After all these years, it is still an issue in rural librarianship. The Americans with Disabilities Act was a watershed moment that helped take the term “disabled” out of employment, public access, freedom of
movement, and the ability to utilize public and private services. However, many rural libraries to this day, suffer under
the weight of ADA compliance mandates, especially in economically depressed states. In the rural
library these issues can be traced to a lack of funds to purchase technologies
for adequate accommodations, a lack of addressing sufficient knowledge about
disabilities with staff, and simplifying what small, rural libraries can do today to accomplish appropriate services.
These issues can expose more
serious underlying problems such as a greater likelihood of not meeting ADA
compliance in the library structure due to a lack of staff training and attitudinal barriers; and library
directors and branch managers actually being unable to comply with ADA mandates for whatever reasons.
Only a few of
us might be considered experts in the area of serving our customers with disabilities
within the library setting. As rural librarians, let’s help
ourselves address ADA compliance in the best manner we can, not only
through assistive technologies as they become available in our neck-of-the-woods,
but also through our attitudes and hospitality toward our neighbors who are
Differently Abled.
Here are some simple how-to's:
- Approach a patron with an offer of help, but don't proceed until the offer is accepted.
- Do not pass judgment on the validity of a patron’s statement of disability: disabilities are often invisible, and many people do not appear to have disabilities even though they do.
- Remember that people who use wheelchairs, or who are of short stature, may have difficulty reaching high shelves, while patrons with other disabilities may find it very had to bend down to reach low shelves.
- Do not touch wheelchairs or mobility aids without permission. Leaning or hanging on a wheelchair is an invasion of personal space. Moving a wheelchair or crutches may leave a person stranded.
- When patrons ask you to act as a guide, offer your elbow. Do not grab arms or push patrons; instead, allow them to hold on and follow you.
- When giving directions to people with visual or mobility impairments, be very clear and include information on distances, changes in floor level, and any obstacles along the way.
- Remember that a disability is not an illness: don’t treat people with disabilities as though they are sick.
- Don’t be offended by a lack of response or unconventional behavior. People with hearing impairments may not have heard or understood you; other disabilities may affect social or motor skills, causing unusual responses.
- Remember that using a mobility aid such as a wheelchair or walker is not in itself a tragedy. Mobility aids give people the freedom to move about independently.
- Do not pet or play with guide dogs or working animals. These animals are not just pets, and distracting them can put their owner in danger. Always ask permission of the owner before interacting with an animal.
- Always let the person with the disability decide what they can and cannot do. Don’t neglect to mention programs or services because you think patrons with disabilities might not benefit from them.
- Interact with patrons who have disabilities as you would with any other customers. Remember always to think of the person first.
Brought to you by The Settlement Library Project:
Serving People, Changing Perspectives, and Sharing Resources in Libraries
Image: by Morton Bibow, Harvard Law School Project on Disability http://www.hpod.org/networking/idpo
Thanks to: Deines-Jones,
Courtney & Van Fleet, Connie. (1995). Preparing staff to serve patrons with
disabilities. New York, NY: Neal-Shuman Publishers, Inc.
