Monday, July 5, 2010

Round Table on Information Access for Print Disabilities

Anna Biazik, Library assistant from Leys Institute attended three sessions at the 2010 annual conference: think globally, act locally! on 23-25 May 2010.

Preconference tour: Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind (RNZFB)
The conference delegates visited the RNZFB faciliaties in Auckland. The tour included the presentation of departments by staff:

  • Equipment services: viewed tools supporting everyday life of RNZFB members; from large print calendars to talking calculators and a machine recognising colours of clothing.
  • Adoptive communications: JAWS, electronic magnifying glasses, programme STAR (learning Braille);
  • Recording studio
  • Library: circulation process; burn cd on demand facilities
  • Adaptive technology: computer training for members

The vist was very rewarding as staff guided us and responded to questions. The most impressive for me was the Recording studio where we could observe life recording of latest issue of The Listener into DAISY format.

I would recommend a visit to RNZFB to MIS students as it is worthwhile to get familiar and see for yourself what DAISY is, circulation in the Library, recording issues, collage books, JAWS and electronic magnifying glasses.

Trend of DAISY playback device in the world
Mr Hiromitsu Fujimori, represnting PLEXTALK, presented the session updating on news regarding DAISY format and devices. Thanks to the cooperation between the company PLEXTALK and libraries, customers can enjoy news, books and magazines delivered through DAISY players.

There is a range of devices to suit customer's preferences, from small to big examples, from simple to more sophisticated functions.

In general, DAISY players gain popularity with customers as the device can play many formats including DAISY.

PLEASED: Victoria Public Libraries Enhancing Access:
PLEASED: Public Library Accessibility for Disabilities was programmes with a purpose to increase access for people with disabilities. The lesson learned from this programme:

Assess the needs of:

  • people with disabilities, also aged customers
  • caregivers
  • staff

Regarding

  • access issues (physical building, carpark, handrail)
  • equipment
  • training for staff and customers
  • ongoing help and assistance for staff and customers
  • staff disability awareness

This presentation really reminded us about the necessity of staff awareness of disabilities. It would be useful to include this element in customer service training in public libraries.

Libraries Building Communities: Accessibility needs partnerships
The presentation focussed on social inclusion an dpartnership between public libraries and organisations supporting people with disabilities. The success recipe seems to be an establishment of book clubs / reading groups as social outings, with focus on the market group and cooperation of supporting organisations. The feedback gained from users:

  • library as a place to be and meet friends;
  • disability becoming less difficult to deal with
  • becoming self sufficient, more independent

The presetner read a very moving feedback from a customer saying that the book group saved his life as he considered other ways of ending his life. The programme was financially supported by libraries and government agencies.

This presentation made me aware also about the fact that print disability is not only blindness, but also sight impairment, or being unable to hold a book beacuse of Alzheimer, or perceptual disability.

We all shoul dremember thet Large Print books do not solve the problem as people with cataracts, glaucoma and dyslexia will not benefit from LR. There should be a wider selection of availble material for them, like audio books in DAISY format for example.

One upon a Library: NVDA and the Aotearoa People's Network Kaharoa
APNK presented a story on access improvements for people with print disabilities. Based on a customer's suggestions, APNK computers are equipped now in NVDA: Non Vision Desktop Access. Click on the link to read further about this project.

I also recommend that you watch this short presentation.

For this project, the APNKK was awarded with the Extra Touch Award, presented by the Association of Blind Citizens of New Zealand. The award recognises outstanding contribution towards an improvement in access or service to blind and vision impaired people and was presented to APNK for their addition of "Magnifying Glass and NVDA software to the PCs they make available in public libraries up and down the country

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