Libraries and People with Print Disabilities

Libraries and People with Print Disabilities

Over the last 15 years we have seen a dramatic increase in the range of technology options for accessing, using and creating information. While this has had a major impact on society in general it is arguable that its greatest impact has been the emancipation of people with a print disability.

The term “print disability’ is defined by the Australian Publishers Association as;

“people with print disabilities cannot read printed or text material, either because they cannot see the text, cannot hold a book or turn pages, or have a "perceptual" disability such as dyslexia. They cannot read text unless it is copied into a format accessible to them”.

Through the use of assistive technologies people who in the past were unable to access printed information now have a wide range of options in not only what they can read but also how they read it.

Libraries in Australia have been aware of the challenges people with a print disability face for a long time. In 1998 ALIA adopted a set of guidelines( to assist libraries review current service levels and plan for the future. At the time ALIA recommended that with the rapid change of technology that these guidelines be reviewed every two to three years.

In April 2011 Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers, Senator Jan McLucas estimated that “almost 20 per cent of the Australian population are unable to read standard print information due to a print disability.” Of these, the smaller percentage is people who have had a life-long print disability and as a result have never been big users of library services. The larger proportion and one that is growing rapidly includes older Australians who are losing their vision due to age related diseases such as Macular Degeneration as well as people with a vision loss resulting from diabetes.

A significant proportion of these older Australians have been consistent users of their local libraries throughout their lives, often moving to large print and audio collections as their vision starts to fail. Many exhaust these accessible options fairly quickly as they typically only represent a very small percentage of any collection, and they eventually cease being a member of their local library.

For many libraries the biggest challenge they face in making all their services accessible is understanding what technology options exist and how they can be implemented. There is also the very real challenge of communicating with clients with a print disability and letting them know what new services are on offer.

The Stanton Library in North Sydney has recently made a ClearView Spectrum magnifier available for clients and made a concerted effort to let people in their community know about it. They have publicised it in their newsletter and home library service as well as through the Community Centre network of the North Sydney municipality.

Gillian Hill, Community Development Librarian said that it also helped by being placed in a prominent position in the library and including it in other community events such as Seniors Week and talks held at the library by relevant groups such as the Macular Degeneration Foundation. “We view it as part of our obligation to provide universal access and opportunity for all library users” she said. With a high level of community engagement around events held in the library, Stanton Library has been able to raise awareness of options for people with print disability in a community that has a significant problem with social isolation. They have found that the magnifier is now being used not only to access materials from within the library, but people are bringing in their own materials, such as CD collections to sort and re-label.

The problem of how to make people aware of new services in a library to people that have stopped visiting and who are greatly restricted in the material they can read is challenging. There have been many instances of libraries purchasing equipment for their members only to find that it has been under-utilised, usually as a result of people not knowing it was there or understanding how it could help them.

Hornsby Library in Sydney’s north has taken a very comprehensive approach to accessibility and created an Adaptive Technology Access Centre which includes equipment suitable for people with a disability, the elderly and those with a vision impairment. Included in the options they offer are;

• Open Book. This is software that converts scanned printed material into speech and large print.
• ZoomText. Magnifies a computer screen and provides speech feedback. It enables all regular computer use to be magnified as well as the library catalogue.
• JAWS. This is a screen reader for people who are blind.
• Electronic Magnifier. Enlarges any material placed under it up to 40 times.
• Magnifying lamps. Provides a bright light and magnification to assist reading.
• Intellikeys. An alternative keyboard for people with limited hand movements.
• Trackball mouse. A very easy computer mouse for people with limited hand movement.

Some of these technology options require a user to have had some training in order to use them proficiently and the Library has made an arrangement with the local TAFE and with Vision Australia to provide training. A large print flyer on the Adaptive Technology Access Centre has been produced and is available in all branches.

Local libraries are an integral part of communities in both metropolitan and regional areas. However, in regional areas they often play a more central role in a community where fewer services may be available. Some regional areas have a declining population of seniors, while others, particularly around the coastal fringes are witnessing significant increases as a result of a proliferation of retirement living options.

Once such region is Lake Macquarie City Library, which has ten branches (located at Belmont, Cardiff, Charlestown, Edgeworth, Morisset, Speers Point, Swansea, Toronto, Wangi Wangi and Windale) as well as a mobile library service visiting 24 locations around the lake.It is one of the busiest public library services in NSW, lending over 1.5 million items last year to 56,000 registered library members.

Recognising the increased need for accessible services resulting from a large and growing population of seniors the Library has recently installed;

• a desktop electronic magnifier
• Zoomtext magnification software for their PC’s together with large print keyboards
• a document reader, ClearReader. This reads out any printed information placed underneath it.

The Library is also actively encouraging young people to visit the library and is establishing a study centre for local youths to do their homework in. The Library is working with the Department of Education to encourage students with Learning Difficulties to attend. Some of the new accessibility options will also be of great assistance to students who struggle with literacy.

Providing increased options for all people to be actively involved with their local library is very much a part of the concept behind Universal Design. Thirty years ago, buildings in Australia mostly did not have ramps or easy access for people in wheelchairs. The disability rights movement have worked tirelessly in the ensuing years to ensure that access ramps are now a standard part of the building code and we all take it for granted that a person in a wheelchair should have exactly the same right to access as anyone else.

Universal Design advocates are quick to point out that it is much easier and cheaper to incorporate accessible features at the early design stage rather than try and retro-fit access to an existing system. It has also been found that by providing access options like wheelchair ramps we also increase the overall usability of a building and lots of other people now find them invaluable, such as parents with prams, and delivery people with trolleys.

Considering the needs of everyone in the community makes for much better organisations. Libraries that cater to the needs of people with print disabilities in their community will be the ones that prosper and grow to meet community needs and expectations in the age of digital information.

Tim Connell

Managing Director

Quantum: Reading, Learning, Vision