The Accessible Virtual Campus

Library

Illustration represents virtual campus Library section.

Universal design concepts for databases, assembly areas, furniture, and oh yes, books are annotated here.  See Instructional Methods and Media & Materials or guidelines to create universally designed materials in the offices that manage these services.

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Accessible Documents Using Styles

This PDF contains a quick and easy overview on how the "styles" feature enables the design of accessible documents, as well as organized and structured documents.

R2D2 Center at UW-Milwaukee

Accessible Documents Using Styles  (PDF File)

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Electronic Information Kiosk AUDIT

Use this AUDIT to determine how universally designed a kiosk is. This three part audit assesses accessibility, usability, and score.

R2D2 Center at UW-Milwaukee

Electronic Information Kiosk AUDIT  (Excel Document)

Electronic Information Kiosk Manual  (PDF File)

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EqTD's for Graphic Elements - Why & Where

Equivalent text descriptions (EqTD's) are extremely important and can be difficult to create. Here you will find a set of EqTD related documents that detail processes, purposes and levels of complexity. The origin of providing alternative text for graphic elements and a brief review of the R2D2 standard are included.

R2D2 Center at UW-Milwaukee

Equivalent Text Descriptions - Why and Where  (PDF File)

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Service Contract Tips

This document contains tips for "contracting for services that work for everyone including people with disabilities". Check these tips to insure accessibility before contracting for services.

R2D2 Center at UW-Milwaukee

Service Contract Tips  (Word Document)

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Video Closed Captioning Protocol

This protocol will help you to create a video with a caption track. Videos captioned with this method will be playable by older versions of QuickTime, back to QuickTime 3 (depending on video and audio code used).

R2D2 Center at UW-Milwaukee

Video Closed Captioning Protocol  (PDF File)

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Video Descriptive Track Protocol (Draft)

This protocol will help you create a video with an additional audio track that attempts to describe the visual component of the video. Note that the file created from this document will always have the additional track playing. We are currently examining the possibility of adding a toggle button.

Video Descriptive Track Protocol (Draft)  (PDF File)

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8 Reasons Information Professionals Should Care About Accessibility

This "blog" post (9-23-2011) by a Masters student in Library and Information Studies emphasizes, "A frequent positive side effect of accommodating people with disabilities is creating better usability for non-disabled customers." The author discusses many other relevant points for library professionals and educators.

Charlotte Flynn, Syracuse iSchool community

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Access to libraries for persons with disabilities - A CHECKLIST

In order to provide equal opportunities for all library users, it is necessary to look with the eyes of all patron groups at the physical condition of library buildings, as well as library services and programs. This checklist, developed by the IFLA Standing Committee of Libraries Serving Disadvantaged Persons (LSDP) in the Hague, is designed as a practical tool for all types of libraries (public, academic, school, special) to assess existing levels of accessibility to buildings, services, materials and programs and to enhance accessibility where needed.

The Hague, IFLA Headquarters, 2005

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Accessible Desks and Furniture

This webpage provides a list of desks and tables that follow ADA guidelines and meet accessibility standards. This page is provided to supply information and examples of universally designed furniture for buyers.

Accessible Environments, Inc.

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Accessible Libraries

This website provides tips and guidelines to make libraries accessible.

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Checklists for Making Library Automation Accessible to Patrons with Disabilities

This 27-page, 2001, document offers guidance to comply with federal legislation mandating equity of access to public resources for disabled and non-disabled persons, and to ensure that patrons with disabilities regard computers as an aid to their successful library use. Libraries need to plan for and implement accessibility measures for both patrons and library staff members who may also have disabilities. Equitable access to the library's facilities means not only using technology that translates print into speech to provide access to traditional media, but also ensuring that new technology used to support library programs (on-line catalogs, microcomputers provided for public use of application software and the Internet, etc.) are made accessible. The focus of this document is predominantly on this latter need. (The original version of this document was funded by the Trace Center, Madison, WI.)

Jane Berliss-Vincent, InFoPeople, Sacramento, CA

Checklists for Making Library Automation Accessible  (PDF File)

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Electronic Course Reserves: A Case Study on Universal Access to Electronic Information in Academic Libraries

A student with a disability shares his experience with the library.

Washington University, DO-IT

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Ergonomic Workstations

This 8 question quiz tests your knowledge of ergonomics in the workplace. This website also provides products to accommodate a wide range of physical abilities and impairments. The developers of these products implement universal design in all of their work.

Humantech, Inc.

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How can library databases be made more accessible?

This web page provides a short list of tips to make library databases more accessible. Some tips include speech output systems and electronic resources.

Washington University, DO-IT

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IFLA Professional Reports - Library Accessibility

On this page you will find links to relevant reports concerning library accessibility: See #90 Designing and Building Integrated Digital Library Systems-Guidelines; and # 89 Access to libraries for persons with disabilities checklist as separate entries on this website and find other articles, including Libraries for the Blind in the Information Age - Guidelines for development, and Guidelines for Library Services to Persons with Dyslexia or Alzheimer’s and others. (Several foreign language citations).

International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, The Hague

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Library Services for People with Disabilities

This portion of the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies website discusses the Library Services for People with Disabilities Policy. "The American Library Association recognizes that people with disabilities are a large and neglected minority in the community and are underrepresented in the library profession. This webpage discusses the use of strategies based upon the principles of universal design to ensure that library policy, resources and services meet the needs of all people".

ALA Council, Washington University DO-IT

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THE BLIND READERS' PAGE - Sources for Online Books

This is a list of online sources for electronic books, magazines, newspaper articles, and other material. The files are in a variety of formats ranging from plain text to digital audio and digital braille. Most material is public domain literature and free of charge, although some do charge a subscription fee for content and/or proprietary software.

THE BLIND READERS' PAGE

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Topical Review-Facilitating Information Access for Postsecondary Students with Visual Impairments Who Use Braille: Issues and Promising Practices  (Research based)

"This article provides an overview of problem of accessing information for postsecondary students with visual impairments. It examines the promise of current and future technologies in providing postsecondary students with visual impairments with 'virtual, real-time' access to information, particularly Braille."

University of Hawaii at Manoa

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Universal Design New York

This is a desktop reference manual which presents common universal design principles from Universal Design New York and offers examples of how to incorporate these ideas into other projects.

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Universal Design of Libraries

This pdf provides checklist questions to ensure a library employs universal design. The questions look at planning, physical environments, staffing, technology, and events. This concise pdf also icludes a list of additional resources and a page of communication hints for various impairments.

University of Washington

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Universal Design of Libraries (html version)

A comprehensive checklist of considerations to make libraries accessible to students with disabilities. The html version of a brochure includes policies, physical environments and products, and information resources.

DO-IT, University of Washington

"When I had my accident I was told that, if I were to live, I'd live in an institution for the rest of my life... I don't think those people thought that that institution would be the Parliament of Canada"

Steven Fletcher, Member of Canadian Parliament