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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

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Talk Organization

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AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"

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What am I going to share?

  1. Process of picking keynote topic
  2. Sharing Accessibility Information
    1. Language
    2. Explanation of Web/Digital Accessibility Principles - POUR
    3. Explanation of Universal Design and the 7 Universal Design Principles
  3. Accessibility opportunities in the behind-the-scenes world of our libraries.
        • Job ads, interviewing and onboarding
        • Training and training manuals
        • Procurement considerations
        • Space and technology used by staff and librarians
  4. Q and A or Question and Discussion

AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"

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Process of picking topic

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AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"

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We and us, not just them

  • Motivating Thought: The accessibility in the products we use and our services as a profession.

AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"

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  • Talk Focus: How we, as librarians and library workers, can incorporate accessibility into the behind-the-scenes culture of our libraries.

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Language

AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"

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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"

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Person-first vs Identity First

AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"

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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"

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Person-First Language (2)

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  • People-first language means putting the person first in the name, as in “people with disability” or “voters with disabilities”.
  • People-first language puts the person before the disability, and describes what a person has, not who a person is.

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Identity-First Language

AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"

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  • Identity-first language means putting the identity /trait first, as in “deaf people”, “deaf students”, and/or the “Deaf community”.
  • Identity-first language views the trait as a central and important part of their identity and take pride in it
  • “Hard of hearing” tends to refer to people with mild or moderate hearing loss, those who lost hearing later in life, or those who don’t otherwise identify with the Deaf community.
  • Varying views on the term “hearing-impaired”

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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"

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Which should we use?

AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"

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Most important things to remember

AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"

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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.

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Accessibility Principles

AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"

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POUR

  • POUR is an acronym which is used as a way of approaching web accessibility by breaking it down into four main aspects.
  • Perceivable
    • Is content available to at least one of our senses?
  • Operable
    • Can a user successfully use controls, buttons, navigation, and other interactive elements?
  • Understandable
    • Users should be able to comprehend your content and learn and remember how to use your site.
  • Robust
    • Content must be robust enough that it can be accessed on various devices and using various technologies

AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"

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Pour video

AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"

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POUR: The 4 principles of accessibility. (2:27) URL: https://youtu.be/hs8sykCaf3E

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Pour video transcript part 1

  • In case video doesn’t work – here is the transcript part 1

  • 0:11 - For a digital service to be accessible, there are four things that need to happen. So somebody
  • 0:16 - needs to be able to perceive the content. That means that that content is available
  • 0:20 - to at least one of their senses. So, if you have a visual impairment, can you see it because
  • 0:28 - you can make it large enough. Is there good colour contrast? If you’re blind, does your
  • 0:34 - screen reader work with the content and read it out to you? If you’re deaf, and there’s
  • 0:41 - some audio, is there a text representation that you can read instead of listen to.
  • 0:48 -The other thing that needs to happen is that somebody needs to be able to operate the website or
  • 0:56 - the interface. So not everybody uses a mouse. Some people may have a mobility impairment
  • 1:04 - that means that they’re forced to use a keyboard, or may use speech recognition software.
  • 1:09 - If a service doesn’t work with the input device that somebody is using, they’re not
  • 1:12 - going to be able to go to the page that they want to go to to or submit the information
  • 1:16 - that they need to submit.

AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"

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Pour video transcript part 2

  • In case video doesn’t work – here is the transcript part 2
  • You also need to be able to understand the content. So it’s
  • 1:22 - all very well you receiving that content but if you can’t understand it then you won’t
  • 1:26 - be able to do what you need to do. So people have a range of cognitive abilities. Some
  • 1:33 - people may struggle to read due to dyslexia, maybe on the autistic spectrum, so using things
  • 1:43 - like clear and simple language that is easy to understand, making sure that interfaces
  • 1:49 - are consistent and predictable are really important to making sure that somebody can
  • 1:55 - understand the content and how to use your service.

  • The last bit is that it needs to
  • 1:59 - be robust and that means it’s been built in such a way that it’s compatible with
  • 2:05 - the technology that people are using. So if somebody is using a screen reader, does it
  • 2:10 - work with that screen reader? If somebody is using an older browser, does it work with
  • 2:14 - that older browser? If any one of those four things don’t work then somebody won’t
  • 2:18 - be able to have a successful interaction and complete the task that they’re trying to do.

AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"

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Universal Design

AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"

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What is Universal Design?

  • Universal design is design that’s usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. -- Ron Mace, 1985
  • Ron Mace coined the term “universal design,” advocating for designing all products and the built environment to be aesthetic and usable to the greatest extent possible by everyone, regardless of age, ability, or status in life.

AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"

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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"

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Universal Design’s 7 principles

  • The purpose of the 7 Principles is to guide the design of environments, products and communications.

AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"

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Principle 1: Equitable Use

    • Provide the same means of use for all users: identical whenever possible; equivalent when not.
    • Avoid segregating or stigmatizing any users.
    • Make the design appealing to all users.

AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"

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Principle 2: Flexibility in Use

  • The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities.
  • Accommodate right- or left-handed access and use.
  • Provide adaptability to the user's pace

AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"

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Principle 3: Simple and Intuitive Use

  • Eliminate unnecessary complexity.
  • Be consistent with user expectations and intuition.
  • Accommodate a wide range of literacy and language skills.
  • Arrange information consistent with its importance.
  • Provide effective prompting and feedback during and after task completion.

AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"

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Principle 4: Perceptible Information

  • Use different modes (pictorial, verbal, tactile) for redundant presentation of essential information.
  • Provide adequate contrast between essential information and its surroundings.
  • Maximize "legibility" of essential information.
  • Differentiate elements in ways that can be described (i.e., make it easy to give instructions or directions).
  • Provide compatibility with a variety of techniques or devices used by people with sensory limitations.

AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"

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Principle 5: Tolerance for Error

  • Arrange elements to minimize hazards and errors: most used elements, most accessible; hazardous elements eliminated, isolated, or shielded. 
  • Provide warnings of hazards and errors.
  • Provide fail safe features. 
  • Discourage unconscious action in tasks that require vigilance. 

AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"

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Principle 6: Low Physical Effort

  • Allow user to maintain a neutral body position.
  • Use reasonable operating forces.
  • Minimize repetitive actions. 
  • Minimize sustained physical effort.

AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"

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Principle 7: Size (and Space) for Approach and Use

  • Provide a clear line of sight to important elements for any seated or standing user.
  • Make reach to all components comfortable for any seated or standing user.
  • Accommodate variations in hand and grip size.
  • Provide adequate space for the use of assistive devices or personal assistance.

AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"

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Bring it all together

  • Job ads, interviewing and hiring.
  • Training and training materials.
  • Space and technology we use in our workspaces
  • Procurement considerations

AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"

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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"

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Job Ads, Interviewing and Hiring (2)

  • Job Application Website review
  • Does your job application site follow POUR principles?
  • Are the instructions on the site understandable, clear and concise?
  • Can an applicant use assistive technology to apply without extra effort?

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"

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Job Ads, Interviewing and Hiring (3)

Library Website review

Does your library website follow POUR principles?

    • Both the public website and internal websites

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"

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Tenement Museum website https://www.tenement.org

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Job Ads, Interviewing and Hiring (4)

  • Are your Interviews accessible?
  • Do you offer various ways to interview?
  • Do you provide interview questions beforehand?
  • Do we really need day-long interviews?
  • Are tour routes accessible?

AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"

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Training

  • Training Considerations
  • Are the training materials provided to you from vendors accessible?
  • Do they provide captioning of the videos?
  • What about the training materials you create?

AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"

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Procurement

  • Procurement Considerations
  • Make sure accessibility is a part of your procurement workflow
  • Reach out to vendors and ask them about a product’s accessibility
  • Both the public side and the back-end side

AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"

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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"

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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"

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Thank You

  • Be inspired
  • Not deterred
  • By the chance to incorporate accessibility
  • Into your Library
  • - Amy Wolfe

AMY WOLFE, MLS, MA: KEYNOTE AT ENUG 2024 "ACCESSIBILITY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND LIBRARIES: LET’S BROADEN THE DISCUSSION"

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Contact Info:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amywolfemls

Email: amy_wolfe_mls@yahoo.com

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Sources

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Sources (2)

  • Brown, Robin., Welhouse, Zach., and Wolfe, Amy. (April 14, 2020) Keeping Up With... Universal Design for Learning. American Library Association https://www.ala.org/acrl/publications/keeping_up_with/udl
  • Centre for Excellence in Universal Design (CEUD) The 7 Principles https://universaldesign.ie/about-universal-design/the-7-principles
  • Chartres-Aris, Celia and Shields, Jamie. (Hosts) Unlearning Ableism podcast [Audio podcast]. Unlearning Ableism. https://linktr.ee/unlearningableism
  • ExLibris Knowledge Center (2013) Alma Accessibility Statement Clarivate https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/Alma/Product_Materials/080Alma_Accessibility
  • FROLIC studio (n.d.) The 7 principles of Universal Design https://www.frolicstudio.com/insights/universal-design
  • Government Digital Service. (2017, Oct. 23) POUR: The 4 principles of accessibility. (2:27) https://youtu.be/hs8sykCaf3E
  • Liebowitz, Cara. (March 20, 2015) I am Disabled: On Identity-First Versus People-First Language thebodyisnotanapology.com/magazine/i-am-disabled-on-identity-first-versus-people-first-language

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Sources (3)

  • Maarno, R., von Zansen, M. and Ylänne, K. (July 2017 ) Finnish Accessibility Guidelines for Public Libraries https://www.celia.fi/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/guidelines-for-accessible-libraries_muok.pdf
  • National Association of the Deaf (NAD) (n.d) Community and Culture – Frequently Asked Questions. https://www.nad.org/resources/american-sign-language/community-and-culture-frequently-asked-questions/
  • NIH Style Guide (n.d) Autism https://www.nih.gov/nih-style-guide/autism#neurodiversity
  • People with AIDS advisory committee (1983) The Denver Principles https://actupny.org/documents/denver_principles.pdf
  • Rahman, L. (2019, July 11). Disability Language Guide. Disability Guides. Stanford University. https://disability.stanford.edu/resources/disability-guides
  • RL Mace Universal Design Institute. (1997) Universal Design Principles NC State University https://www.udinstitute.org/principles
  • Rethinking the Future (RTF) What are the 7 principles of universal design? https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/architectural-community/a7158-what-are-the-7-principles-of-universal-design/

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Sources (4)

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