1. Special Needs
Resources for the
Biomedical Library
http://specialneedslibrary.wordpress.com
Amy Trulock
SJSU LIBR 220
Fall 2011

2. Special Needs Resources for the Biomedical Library
INTRODUCTION TO SPECIAL NEEDS &
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

3. ADA Disability Definition
• (A) a physical or mental impairment that
substantially limits one or more major life
activities of such individual;
• (B) a record of such an impairment; or
• (C) being regarded as having such an
impairment.
- 42 U.S.C. § 12102 (as amended by the ADA Amendments Act
of 2008)

4. Types of Impairments
Disabilities can be visible, invisible, or temporary:
• Physical/Mobility Disabilities
• Visual Impairments & Blindness
• Hearing Impairments & Deafness
• Cognitive Disabilities
• Autism & Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asperger’s)
• Learning Disabilities

5. Key Disability Legislation
• Rehabilitation Act of 1973
• Section 504
• Section 508
• Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)
• Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

6. Special Needs Resources for the Biomedical Library
THE SPECIAL NEEDS & DISABLED
BIOMEDICAL COMMUNITY

7. Target Audience & Clientele
Biomedical Librarians Service Population
• Hospital Librarians • Physicians
• Academic Health • Health Care Providers
Sciences Librarians • Medical Students
• Consumer Health • Caregivers
Librarians in Public • Patients
Libraries
• Educators
• Community

8. Personal Stories
• The Americans With Disabilities Act And Afterwards:
Disabilities In Medical Education And Practice
“Pulse” Medical Student Section of JAMA, January 7, 1998—Vol.
279, No. 1
• The Society of Healthcare Professionals with Disabilities
(http://www.DisabilitySociety.org/)
• Physicians (www.PhysicianswithDisabilities.org)
• Pharmacists (http://www.PharmacistswithDisabilities.org)
• Nurses (http://NursingwithDisabilities.org)
• Video: “Nursing with the Hand You’re Given”
• Washington State University School of Nursing
• Susan Fleming, Nurse and PhD Student

9. Special Needs Resources for the Biomedical Library
PROJECT CREATION

10. Blog Creation
Why the blog format?
• An ever-changing topic benefits from the dynamic, open
nature of Web 2.0
• Publicly accessible format contributes to the dialogue
• Encouraging comments from readers, will guide future research
• Opportunity to continue the project professionally
How it works:
• WordPress.com blog (free, platform standard, customizable
themes, widgets, and social media integration)
• Published posts automatically feed to Twitter
• After publishing a blog post on Optelec’s ClearReader+ at
night, they were following my Twitter account by morning!

11. Blog Categories
• Accessibility
• Assistive Technology
• Government Resources
• Health Organizations
• Legislation
• Library Associations
• Personal Stories
• Publications
• Research
• Statistics
• Video

12. Special Needs Resources for the Biomedical Library
RESEARCH & DISCOVERIES

13. Universal Design Movement
Initially coined by architect, Ronald L. Mace in the 1960s,
UD is “the idea that all new environments and products,
to the greatest extent possible, should be usable by
everyone regardless of their age, ability, or
circumstance.”
- North Carolina State University’s Center for Universal Design
(http://www.ncsu.edu/project/design-projects/udi/)

14. Principles of Universal Design (1997)
Equitable
use
Size and
space for Flexibility
approach in use
to use
Universal
Design Simple
Low
and
physical
intuitive
effort
use
Tolerance Perceptible
for error information

15. Universal Design for Learning
Takes into account various learning styles of individuals in education and
instruction. Considers neurological differences in the recognition,
strategic, and affective networks in the brain.
- Center for Applied Special Technology (http://www.cast.org/)

16. Assistive Technology
• Alternative Keyboards (Including On-Screen Keyboards)
• Alternative Pointing Devices
• Touch Screens
• Digital Magnification
• CCTV (Closed Circuit Televisions)
• Text to Speech (TTS) Synthesizers
• Speech Recognition Software
• Braille Embossers
• TTY/TDD Telephones
• Adjustable-Height Furniture

17. Assistive Technology

18. Where do we start?
While all libraries would benefit from
being as inclusive and accessible as
possible, libraries within these biomedical
institutions should be a priority:
• Children’s Hospitals
• Specialized Clinics
• Extended Care
• Medical Schools

19. Special Needs Resources for the Biomedical Library
THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS?