1. Shellie Zeigler
Mississippi Library Commission
Library for the Blind & Physically Handicapped
"The chief handicap of the blind is not blindness, but the attitude of
seeing people towards them."
—Helen Keller: Speech for the American Foundation for the Blind,
Washington, DC, 1925

2.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0iwiXIRb_g
 Please watch this 14min. documentary about visual
impairment.
 In this video, a few individuals are interviewed about their
point of view on living with a visual impairment
 Why do you think some people have so much trouble
defining blindness?
 Did you know or had you heard about some of the
assistive devices available before you saw this video?
 Were you surprised that two of the people interviewed said
they wouldn’t change their visual impairment if they could?

3.  Visually Impaired: Someone is
considered visually impaired when
with correction (i.e. glasses) the
person still has trouble reading or
seeing
 Blindness: Limited ability to see (even
with aids); the absence of light
perception

4.  Digital Talking Books
 Digital Magazines
 Cassette Books
 Braille Books and Magazines
 Descriptive Videos
 Large Print Books
 Downloadable Books
www.loc.gov/nls/

5.  Blind
 Visually Impaired
 Physical Limitation-Cannot hold a
printed work
 Organic Reading Disability-i.e. Autism,
Dyslexia
 Deaf-Blind

6.  Physically Accessible
 Access & Resources
(Assistive Technology)
 Service & Communication

7.  Physical Access to the Library
Facilities
 Parking
 Entrance
 Internal Circulation
 Accessible Furniture
 Toilet
 Circulation & Information Desk
 Signage
 Emergency Evacuation

8.  This doesn’t work well.
 This is much better.

9. This doesn’t work well at all for people with low vision
or visual impairments. Its practically impossible to read
the text. Don’t use a picture as a background for signage.

10.  Screen Magnifier
 Screen Readers & Screen
Magnification Software
 Alternative Format

11.  Low Vision Monitors
 Closed Circuit Televisions (CCTV)
 Handheld CCTV
 Digital Magnifiers

12.  A screen reader is a software
application that identifies and
interprets what is being displayed on
the screen
 Examples: JAWS, Voiceover,
Microsoft Narrator, Window Eyes
 Big Difference in pricing and the
consumer can adapt to personal taste

13.  (Often work in hand with Screen Readers)
 Screen magnification software is software
that interfaces with a computer's graphical
output to present enlarged screen content.
People who use this typically have some
vision.
 Examples: ZoomText, Virtual Magnifying
Glass, Dolphin Lunar, Magic

15. -Large print book & magazines
(larger then 12pt font)
-Audio Books (CDs, MP3, ebooks,
playaways)
-Descriptive Videos
-Electronic Journals
-E-Books
-Braille (if possible)

16.  Staff Training/Sensitization
 Offer Special Service to Patrons with
Disabilities
 Provide Tour for those with Disabilities

17.  Speak in normal tone
 Identify yourself when you are
speaking
 Speak directly to the person, not their
sighted guide
 When guiding a patron, offer elbow for
assistance
 Speak Clearly (But don’t feel like you
have to yell)

18.  Ask if assistance is needed
 Be specific with directions, includes
descriptions. Don’t say things like,
“Over there.”
 Remember Service Animals are not
pets. Don’t pet them!
 Put the person before the disability

19.  State Universities: Research and
Training Centers on Blindness and
Low Vision
 Local/State Council of the Blind
 Federation of the Blind (National
Level)
 Local School for the Blind
 State Library for the Blind

20.  Accessing information & navigating space will always be
essential
 Future:
◦ More choices coming from NLS for receipt /method of
information
◦ New homes are more equipped for disabled (space wise)
◦ Website accessibility is on the rise. Websites are working
better with screen readers. (More white spaces, less flashy
lights)
◦ Cell phones apps are being created more and more to
specifically assist the visually impaired. More availability of
apps for portable devices
◦ More crossover between accessible and mainstream
design
www.disability.gov

21. Shellie Zeigler
Mississippi Library Commission
Library for the Blind & Physically Handicapped
szeigler@mlc.lib.ms.us
601-432-4123