In 2012, ARL formed a Joint Task Force on Services to Patrons with Print Disabilities to investigate technological, legal, and service challenges for the research library community in providing access for the print disabled. Print disabilities include visual, physical, perceptual, developmental, cognitive, or learning disabilities that render print inaccessible.
The final report of the Task Force on Services to Patrons with Print Disabilities (PDF) outlines a framework, identifies critical partners, and raises awareness in the community around inclusive design of technology and services.
ARL is strongly committed to providing access to its own web content to people with disabilities and is currently working to comply with the requirements of W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 Level AA (WCAG 2.0 AA). View ARL's accessibility policy.
Publications
Current Awareness
- Accessibility Matters: a deque blog: deque provides private consulting, training and software development to organizations for digital accessibility
Accessibility Policies and Practices
- Penn State University Libraries' Web Accessibility Plan
- Model Licensing Language for Accessibility: Based on several existing model license language on accessibility, a starting place to begin consideration of these issues.
- IFLA Principles for Library E-Lending: Includes a statement about copyright exceptions available to libraries to "re-format a work to enable print disabled access."
Associations and Organizations
- American Council of the Blind (ACB)
- Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA), ALA: Think Accessible Before You Buy: An ASCLA Toolkit
- Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD)
- EDUCAUSE
- National Federation of the Blind (NFB)
Government Resources
- The Advisory Commission on Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM) in Postsecondary Education for Students with Disabilities: In 2011, the Advisory Commission on Accessible Instructional Materials in Postsecondary Education for Students with Disabilities (AIM Commission) released a report to Congress that focused on improving access to instructional materials for students with disabilities in a timely and cost-effective manner.
- Disability Rights Section, Civil Rights Division, US Department of Justice: Up to date links to Americans with Disabilities Act, regulations, and standards for accessible design.
- Office of Civil Rights, US Department of Education: Reports and resources from the Department of Education including legislation, regulation and policy guidance.
