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TESTIMONY OF before the U.S. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON Introduction Thank you very much for this opportunity to speak to the need for access to library services for individuals with disabilities. I am a member of the National Council on Disability, a small federal agency established to offer advice and consultation to the President and the Congress on issues related to the millions of people with disabilities in the United States. Additionally, I am a user of both specialized and mainstream neighborhood library services. I would like to offer specific testimony on physical and communication access to library services. Plans for new construction and information access, implemented with an eye toward maximizing inclusion of individuals with disabilities as regular library consumers and in compliance with federal and state laws, will go a long way toward making community libraries more accessible to residents with disabilities. Physical Access to Public Libraries Many library buildings in the United States are still not accessible to individuals with disabilities in even the most rudimentary way. We applaud any efforts by federal, state, and local governments to bring libraries into the 21st century by funding renovations to include access. While state and federal access codes for construction and renovation clearly spell out access requirements, inclusion of individuals with disabilities from the local community is an essential component of any access planning or self study process. People who need physical access modifications are often in the best position to recommend structural priorities, and to formulate ready solutions to seemingly complex problems. Centers for Independent Living or other local disability consumer organizations generally welcome such involvement. Local disability organizations can also provide disability awareness training for library staff as an essential component of access. However, library staff should ensure that any disability organization or individual used as a consultant or trainer is well versed in the Americans with Disabilities Act and state access requirements. Many of the state affiliates of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Disabled also have information and resources. Information Access Until recently, blind and visually impaired people have had to rely on braille or taping services, or find someone willing to read printed material aloud. All of this has changed with the advent of the computer and telecommunications! With the aid of screen reader software and speech output equipment, a blind person can now access computerized print information almost as readily as someone with vision. Design of an accessible system and purchase of some auxiliary, adaptive equipment is generally all that is required. Electronic information systems that use both a text-based system with word menus and keyboard commands, and a graphical user interface (GUI) with icons and a mouse provide the most effective access for people with all types of disabilities. While GUI systems have grown in popularity and are considered easier to use for those who can see, a text-based interface remains essential for those who are blind. We therefore strongly recommend that any electronic library network include both keyboard and mouse access as options. Additionally, a work station at each library should include the access technology for scanning printed material as well as both large print and speech output. The one-time cost would be about $3,500 per station. An extra work station would not be required, since the adaptive equipment can easily be turned off when not in use. Technical assistance for the development of accessible systems can be found at www.trace.wisc.edu. Some blind and visually impaired persons have computer and telecommunications equipment at home, and could access a library information network by modem. While not a substitute for access at the library, modem access would allow a person who already has this equipment to work from home, eliminating the need to travel to the library or to become familiar with new equipment. For these reasons, we recommend that dial-in access be included as library network systems are developed. It is our understanding that modem access is generally not technically difficult to implement. We further recommend that priority be given to adding full text documents, not just catalog information, to the system, eliminating the need for someone to retrieve and read the material to the person. Closing In closing, people with disabilities should be considered a primary underserved constituency of public libraries. While the specialized talking book services offered by the National Library Services are essential, they are no substitute for access to mainstream library programs. Thank you for your consideration of my comments. Please feel free to contact me or representatives of the National Council on Disability for further assistance. HOME | FAQs | NEWSROOM | SITE MAP | FEDERAL AGENCIES | RESOURCES |
