The Physical Disabilities Toolkit supports library staff in creating accessible, inclusive environments by offering practical guidance on mobility accommodations, respectful language, and universal design for patrons with a wide range of physical abilities.

HOME | AWARDS | BYLAWS | COMMITTEES | EVENTS | PROFESSIONAL TOOLS | PUBLICATIONS | VOLUNTEER RUSA - STARGazing: Meet Silvia Cho 1. What is your institutional affiliation? I am at the CUNY Graduate Center, a public research institution providing doctoral and master's education. We belong to the City University of New York system, which consists of 25 colleges and is the largest public urban university system in the United States. 2. What’s your OCLC / Docline symbol? ZGM 3. What's your job title? I'm the Resource Sharing Librarian. 4. How did you get involved in resource sharing (or access...

Overview Young people and adults with disabilities may be interested in volunteering at your library. The community as a whole benefits when the library team welcomes volunteers with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities have many of the same motivations as volunteers without disabilities: wanting to give back, build a resume, meet a community-service requirement for graduation or an organization, or just fill the hours in a day. However, be aware that people with disabilities do not necessarily have the same opportunities to volunteer because of intentional or unintentional community...

Overview: Beginning in spring 2020, the number of libraries offering live meetings and programs through online virtual platforms has increased tremendously. It is essential to ensure that library events are welcoming and accessible for everyone who is interested in participating or learning with others in their communities. When online programs and classes are planned with accessibility in mind, it is possible for many people who have previously found barriers to enjoy and benefit from the opportunities their libraries provide. General Tips: Announcements and registration for programs must...

The Service and Support Animals Toolkit helps library staff understand the legal distinctions and responsibilities related to service animals, emotional support animals, and therapy dogs, ensuring respectful, inclusive, and compliant interactions with patrons and their animal companions.

The Alzheimer’s and Dementia Toolkit equips library staff with strategies for respectfully supporting patrons experiencing memory loss, fostering inclusive services, partnerships, and programs that meet the evolving needs of individuals and caregivers.

Overview When referring to people with multiple disabilities, we generally refer to children, youth, and adults with the following issues: Limited speech or communication Limited physical mobility Sensory loss, including visual and hearing loss Cognitive, socialization, or behavior issues (see other tips sheets for more information) Information-processing or sensory-processing challenges The library can be a welcoming place for people with multiple disabilities. A beneficial library environment will include technology that provides access to communication and information, with materials that...

Overview More than likely, the library is already serving people with some type of mental illness. Approximately one in five adults and one in ten children has a condition that meets the criteria for mental illness. Mental illness can be episodic, recurrent, or persistent. It is usually invisible and can be successfully treated. By some accounts, treatment success rates for mental illness exceed those for heart disease and diabetes. Self-advocates, their families, and professionals agree that information about the condition is important for the management of mental illness. Librarians are...

The Management Considerations Toolkit provides library leaders with essential guidance on legal responsibilities, accessibility standards, and inclusive planning to ensure equitable access for all patrons across physical and digital spaces.

The Library Staff with Disabilities Toolkit offers guidance on fostering an inclusive, accessible, and legally compliant workplace by addressing accommodations, respectful communication, and supportive practices for employees with disabilities.

The Learning Disabilities / Differences Toolkit helps library staff support patrons with diverse learning needs by promoting inclusive strategies, flexible accommodations, and accessible resources that recognize and respect varied ways of processing information.

The Developmental, Cognitive, and Intellectual Disabilities Toolkit guides library professionals in supporting patrons with a wide range of abilities by promoting inclusive, respectful services and programs that are both cognitively and age appropriate, while recognizing the diverse experiences and strengths of individuals with developmental disabilities.

Overview Library professionals are often not aware that a person approaching them for assistance is deaf or hard of hearing until the person begins to communicate. Deaf people communicate in a variety of ways: speaking, writing, signing, gesturing, or a combination of these. People often assume that the deaf will use American Sign Language (ASL) or read lips. In reality, only a small number of those who are deaf know ASL, and few people are skilled lip-readers. Assistive technologies, such as one-to-one or wide-area assistive listening devices, public TTYs/text telephones, and videophones help...

The Blindness and Low Vision Toolkit helps library professionals understand the diverse experiences of patrons with visual impairments and provides guidance on respectful, individualized support to ensure equitable access to library services.