Accessibility, Universal Design and Libraries: �Let’s Broaden The Discussion
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA
Accessibility Librarian CUNY Central Office of Library Services
Assistant Professor OER Developer Brooklyn College Library
Talk Organization
2
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
What am I going to share?
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
3
Process of picking topic
4
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
We and us, not just them
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
5
Language
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
6
Ableism
“Ableism describes the marginalization of disabled people according to their disability status. One reflection of ableism is the language used to describe disabled people. The evolution of disability etymology influences how disability is conceptualized and how individuals interact with disability. Euphemisms, including “special needs” and “handicapped,” that were originally designed to be de-stigmatizing, ironically have been found to promote ableist ideas and discourage positive disability identity development.”
- Brinkman et al. “Shifting the discourse on disability: Moving to an inclusive, intersectional focus.”
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
7
Person-first vs Identity First
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
8
Person-First Language
“We condemn attempts to label us as “victims,” a term that implies defeat, and we are only occasionally “patients,” a term that implies passivity, helplessness, and dependence upon the care of others. We are “People With AIDS.”
People with AIDS advisory committee. �The Denver Principles (1983)
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
9
Person-First Language (2)
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
10
Identity-First Language
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
11
Autism Language
In the autism community, many self-advocates and their allies prefer terminology such as “Autistic,” “Autistic person,” or “Autistic individual” because we understand autism as an inherent part of an individual’s identity — the same way one refers to “Muslims,” “African-Americans,” “Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer,” “Chinese,” “gifted,” “athletic,” or “Jewish.”
On the other hand, many parents of Autistic people and professionals who work with Autistic people prefer terminology such as “person with autism,” “people with autism,” or “individual with ASD” because they do not consider autism to be part of an individual’s identity and do not want their children to be identified or referred to as “Autistic.” They want “person-first language,” that puts “person” before any identifier such as “autism,” in order to emphasize the humanity of their children”. – Lydia X. Z. Brown (they/them)
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
12
Which should we use?
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
13
Most important things to remember
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
14
Focus on what will create the most respect.
Be flexible.
Respect an individual’s preference.
If you are unsure if you are being inclusive and respectful – ask.
Accessibility Principles
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
15
POUR
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
16
Pour video
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
17
POUR: The 4 principles of accessibility. (2:27) URL: https://youtu.be/hs8sykCaf3E
Pour video transcript part 1
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
18
Pour video transcript part 2
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
19
Universal Design
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
20
What is Universal Design?
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
21
Universal Design vs Accessibility
Accessibility laws are usually focused on providing access for people with disabilities.
Universal design assumes that the range of human ability is ordinary, not special.
Universal Design focuses on inclusion.
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
22
Universal Design’s 7 principles�
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
23
Principle 1: Equitable Use
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
24
Principle 2: Flexibility in Use
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
25
Principle 3: Simple and Intuitive Use
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
26
Principle 4: Perceptible Information
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
27
Principle 5: Tolerance for Error
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
28
Principle 6: Low Physical Effort
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
29
Principle 7: Size (and Space) for Approach and Use
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
30
Bring it all together
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
31
Job Ads, Interviewing, and Hiring
Language review
What is the language like in your job postings?
What about internal library communications?
What to do:
Remove ableist language.
Making sure your library is using inclusive language, across the board, will show your current and prospective employees that inclusiveness is something your library values.
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
32
Job Ads, Interviewing and Hiring (2)
Making sure your job application site is accessible will show your current and prospective employees that accessibility is something your library values.
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
33
Job Ads, Interviewing and Hiring (3)
Library Website review
Does your library website follow POUR principles?
Can users adjust the site’s text size?
Do you provide captions and transcripts for the videos you post?
Do you provide accessibility information in your directions to your library?
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
34
Tenement Museum website https://www.tenement.org
Job Ads, Interviewing and Hiring (4)
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
35
Training
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
36
Procurement
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
37
Physical Space
Space Considerations
Does your library’s physical space incorporate the principles of Universal Design?
Is it designed for equitable use?
Is the space and furniture adjustable to accommodate different needs?
What about your signage?
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
38
Technology used by library workers
Technology Considerations
Are the products and programs required to work at the library accessible?
Have you checked to ensure the back-end of products are accessible?
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
39
Thank You
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
40
Contact Info:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amywolfemls
Email: amy_wolfe_mls@yahoo.com
Sources
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
41
Sources (2)
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
42
Sources (3)
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
43
Sources (4)
AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"
44