I'm Interested in Accessibility and Universal Design

A focus on accessibility helps develop solutions that improve experiences for all users, but most especially those for whom access to collections, services, spaces, and programs might be limited. These sessions look at how library professionals are prioritizing accessibility in our work. 

Interested in other topics? Check out the conference scheduler and use the drop down "Subject" search field or visit the interests pages to see other topics. 

Saturday

Accessibility and Creation of Online Library Materials: Applying Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
Saturday 4:00PM - 5:00PM
Libraries are tasked with serving a diverse group of patrons; this includes providing equal access to materials to all patrons, regardless of disabilities and demographics. Creating and managing accessible materials is not just ethical, it’s also the law under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), “which prohibits the discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the public” (https://adata.org/learn-about-ada). In order for materials to be accessible to all, librarians need to create and acquire online materials that are ADA compliant, as well as follow Universal Design for Learning. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an approach that calls for multiple means of representation, action and expression, and engagement that can be applied to creating online materials. 

Sunday

Accessibility for All: Screen Readers
Sunday 9:00AM - 10:00AM
Over 25 million Americans are blind or have low vision and would benefit from access to a computer equipped with screen reading software. There are many different options available to libraries when choosing which screen reading software to make accessible to their patrons.

Building Equity From the Ground Up
Sunday 1:00PM - 2:00PM
Addressing equity issues in our communities with a results-based approach can be challenging and overwhelming. Where does an organization even start? This was the problem faced by Los Angeles County Library leadership. LA County is one of the largest and most diverse jurisdictions in the country and faces daily challenges with race inequity, homelessness, immigration struggles and more. With 87 libraries, the Library is strongly positioned in its communities, but wanted to elevate their efforts to make a lasting impression on customers' quality of life. To accomplish this goal, the iCount @ the Library initiative was created. iCount: Removing Barriers to Equity @ Your Library is Los Angeles County Library's innovative service model that ensures the Library is making a conscious effort to design services and programs that address the needs of the diverse community it serves, which includes customers of different age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, socio-economic status, physical ability, nationality, legal status and more. 

Everyone, Everywhere, Every Time: Universal Design as a Best Practice for Accessing Abilities
Sunday 10:30AM - 11:30AM
This interactive workshop will share results from recent research exploring the impact of course accessibility and the integration of tools and resources that facilitate multimodal learning for all students. 

Not a Kid Anymore: How and Why to Serve Adults with Disabilities in the Adult Department
Sunday 1:00PM - 2:00PM
When groups or individual adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities visit the library, librarians may make ableist assumptions about them when deciding where in the library they belong. Because of misperceptions about their social and emotional needs, interests, learning potential, and cognitive abilities, they have often been served in and by the children's department. But, is reading picture books to them in a room also used by toddlers or allowing them to attend your music or art programs for kids really the best way you can serve these library users? 

The Best in New Tech for Readers with Blindness, Visual Impairments, and Physical Disabilities
Sunday 4:00PM - 5:00PM
The number of Americans experiencing blindness and visual impairment is expected to double by 2050. Thankfully, readers who live with vision loss can use new technology to continue their lifelong love of books and learning. Improvements to technology and distribution networks are helping to close the inequitable divide between the amount of content available to the visually impaired and their sighted peers.

Monday

Difficult Discussions: Diversity in Digital Collections and Archives
Monday 9:00AM - 10:00AM
Ensuring broad and diverse representation in digital archives and collections is crucial. Diversity can involve a number of factors, including diversity of opinion, ability, ethnicity, race, gender, culture, socioeconomic status, religion, language, and sexual orientation. Unless digital archives and collections are able to include materials representing a wide spectrum of human experience, they can only tell partial and incomplete stories. Unfortunately, a number of barriers, such as the cost of, and access to, technology, can limit the scope of digital collections and prevent them from being truly inclusive. Diversity among those creating and maintaining these collections is particularly vital, both for its own sake and in order to avoid perpetuating “blind spots” in the selection of materials for acquisition and digitization projects. 

Sensory Screenings: Movies for Everyone at the Library
Monday 9:00AM - 10:00AM
How can libraries make movie screenings more accessible to everyone, including viewers with sensory issues, attention disorders and other special needs, for whom visiting traditional movie theaters can often be difficult and alienating? To make the fun of movie viewings more accessible, autism advocates and educators have begun encouraging movie theaters to host "Sensory Movies," with moderate lighting and sound, where audience members are welcome to walk and talk during the film.

The Quick and Dirty Guide to Avoiding Disability Faux-Pas, Building Your Awareness and Library Know-How, and Getting all Your Awkward Questions Answered
Monday 4:00 PM - 5:00PM
Did you ever wish you had a chunk of time to really focus on learning about disabilities, disability cultures, and the library experiences and needs of these community members? To talk honestly with peers and get real practical tips and answers? Join us at this workshop for concrete, practical information, library accessibility and programming tips, own-voices pieces (written and video) for small group discussion, and open Q&A with self-advocate representatives.