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Mississippi Libraries Vol. 67, No. 1, Spring 2003 Page 6Providing Quality Library Servicesfor Students with DisabilitiesBy Mary Beth ApplinInformation Services LibrarianUSM LibrariesUniversity of Southern MississippiMary.Applin@usm.eduINTRODUCTIONPublic Law 94-142 (1975) and theAmericans with Disabilities Act (ADA1990) ensure that persons with a disabilityare given equal access to educationand other public services. In terms ofschool and college libraries, this meansthat libraries are not only physically accessibleto users but that the delivery of allservices is adequately adapted to meet thespecial needs of these individuals.The Digest of Education Statistics,2001 reports that public school enrollmentof students with disabilities was13% in the year 2000. At the collegelevel, enrollment numbers for studentswith disabilities rose to 9% in 2000(NCES). Statistically, about two-thirds ofthese students will have some sort ofphysical disability (orthopedic, hearing,visual or speech). What do these numbersmean for libraries and librarians?Well, chances are that at least 10 in every100 students that visit a school or collegelibrary will have some type of measurabledisability. Six of those 10 will probablyneed some sort of adaptation to assist thestudent in accessing information. Is yourlibrary ready to meet their needs?PROVIDING EQUAL ACCESSMany libraries do not worry aboutserving a person with a disability until theneed arises. By then, people are scurryingfor information, trying to find someonewho knows what the library’s policyis, what services the library has availableand/or what the library should do if itcannot accommodate a need. Soundfamiliar? Although a library may never beequipped to accommodate every specialneed, it can proactively prepare to providethe best service possible. Here aresome recommended actions every libraryshould adopt in order to ensure personswith disabilities are provided access andquality service:• Form an advisory committee consistingof a librarian, a school official(such as a representative from theOffice of Disability Services), a libraryuser with a disability and maybe someonefrom a local non-profit office servingpeople with disabilities. The committeeshould evaluate the library’scurrent status in terms of accommodations,develop policies and proceduresfor serving persons with special needs,and formulate a plan for best meetinganticipated needs.• Designate a librarian to be an officialcontact for employees and library userswho have questions or problems interms of the library’s disability services.This person would answer questionsconcerning library policies, be familiarwith the library’s adaptive equipment,and provide training for staff.• Provide annual training for employeesregarding the library’s disability servicespolicies and procedures, assistivehardware and software, and sensitivityissues. Libraries can invite speakersfrom local service agencies (e.g. ARC,Vocational Rehab) for presentationson disability awareness and sensitivityissues. This training would serve toinform employees concerning the specialneeds of people with disabilitiesand help them feel more comfortableinteracting with them. The library’sdesignated contact person can alsoprovide employees with training specificto the library’s policies/proceduresand available services.• Become familiar with basic accessibilityfeatures that are built into manysoftware products including Windows,Word, Internet Explorer and NetscapeCommunicator. Adaptive hardwareand software which provides computeraccess to persons with disabilities isexpensive. And though adaptiveequipment is essential, many basicsoftware programs come with built-inaccessibility features that can accommodatesimple needs. For instance,for someone with a slight visualimpairment, Microsoft Windows (98and 2000) comes equipped with aMagnifier (found in the Start menuunder >Programs, >Accessories,>Accessibility) which enlarges the textor image on the screen in a narrowwindow along the top of the screen.Other features found in Windowsinclude Sticky Keys (all Windowsproducts) designed for people whohave difficulty holding down two ormore keys at a time and Sound Sentry(all Windows products) which generatesvisual warnings, such as a blinkingtitle bar or a screen flash, wheneverthe computer generates a sound.(See Table for a list of some otherbuilt-in software features.)CONCLUSIONLibraries have a legal responsibility toprovide equal access and appropriateaccommodations to persons with disabilities.Knowing what accommodations areneeded and budgeting to provide suchaccommodations can be difficult if alibrary does not take a proactive approach.A few simple provisions can make the differencebetween quality and substandardservice. By establishing a plan, providingemployee training, and designating a staffperson as an information conduit, librariescan better prepare to provide the servicesadequately adapted to meet the special