Accessible Information and Communication in Libraries

1. Accessible Information and Communication in Libraries Dorothy Macnaughton Accessibility and Diversity Training

2. Why is Accessible Information and Communication Important? • To comply with legislation which upholds the rights of people with disabilities to access goods, services, facilities, accommodation, employment, buildings, structures and premises • Human Rights Codes and Acts in every province and territory • In Ontario, the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, the Accessibility for Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service

3. Why is Accessible Information and Communication Important? • To meet the requirements of the Federal Government Initiative for Equitable Library Access • Library and Archives Canada Accessible Library Service Guidelines - online resource

4. Why is Accessible Information and Communication Important? • To allow for equitable access to information, resources and services in the library or outside the library by outreach programs or by electronic access • “3. (2) 2. The provision of goods or services to persons with disabilities and others must be integrated unless an alternate measure is necessary, whether temporarily or on a permanent basis, to enable a person with a disability to obtain, use or benefit from the goods or services.” Final Draft, Ontario’s Accessible Information and Communications Standard

5. Why is Accessible Information and Communication Important? • To provide effective communication with people who have difficulty communicating • To be able to communicate effectively with people with disabilities during emergency and evacuation situations • To ensure the library’s policies, procedures and practices allow for equitable access to information and resources and for ways to communicate with people with disabilities

6. Implications for Libraries • Final Draft, Ontario’s Accessible Information and Communications Standard “7.3 Public Libraries • Public libraries shall have the means to provide accessible materials.”

7. Implications for Libraries • Final Draft, Ontario’s Information and Communications Standard • “The proposed standard specifies requirements to prevent and remove barriers to persons with disabilities when creating, procuring, conveying, receiving, or distributing information and communications to and from persons with disabilities in the province of Ontario.”

8. Policies and Procurement of Accessible Goods and Services • Policies • Accessible Information Policy • Accessible Communication Policy • Procurement of Accessible Goods and Services

9. Policies • Policies will explain: • how your library will deal with requests for information in alternate formats and communication by alternate means • how your library will deal with requests for communication supports and services • how your library’s procurement policies will address accessibility • what information and communications will be madeavailable in plain language

10. Accessible Information Policy X Library will: • Provide integrated information services, or alternate measures, which will enable a person with disabilities to have equitable access to information and resources • Provide information to people with disabilities in a manner which respects the person’s disability

11. Accessible Information Policy • Make information documents available in plain language • Not charge a person with a disability more for alternate types of informationthan a person who does not have a disability would pay • Give people with a disability at least the same time to review, respond or use information as is given to those who do not have a disability

12. Accessible Information Policy • Meet the information needs of people with disabilities in a timely fashion, recognizing the urgency of the situation • Develop and implement policies, practices and procedures which will enable a person with disabilities to have equitable access to information and resources

13. Accessible Information Policy • Upon request, provide all documents required by law in alternate formats and provide supports and services required by law • Ensure there is adequate funding allocated for the provision of alternate format materials

14. Accessible Information Policy • Appendix to Policies • definitions • Appendix to Accessible Information Policy • Specific alternate measures which will enable a person with disabilities to have equitable access to information and resources • (e.g. – your library’s outreach policy, practices or procedures)

15. Accessible Communication Policy X Library will: • Upon request, provide communication assistance to people with disabilities • Develop and implement practices which will enable a person with disabilities to have access to the same communication as those who do not have a disability

16. Accessible Communication Policy • Provide integrated communication services, or alternate measures, which will enable a person with disabilities to have access to the same communication as those who do not have a disability • Inform people with disabilities about the availability of accessible communication technology, equipment or devices and/or methods of communication available

17. Accessible Communication Policy • Provide communication to people with disabilities in a manner which respects the person’s disability • Make communications available in plain language • Give people with disabilities at least the same time to review, respond or use communications as that given to those who do not have a disability

18. Accessible Communication Policy • Meet the communication needs of people with disabilities in a timely fashion, that recognizes the urgency of the situation

19. Accessible Communication Policy • Appendix to Policies • definitions • Appendix to Accessible Communication Policy • Specific alternate measures which will enable a person with disabilities to be able to communicate • (e.g. – how staff will communicate with a person who is deaf)

20. Procurement of Accessible Goods and Services • Procurement • Universal design principles • Take into account equitable access for people with disabilities, as well as everyone else. • Staff members with procurement responsibilities need to understand that technology, goods, materials and services purchased must be directly accessible to people with disabilities. • Gain a knowledge of whether goods and services will be accessible

21. Procurement of Accessible Goods and Services • Ensure staff have an ongoing dialogue with library users with disabilities about whether goods, technology and services are accessible • Customer Feedback • Buy the most accessible product available at the time. • Some goods and services can be made accessible by the use of assistive technology.

22. Procurement of Accessible Goods and Services • When hiring service providers, hire those who are knowledgeable about accessibility and trained in accessible customer service. • Add requirements to a contractual document (e.g. a request for proposal) to ensure that purchases will be as accessible as possible. • Questions need to be asked of a vendor or manufacturer to ensure the products you are buying will be useable by your consumers or employees with disabilities.

23. Procurement of Accessible Goods and Services • The Accessible Procurement Toolkit (APT) http://www.apt.gc.ca and in French, http://www.boaa.gc.ca/.

24. Accessible Information • Customer Service Training • Documents available in alternate formats • Alternate format materials • Assistive Technology • Accessible Web sites and Web content

25. Accessible Information Customer Service Training • Staff training on Accessible Information Policy, Procedures and Practices • Training about information barriers and the needs of people with disabilities • Assistive devices used by people with disabilities • Assistive devices and technology available at the library

26. Accessible Information Documents available in alternate formats • Forms identified in Standards • Customer Feedback forms • Notification to the public regarding accessibility documents which are available to the public • Upon request, library pamphlets or brochures • Documents available in plain language

27. Accessible Information • CNIB’s Clear Print Guidelines • http://www.cnib.ca/en/services/accessibility/text/clearprint/Default.aspx • Plain Language • http://www.plainlanguage.gov/whatisPL/index.cfm

28. Accessible Information Alternate Format Materials • Development of Collections • Philosophy of inclusion • Ensuring adequate content Large Print Books DAISY books and magazines Electronic books Braille books Printbraille and Tactile books Descriptive videos and DVDs

29. Accessible Information Assistive Technology • Assistive Technology Policy • Under the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service, people with disabilities can bring assistive devices into the library with them. • If your library offers assistive devices or technology, staff must be trained to understand how the assistive technology works and how to assist people with disabilities who will be using it.

30. Accessible Information • Critical to access the Internet, library catalogues, online databases

31. Accessible Information Assistive Technology • Policy, procedures and practices (Accessibility Standards for Customer Service) • People with Vision Loss • People with Learning Disabilities • People with Physical Disabilities

32. Accessible Information Accessible Web sites and web content • Accessible web pages / websites (user interfaces, navigation) • Web sites and web content should be compliant with W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (WCAG 2.0), level A. • New web authoring tools procured by an organization should support the authoring of accessible web sites and enable authoring by people with disabilities by following the current version of ATAG or equivalent guidelines.

33. Accessible Information Accessible Databases Accessible Catalogues

34. Accessible Communication If one form or method of communication cannot be used by a person with a disability, they may be able to use another form or method, or a combination. A form of communication could be writing, speaking or the use of pictures. A method of communication could be in person, over the phone or online.

35. Accessible Communication • Customer Service Training • Alternate Format Materials • Assistive Devices and Technology • Communicating in an Emergency or Evacuation

36. Accessible Communication Customer Service Training • Staff training on Accessible Communication Policy, Procedures and Practices • Training regarding assistive devices and technology used by people with disabilities • Communication supports, technology and devices • (e.g. – American Sign Language interpreter) • Communication barriers and the needs of people with disabilities

37. Accessible Communication Customer Service Training Communicating with people with disabilities • Deaf, deafened or hard of hearing • People with speech impediments • People who use augmentative speech devices • People with intellectual disabilities

38. Accessible Communication • Alternate Format Materials • Close Captioned Videos and DVDs

39. Accessible Communication • Assistive Devices and Technology • TTYs • FM Assistive Listening Systems • Visual Fire Alarms

40. Accessible Communication Communicating in an emergency situation • Review your library’s emergency and evacuation plan • Ensure the needs of people with disabilities who may be in the library at the time of an emergency situation are taken into account in the library’s emergency and evacuation plan • Establish procedures for communicating with people with disabilities during an emergency or evacuation

41. Accessible Communication • Emergency and Evacuation Plans must be explained to people with disabilities in the library who may be employees or volunteers. • Anyone who uses the library should be able to ask questions about the library’s emergency and evacuation plan and to be provided with a copy of the plan.

42. Accessible Communication • When a person with a disability requests a copy of the evacuation plan in alternate format, it will be provided in the format requested in a timely manner. • Communication supports and services about emergency and evacuation planning must be provided to the public, employees and volunteers.

43. Accessible Communication Resources: • Sample Emergency Evacuation Plan. Access Board. • Access Board Emergency Evacuation Procedures. http://www.access-board.gov/evacplan.htm • Americans with Disabilities Act. An ADA Guide for Local Governments. Making Community Emergency Preparedness and Response Programs Accessible to People with Disabilities. http://www.ada.gov/emergencyprep.htm

44. Accessible Communication • University of California, Berkeley. Evacuation Policy for People with Disabilities. April, 2001. http://oep.berkeley.edu/emergencies/disabled_people/documents/EvacPolDisab.pdf

45. Conclusion • Library users with disabilities should enjoy the same access to goods, services and the same ability to communicate as any other library user. • Providing alternate format materials, assistive technologies, and communication tools will enable people with disabilities to have equitable access to your library’s goods and services. • It makes sense to ensure your library is a leader in ensuring accessible information and communications for everyone.

46. Contact Information Dorothy Macnaughton Accessibility and Diversity Training 67 Amber St. Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6A 6N6 (705) 942-4339 Cell phone (705) 542-8967