. Additionally, free access technology makes it easy to read books with a computer.”
- For those librarians with customers looking to borrow books from a physical bricks-and-mortar library, IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions) offers an international directory of libraries for the blind. IFLA also offers an RSS feed for the latest news.
- Washington Talking Book and Braille Library provides free public library services, including access to both educational and recreational materials needed by Washington State residents who are unable to read standard print material; WTBBL is an NLS library (NLS = National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped)
