Education Commons^™

Use Of Information Resources And Service By Non Academic Staff Of Agriculture University Libraries In Eastern Nigeria (Unn, Moua And Futo), Lawal Mohammed Tukur, S. Kannan

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study examines the accessibility, utilization and satisfaction of information resources and services in Nigeria's Agriculture University Libraries. Non-academic staff, from Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Abia and University of Nigeria Nsukka are the respondents. The main objective of the study is to study the information resources, services, utilization and satisfaction at Agriculture University Libraries in Nigeria in order to analyze the types of available information resources, the level of usage and user satisfaction. Questionnaires were provided to users and the researcher took 1.3 % of the entire respondent population= 5878= 78, so seventy eight …

Accessibility: Disabilities Treasure Hunt, Devorah Kletenik

Open Educational Resources

This is a treasure hunt game that simulates various disabilities and gives a sense of how frustrating non-accessible content can be for people with disabilities. Suitable for a general audience, no programming experience necessary.

An editable copy is also given, along with ideas about how to make it more accessible.

Challenges, Practices, And Preferences Of Postsecondary Accessibility Service Providers In Alberta When Implementing Accommodations For Invisible Disabilities, Tara-Jean M. Wenc

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although the last few decades have seen an improvement in postsecondary opportunities for students with invisible disabilities in Alberta, service providers at postsecondary institutions continue to struggle to ensure they provide reasonable accommodations in a timely manner. Research questions explored the current practices and challenges of postsecondary accessibility services providers in Alberta, Canada, and their preferences for verification documentation for students requesting accommodations for invisible disabilities. The conceptual framework was based upon the medical and social models of disability, as well as the emerging justice theory of disability. Data were collected via semistructured interviews with 13 participants. A constant comparative …

Academic Accommodation Procedure For Students With Disabilities, Office Of The Dean Of Students, Student Experience & Enrolment Management, Centre For Equity And Inclusion

Resources

The purpose of this procedure is to assist in implementing Sheridan’s Academic Accommodation Policy.

Academic accommodations considered in this procedure will be guided by the following principles:

• Inclusion and full participation

• Respect for dignity

• Individualization

  These principles will enable Sheridan’s commitment to ensure all students realize their full potential.

Lemonade Stand: An Original Theatre For Young Audiences Play For Neurodiverse Children, Kate Tayler

Honors Projects

Lemonade Stand is an original play a Theatre For Young Audiences-style play written with accessibility in mind for neurodiverse children, especially with ADHD and autism.

One Step At A Time: A Case Study Of Incorporating Universal Design For Learning In Library Instruction, Samantha H. Peter, Kristina A. Clement

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, Innovative Pedagogy

This paper introduces the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), an inclusive pedagogical principle that works to make instruction accessible for all by incorporating different needs of learners into instructional design. This article provides a brief analysis of the literature on UDL within the field of academic libraries and focuses specifically on library instruction. The paper then concludes with a comprehensive case study of the authors’ journey to actively incorporate UDL into their information literacy instruction sessions over a two-semester period, including lessons learned throughout their process.

Opening Editorial: The Origin And Aims Of The Developmental Disabilities Network Journal, Matthew Wappett

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

In this article, I share my experience of going to school and noticing different groups of students. I noticed that students with disabilities were treated differently, but I didn't understand why. Throughout history, people with disabilities have often been treated differently. For hundreds of years, people with disabilities did not live with their families or in their communities. People with disabilities were often forced to live in institutions or workhouses. Institutions were not good places; they were dangerous, unclean, and isolated. People with disabilities were not allowed to live the life they wanted. In the 1960s, many advocates wanted to …

Best Practices: Accessibility & Equity For E-Learning Content, Mary R. Elmquist, R.C. Miessler

All Musselman Library Staff Works

When creating digital objects for use in teaching, instructors have an opportunity to expand the usability of their materials by adding accessibility features. This session presents a broad definition of accessibility, explains why it is important for instructors to consider accessibility as they create digital teaching materials, and describes some strategies and best practices for adding accessibility to digital learning objects.

How Can Libraries Move Towards A More Inclusive Model Of Reference? A Practical Approach To Serve Distance Students, Lauren Puzier, Camille Chesley, Amanda M. Lowe

University Libraries Faculty Scholarship

Research consultations are a valuable service offered by academic libraries for students who are able to visit the library, however, many students enrolled in online degree programs or considering enrollment have limited access to campus services. We designed and tested a virtual reference consultation service for distance learners and graduate students. This interactive poster outlines a practical approach for designing and initiating a virtual research consultation service to offer equitable access to library services and a positive user experience for distance learners.

Libguides 2.0 Continued: Implementing Best Practices In Design And Accessibility After Migration, Holly Mabry, Jessica Xiong

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Since migrating LibGuides from version 1.0 to 2.0 in 2015, librarians at Gardner-Webb University have adopted a continuous evaluation approach that addresses best practices in LibGuides design, accessibility, and instruction techniques. This presentation will provide an overview of Gardner-Webb Library’s experiences with the migration and evaluation process.

The librarians formed a professional learning community (PLC) to choose colors, fonts, and layout templates to use after the migration that would fit in with the university’s branding. In 2018, one of the librarians provided best practices and training in accessibility for people with disabilities. In the summer of 2019, two of the …

Accessibility Best Practices, Procedures, And Policies In Northwest United States Academic Libraries, Rebeca Peacock, Amy Vecchione

Library Faculty Publications and Presentations

Academic libraries are responsible for providing accessible copies of collection materials to individuals facing a variety of accessibility needs. Accessibility needs differ from user to user, often making each request an individualized service. However, do academic libraries have a responsibility to embrace a Universal Design for Learning approach to their acquisitions process? Do academic library workers need to establish policies as part of the procurement process? This research surveyed academic libraries at institutions similar to Affiliated University in size, graduate program offerings, and within the same region to help answer the questions: how academic libraries in the Northwest United States …

Building An Inclusive Library Through Staff Accessibility Training, K.T. L. Vaughan

Libraries

Libraries provide a needed third place for students to engage with their peers and faculty, both academically and socially. Staff behavior, knowledge, and skills in providing an accessible and inclusive environment are key to helping students with disabilities feel that they belong in the libraries. This makes training in disability and accessibility awareness a necessary component of the overall program for the library. This study assessed a locally-developed, online training program for staff of all levels that was intended to improve staff knowledge and skills in disability etiquette, library services and spaces that support people with disabilities, and the policies …

The More You Know, The More You Owe, Megan Price

School of Information Student Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Using Free & Open Tools: A Holistic Selection Process Centered On Digital Literacy, Tim Miller

Digital Initiatives Symposium

This session will cover free and open tools as well as teaching strategies for creating and implementing digital/web literacy and digital media instruction. The session will also be useful for people looking for free and open tools for their own projects, including how to get started and how to learn necessary new skills. Considerations such as terms of use, privacy, accessibility and licensing can be as or more important than functionality. Additionally, adopting open tools can advance conversations about open licensing which, in turn, can promote the application of creative commons and public domain licenses to appropriate works. Knowing about …

2019 Accessibility Roundtable Customer Service Planning, Annie Bélanger

Presentations

Accessibility permeates all aspects of our public-facing work. Being accessible is in every aspect of workflow development and application for user services and support. Many more than the manager are involved in the development and application of our guidelines, practices and procedures. It is everyone’s responsibility.

The session covered:

• What is accessibility?
• Accessible Customer Service
  • Leading Practices
  • Practical approaches to delivery
  • Planning with Accessibility in Mind
  • Resources to learn more about accessibility in libraries

The session is premised on goal of accessibility, or moving beyond compliance. As such, accessible means that a person with a disability is afforded the opportunity …

Ada Enhancements & Requirements Union College & Richard Bernstein, Scott Felix

2019 Diversity and Inclusion Certification Course

The American Disabilities Act became law in 1990 under George Bush. It is a civil rights law that protect individuals with disabilities in all areas of life. It is similar to the protection of individual on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age or religion. In reference to construction of spaces it plays a major role in planning for the accessibility of a space for projects on commercial or private business based on size of a company or organization. But in general it is looking out for a group that is not able to look out for themselves …

Journeys Through Rough Country: An Ethnographic Study Of Blind Adults Successfully Employed In American Corporations, Kirk Adams

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Blind and visually impaired people in the United States face a dire employment situation within professional careers and corporate employment. The purpose of this research study was to gain insights into the phenomenon of employment of blind people through analyzing the lived experience of successfully employed blind adults through ethnographic interviews. Previous research has shown that seven out of ten blind adults are not in the workforce, that a large percentage of those who are employed consider themselves underemployed, and that these numbers have not improved over time. Missing from previous research were insights into the conditions leading to successful …

State Of Practice In Accessible Instructional Material Policy In Public Post-Secondary Settings, Veronica Mcgowan

Administrative Issues Journal

For many students, easy access to instructional materials is an expectation of course enrollment. However, for students with disabilities, obtaining instructional materials may involve hurdles such as transcription, captioning, and requesting a braille or large-print version. In order to explore themes related to accessibility and services for students with disabilities, the goal of this study was to examine the similarities and differences between publicly communicated policies related to accessible instructional materials in public post-secondary educational settings. To that end, this study consists of website-provided accessible instructional materials policy of 60 higher educational institutions, representing five American geographic areas and four …

The Greater Unconformity, Emily Ford

Summit to Salish Sea: Inquiries and Essays

In recent light of sexual harassment cases going unaddressed at Grand Canyon National Park and other public lands, there is a need to call out the persistent social, political, and economic structures that allow such acts to occur and go undocumented and unaddressed. A thorough explanation of geologic unconformities, especially the Great Unconformity in the Grand Canyon, is used as a seamless metaphor for a lack of space for women in the outdoors. This graduate capstone presentation includes an exploration of the gender binary, feminism, the geology of the Grand Canyon, the nature of unconformities, intersectionality, and ecofeminism. In conclusion, …

University Libraries Equity & Inclusion Committee White Paper, Janelle Yahne, Samantha Minnis, Annie Bélanger, Jacklyn Rander, Matthew Reidsma, Gayle Schaub, Jennifer Torreano

Library Reports and Communication

By Fall 2017, ULEIC, and the task force before it, had been successful in bringing training opportunities to the attention of Libraries faculty and staff. However, the committee was struggling with defining its scope in relation to the work of Faculty Development and Support Committee (FDSC) and Department Heads. Collaborating with the Dean, it was decided to move forward with a co-creation facilitation, which would engage all members of ULEIC, to define:

• The vision/purpose for the committee
• It's relationships and partnerships with other library and campus groups
• The desired outcomes
• A new charge
• A workplan

This report summarizes the findings …

An Assessment Of Disability Access At The University Of Kentucky, Megan S. Coffinbargar

Oswald Research and Creativity Competition

This study assesses the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) compliance at the University of Kentucky. Twenty buildings frequently used by undergraduates at the University of Kentucky were evaluated using the ADA Checklist for Existing Facilities focusing on Title III, Public Accommodations, and Priority Two, Access to Goods and Services. Data was collected over two weeks (July 20, 2017-August 3, 2017) and then evaluated using descriptive analysis. Data was analyzed looking across checklist items, buildings, checklist categories, and construction dates. Looking across checklist items, compliance ranged from 12-20 buildings out of 20 possible with 18.485 buildings as the average. …

Barriers To Fanfiction Access: Results From A Usability Inspection Of Fanfiction.Net, Jayne C. Lammers, Nicholas P. Palumbo

Journal of Media Literacy Education

As researchers encourage teachers to bring fanfiction into classrooms, questions remain about whether online fanfiction communities are accessible to all students. This paper presents results from a practitioner-oriented usability inspection of FanFiction.net, investigating challenges students with disabilities might encounter as they participate. Operating this website with screen reader assistive technology reveals navigation, social connection, and reading barriers users may face when trying to engage in typical fanfiction practices. This study offers implications for media literacy educators to consider as they work to bring online media into classrooms without further marginalizing students with disabilities.

Universal Design For Learning: Guiding Principles To Reduce Barriers To Digital & Media Literacy Competence, Elizabeth M. Dalton

Journal of Media Literacy Education

Universal Design for Learning (UDL), a framework for designing instruction to address the wide range of learner variation in today’s inclusive classrooms, can be applied effectively to broaden access, understanding, and engagement in digital and media literacy learning for ALL. UDL supports constructivist learning principles. UDL strategiesand methods encouragedevelopment of expert learners though personal engagement and motivation. UDL transforms one-size-fits-all instruction into diverse, multiple, and accessible learning opportunities that embrace student variation. UDL principles and guidelines offer a unique way for educators in digital and media literacy fields to ensure that their work will benefit the widest range of learners, …

Alton's Sidewalks, Jenna Flemming

Faculty of Applied Health and Community Studies - Exceptional Student Work, 2017

This reflection and PowerPoint presentation were part of an assignment in the course Policy and Justice in an Aging Society (Year 2, Semester 1) in the Social Service Worker Gerontology program. The purpose of this assignment was to engage in advocacy work on issues and promote change and solutions by raising awareness.

Jenna describes her process for advocating for change "I decided to advocate for change to the lack of accessibility of sidewalks. I chose to focus on this because it is an issue I see everywhere, it effects a lot of people including seniors, people with disabilities or parents …

“On Your Feet!”: Addressing Ableism In Theatre Of The Oppressed Facilitation, Caitlin E. Ray

Pedagogy and Theatre of the Oppressed Journal

Theatre of the Oppressed workshops strive to be inclusive and democratic; however, the facilitation of such workshops may actually limit inclusiveness when facilitators assume a certain level of physical ability in its participants. By considering disability scholarship and Universal Design pedagogy, I introduce specific ways in which facilitators can be more inclusive to the diversity of bodies in our workshops. I also include an example Image Theatre activity that applies my disability-conscious suggestions.

Pedagogy For A Plugged-In Age, Independent Study 2017, Andrew Hladkyj

Publications and Scholarship

This is an independent study for Hladkyj's graduate studies in Strategic Foresight and Innovation (MDes) at OCAD University. The study’s goal is to establish a “lay of the land” informing how technology and pedagogy might be designed in the Web Design Graduate Certificate program Hladkyj spearheaded at Sheridan College.

The research consists of a literature review validated by primary sources, composed of four 30-minute, semi-structured expert interviews with college-level design educators, administrators, and students (both current and former).

A modified, “human-centred” STEEP V (Social, Technological, Economic, Environmental, Political, Values) framework provides context to the findings.The output is actionable and threefold: …

“There Is Nothing Inherently Mysterious About Assistive Technology”: A Qualitative Study About Blind User Experiences In Us Academic Libraries, Adina Mulliken

Publications and Research

Eighteen academic library users who are blind were interviewed about their experiences with academic libraries and the libraries’ websites using an open-ended questionnaire and recorded telephone interviews. The study approaches these topics from a user-centered perspective, with the idea that blind users themselves can provide particularly reliable insights into the issues and potential solutions that are most critical to them. Most participants used reference librarians’ assistance, and most had positive experiences. High-level screen reader users requested help with specific needs. A larger number of participants reported contacting a librarian because of feeling overwhelmed by the library website. In some cases, …

Video Modeling To Increase Interaction For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder In A Museum Setting Using An Application On A Tablet, Bethany Miota Miota

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis was to perform an exploratory study to determine if the ScanDo! app intervention is an assistive technology that increases interaction for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in a museum setting. The ScanDo! app intervention presented a video demonstration that modeled the interaction for each learning station by scanning the QR code attached to the station. Using a naturally occurring baseline single-subject design with ABA and reversed ABA phases, two children with ASD and their parents visited the grocery store exhibit at a children’s museum. Observers of the trials and questionnaires completed by parents before …

When Open Isn't Accessible, Anne Larrivee, Nazely Kurkjian, Andrea Macargel, Amanda Baker

Anne Larrivee

A poster describing how to evaluate, create, and locate open educational resources that are accessible.

Accessibility Services Roundtable Unconference Proceedings 2016, Lacuny Accessibility Services Roundtable, Robin Brown

Events

A group of 16, mostly librarians, met in the Archives Reading Room of City College Library on Friday, June 17, 2016. The format of our meeting was an unconference, which means the conversations were driven by the concerns of the participants. I have no doubt that anyone who reads this document will come away with different impressions. The ideas that jumped out at me include learning a lot more about universal design for learning. Be aware that phones can be used in the classroom as assistive technology. Consider doing a usability study of library resources in concert with students with …