EVALUATING ACCESSIBILITY FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED AT JACKSON LIBRARY A VISION FOR HELPING OTHERS:

FAMOUS BLIND PERSONS Image used from: llen_Keller_circa_1920.jpg Image used from: /8/81/Stevie_Wonder.jpg Image used from es_%28cropped%29.jpg Image of Helen Keller, circa 1920 Image of Stevie Wonder, circa 1981 Image of Ray Charles, circa 1989

BLINDNESS IN AMERICA 21 million Americans are classified as blind or visually disabled (American Foundation for the Blind, 2013). This represents roughly 6.77% of the entire American populace

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT Passed in 1990 with several additions since Prohibits discrimination based on disability Technological innovation not considered when act was passed Image of man with walking cane Image used from: blind-man-md.png

ADA CONTINUED All public entities required to: furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary to afford qualified individuals with disabilities, including applicants, participants, companions, and members of the public, an equal opportunity to participate in, and enjoy the benefits of, a service, program, or activity of a public entity (United States Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, 2010, para ). This is very general, not specific rules and regulations!

ADA IN LIBRARIES Some materials in format that cannot be digitized (eg. artifacts). “undue financial and administrative” clause Cost in terms of time for making resources accessible One woman teaches another woman with blindness how to read Braille Image used from: 54-h/images/i064.jpg

RESEARCH METHODS EMPLOYED Surveys Focus group Interviews Prior research Results: No survey response was given by any member of the user group No attendee signed up for focus group Most information compiled came from interviews with library staff

TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES Types of advances: Audio books Screen readers JAWS Microsoft Narrator Zoom Text for computer monitors Blio – can find, acquire, read books in print and audio OCR eBooks Image of cartoon character Mr. Magoo Image used from goo/art/hero_art1.jpg

PROBLEMS WITH E-BOOKS E-books are not all inclusive Lack of standardization in various formats Not all are compatible for screen readers Only most popular titles are accessible May not be compatible with older computer systems “expensive, often abridged, and don’t come in format that is easily accessible by the visually impaired.” (Associated Press, 2010.)

A CASE STUDY/OARS Purpose of Study: How well does Jackson Library at UNC- Greensboro address accessibility under ADA? OARS Office of Accessibility and Resources and Services Formerly Office of Disability Services (ODS) Responsible for training library staff in relation to students with disabilities

EVALUATING ACCESSIBILITY AT JACKSON: THE GOOD Screen reader technology exists on multiple computers Access to databases that have readable text embedded Staff to assist location and retrieval of materials Access to materials in Braille print A website that is compatible with screen readers and contains tailored information for them

EVALUATING ACCESSIBILITY AT JACKSON: THE BAD Scanners for patron use do not use screen reader technology Unfamiliarity with JAWS, Microsoft Narrator Library staff required to leave workstation Computers not automatically running assistive technologies Infrequent use of Braille books Hand-written or microfiche resources cannot be accessed

EVALUATING ACCESSIBILITY AT JACKSON: THE BAD (CONTINUED) Various formatting styles of databases provided by third party vendors Library website often viewed in regards of compatibility with screen readers, but not necessarily usability Outside of Jackson Library from mall Image used from /jackson-library-tower-uncg.jpg

EVALUATING ACCESSIBILITY AT JACKSON LIBRARY: THE UGLY Lack of communication abounds Many individuals still refer to OARS as ODS Lack of response from members of user group for research Committee comprised of OARS and library staff for digital projects has never met Training of library staff is infrequent and lacking Often is once every year or two

ADVOCACY Suggestion for student group on Facebook for better group communication and support. Computer workstation automatically set to run assistive technologies Improved communication between library and OARS and committees Area for feedback on usability of library website for user group Little to no cost to implement

Bibliography American Foundation for the Blind. (2013). Statistical snapshots from the American Foundation for the Blind. Retrieved from Associated Press. (2010). 1M books to go online for visually impaired. Retrieved from United States Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division. (2010). Americans with Disabilities Act Title II Regulations: Non-discrimination on the basis of disability in state and local government services. Retrieved from