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UW Library’s Accessibility Plan…and Beyond…

This comprehensive plan outlines the initiatives undertaken by the University of Waterloo Library to improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities. From the implementation of adaptive technology and accessible e-reserves to addressing attitudinal and technological barriers, the library remains committed to inclusivity and equal access. The plan covers key aspects such as the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, definitions of disability and barrier, strategic directions, and achievements like the Dixon and Student Endowment Funds. By focusing on demographic data, specifics on students with disabilities, and the concept of visible versus invisible disabilities, the library aims to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for all users.

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UW Library’s Accessibility Plan…and Beyond…

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  1. UW Library’s Accessibility Plan…and Beyond… Janet Wason, Co-ordinator, Library Services for Persons with Disabilities May 2, 2007

  2. Overview • Ontarians with Disabilities Act • UW Library’s Accessibility Plan • Further Accomplishments—The Dixon and Student Endowment Funds • Underlying Concepts—what are we really doing? • Strategic Directions—services to students using the Davis Centre Library; adaptive software, and…?

  3. The Goal of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001 (ODA) • To improve opportunities for persons with disabilities and to provide for their involvement in the identification, removal and prevention of barriers to their full participation in the life of the province.

  4. Definitions (From: ONTARIANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, 2001: GUIDE TO THE ACT http://www.gov.on.ca/citizenship/accessibility/english/guide.htm) • Disability • Barrier

  5. Disability • The following is the same definition as used in the Ontario Human Rights Code. A “disability” is: • Any degree of physical disability, infirmity, malformation or disfigurement caused by bodily injury, birth defect or illness; • A condition of mental impairment or a developmental disability; • A learning disability, or a dysfunction in one or more of the processes involved in understanding or using symbols or spoken language; • A mental disorder; or • An injury or disability for which benefits were claimed or received under the insurance plan established under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997.

  6. Barrier A “barrier” is anything that stops a person with a disability from fully taking part in society because of that disability. Some barriers include: • Physical barriers, for example a step at the entrance to a store; • Architectural barriers, for example no elevators in a building of more than one floor; • Information or communications barriers, for example a publication that is not available in large print; • Attitudinal barriers, for example assuming people with a disability can’t perform a certain task when in fact they can; • Technological barriers such as traffic lights that change too quickly before a person with a disability has time to get through the intersection; and • Barriers created by policies or practices, for instance not offering different ways to complete a test as part of job hiring.

  7. The Library’s Accessibility Plan, 2003 • Found at: http://www.lib.uwaterloo.ca/News/UWLibDocs/access/plan.html

  8. The Library’s Accessibility Plan… Points to keep in mind: • A.1.ii.—terms of reference • A.3.i.—annual progress report • B.1.ii—product assessment checklist • B.3.i.—accessible e-reserves • C.2.i.c.—book stacks weeding projects and accessible aisles • C.4.i.—accessibility features in the Davis Centre Library

  9. Questions?

  10. Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 • The purpose of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, is to achieve accessibility for Ontarians with disabilities with respect to goods, services, facilities, accommodation, employment, buildings, structures and premises on or before January 1, 2025, by developing, implementing and enforcing accessibility standards….

  11. Further Accomplishments • Ross and Doris Dixon Charitable Foundation Adaptive Technology Fund, awarded 2004: • Adaptive Technology Centre equipped with colour CCTV/Videomagnifier, ergonomic chairs, a 4th computer with adaptive software, 2005-2006 • Davis Centre Library equipped with a colour CCTV/Videomagnifier, 2007 (Access. Plan c.4.i.)

  12. …Further Accomplishments • Student Endowment Fund, 2005-2006, partial funding for: • Large print range-end signs for Dana Porter Library 3rd floor (Library Survey recommendation #2) • Upgrading Dana Porter Library elevator control panels (Access. Plan. C.5.i.)

  13. Questions?

  14. What are we actually doing? • Population statistics--who are these students? • Underlying concepts: • Ability/disability as a continuum • 2 guiding principles

  15. Demographics—number of students • In 2003, about 900 were registered with the UW Office for Persons with Disabilities (OPD). • In 2005-2006, 1395 students were registered with OPD. • Third largest number of students with disabilities registered at an Ontario university (proportional to overall student population).

  16. Population statistics—breakdown by Disability, 2005-2006 • Learning Disability—463 • Chronic Medical/Systemic—283 • Psychiatric—249 • Mobility/Functional—196 • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder—85 • Low Vision/Blind—35 • Deaf/Deafened/Hard of Hearing—32 • Acquired Brain Injury—5 • Other (including multiple disabilities)—47

  17. Visible vs. Invisible Disabilities • Visible—Mobility/Functional; low vision/blind; deaf, deafened, hard of hearing—263. • Invisible—Learning disability; chronic medical/systemic; psychiatric; ADHD; acquired brain injury—1085

  18. A Guiding Principle • "Inclusive design should not, however, preclude the possibilities of special or exclusive design features to facilitate the movement of those with specific physical or mental impairments." Robert Imrie, Inclusive Design, Designing and Developing AccessibleEnvironments, 2001, p. 20

  19. Another Guiding Principle • Promoting inclusion by creating diversity.

  20. Questions?

  21. Directions 1—Services to Students using the Davis Centre Library (Access. Plan C.4.i.) Background: • Davis Centre Library Accessibility Centre disbanded in 1999, because of low use • Current specialized services—an electronically adjustable workstation in the RBC Information Commons, and now a CCTV/Videomagnifier in DC 1522

  22. …Services to Students using the Davis Centre Library OPD Registration by Faculty, 2004-2005: • AHS—84 • Math—135 • Science—136 • Engineering—190 (total number of students is 1270; registration information available for 1011 of them; using this number 53.9% are from the above 4 faculties)

  23. …Services to Students using the Davis Centre Library • What do students want? What do students need? • Library Survey of Information and Accessibility Needs of Students with Disabilities, 2004 (Access. Plan A.2.i.) • Focus Group(s), 2006 • OPD to poll students using their Education and Technology Lab (ET Lab)

  24. …Services to Students using the Davis Centre Library • They like the variety of environments offered by the Davis Centre Library • They like being near their classes and with their friends • Privacy for study, including more space between cubicles, more space at workstations and study rooms • Engineering and Math software….not necessarily adaptive technology… • …yet in what way do they use the ET Lab? Their space? Confidentiality?

  25. …Services to Students using the Davis Centre Library • Build it and they will come? • Accessibility considerations are part of the Davis Centre Library Renovations Team mandate, and I am part of that group

  26. Directions 2—Adaptive Software • JAWS screenreader on library laptops? • Networking adaptive software on general library computers? (Library Survey recommendation 6) • Example of McMaster Learning Commons which has networked access to JAWS, Kurzweil 3000, and ZoomText on all of the computers (limited number of licences)

  27. Questions?

  28. Thank You! Janet Wason jewason@library.uwaterloo.ca (519) 888-4567 x33012 www.lib.uwaterloo.ca/access/index.html

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