Dr. Norman R. Coombs, adjunct professor, St. John Fisher College (Rochester), is the recipient of the 2000 Francis Joseph Campbell award given by the Library Service to People with Visual or Physical Disabilities Forum of the Libraries Serving Special Populations Section of ASCLA (Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies).The citation and medal is presented to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of library service for the blind and physically handicapped. "The accelerating growth of information technology has challenged Campbell's descendants to keep people with print disabilities at access parity with able-bodied peers. As chairman of EASI (Equal Access to Software and Information), Coombs has created a powerful resource for extending the promise of computers and the Web to everyone in libraries and classrooms," said Greg Carlson, chair of the award committee.
EASI maintains a Web site, which can be reached via this link ( http://www.isc.rit.edu/~easi ) several discussion lists including one with a library focus and an e-journal, Information Technology and Disabilities, and provides online workshops over the internet on adaptive technology and accessible web design http://www.rit.edu/~easi . Coombs has directed three National Science Foundation grants in 1995, 1997, and 2000. In 1999 the Center on Disability at California State University at Northridge honored EASI by selecting Dr. Coombs for its Strache Leadership Award.
Coombs was recognized at the ASCLA President's Program and Awards Breakfast on Sunday, July 9, 8:30-11 a.m. during the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago. Later that same day he was a presenter in a Roads To Learning program "Technology and Learning Disabilities: A Practical Exploration of Universal Design Principles."
June 1, 2000—The Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) , a division of the American Library Association is proud to announce that Rebecca Van Scyoc of South Elgin, Illinois has been chosen as the first Century Scholar. Beginning in Fall 2000, Mrs. Van Scyoc will be a graduate student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Graduate School of Library and Information Science.The independently funded Century Scholarship is a diversity initiative that aims to promote the American Library Association's mission of improving service at the local level through the development of a representative workforce that reflects the communities served by all libraries in the new millennium. The Century Scholarship awards up to $2,500 annually to be used for accommodations or services not provided by law or the university, to a student or students with a disability pursuing a degree in library and information science.
"We are very excited to be awarding the Century Scholarship to Mrs. Van Scyoc who is an exemplary role model of scholarship, experience and community involvement and leadership. Mrs. Van Scyoc is dedicated, inspiring and well deserving of this scholarship," said Lisa Scholl, chair of the Century Scholarship Committee.
Mrs. Van Scyoc has been working in the library and information science field for over ten years as a research and information consultant and is active in her community promoting disability awareness. Mrs. Van Scyoc volunteers at Canine Companions for Independence visiting schools and organizations to demonstrate hearing dog tasks to children and adults and explain how they help people with hearing impairments. She is also active in the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. In addition, she volunteers her time at St. Patrick's School in the library. Currently she is an Information Consultant at Information Resources Consulting, Inc. Mrs. Van Scyoc will be purchasing a sound field system that will enable her to better understand discussions in the classroom and a computer-assisted notetaking system with the scholarship money. Mrs. Van Scyoc plans to use the skills and knowledge gained in the course of study for a Masters of Library and Information Science to develop and improve resource centers at schools and companies needing assistance.
The $2,500 scholarship was presented at the ASCLA President's Program on Sunday, July 9 from 8:30–11:00 at the Chicago Intercontinental Hotel, King Arthur Court.