The resources referenced in my presentation, Emerging Technology as Assistive Technology: The iPad, Accessibility, and Libraries, are listed below. They are also available via the Diigo collaborative bookmarking site: mbfortson’s MSULibCon11 Bookmarks on Diigo.

You can find a copy of the presentation slides here: Emerging Technology as Assistive Technology: The iPad, Accessibility, and Libraries. If this PDF is not accessible to you, please contact me so I can get the slides to you in a format that is.

Feel free to contact me via the “connect” links or the comments below, and thanks again for visiting!

From Apple:

Accessibility

Apple’s Accessibility page. Offers information about assistive technology options included as standard features in Apple products and links to product-specific accessibility information.

Accessibility | iOS Technology Overview | Apple Developer

“Apple’s Accessibility APIs define how iOS apps can make their user interface available to an external assistive application or service. Apple strongly encourages developers to support these APIs in all of their applications so they are compatible with features built into iOS such as VoiceOver, as well as other third-party products.”

Accessibility Resources

Community resources, third-party solutions, and accessibility standards resources. Also offers downloadable Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates (PDF format) that describe how specific Apple products and services address Section 508 Guidelines.

Accessibility Solutions for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch

“Hardware and software products (sold separately) that adapt iPhone and iPad for specific needs.”

Hearing | iPad

Information about Accessibility features that make the iPad easier to use for those who are deaf or hard of hearing: FaceTime; Closed Captioning; Headphone Jack; Bluetooth Audio; Mono Audio; Instant Messaging, Chat, and Social Networking; and Visual Alerts.

iPad iOS 4

“iOS 4 comes standard with a wide range of accessibility features that help people with disabilities experience everything iPad has to offer. For example, the built-in VoiceOver screen-reading technology allows those who are blind or have low vision to hear a description of the item they’re touching on the screen. iOS also offers out-of-the-box support for over 30 wireless braille displays and many other award-winning accessibility features, such as dynamic screen magnification, playback of closed-captioned video, mono audio, white on black text, and more.”

iPad User Guide (HTML)

iPad user guide in HTML format.

iPad User Guide (PDF)

iPad User Guide in tagged PDF format.

iPad Voluntary Product Accessibility Template

VPAT describing how the Apple iPad addresses Section 508 guidelines.

iPad 2 Voluntary Product Accessibility Template

VPAT describing how the Apple iPad 2 addresses Section 508 guidelines.

Physical and Motor Skills | iPad

Information about features that make the iPad easier to use for those with physical or motor-related access needs: Multi-Touch Display; Tactile Buttons; Multiple Orientations; Onscreen Keyboard with Predictive Text Entry, External Keyboards, and Apple Stereo Headset Compatibility.

Special Education | Apple in Education

While not iPad-specific, this Apple in Education page offers information about Apple universal access features. Some iPod and iPhone information may also be applicable to the iPad.

Special Education | App Store

App Store “Special Education” category. Opens in iTunes.

Vision | iPad

Information about Accessibility features that make the iPad easier to use for those with vision-related access needs: VoiceOver, Zoom, White on Black, Speak Auto-text, Tactile Buttons, Headset Compatibility, and Audible Alerts.

Specific apps:

Digit-Eyes Audio Labeling System (iTunes Preview)

“Digit-Eyes reads barcode labels. It enables people without vision to scan UPC / EAN codes and hear the names of over 7.5 million products. Users can also make their own barcode labels on the Digit-Eyes website and print them on inexpensive address labels. These barcodes may contain text that VoiceOver reads aloud or they can be used to record audio on your iPhone or camera-equipped iPod Touch that is played back whenever the bar code is scanned.”
Developer site

Eye Glasses (iTunes Preview)

“Reading Glasses in your pocket! Works…wherever the phone’s camera does.”
Developer site

Learning Ally Audio (iTunes Preview)

“Gain instant access to Learning Ally’s downloadable DAISY formatted books.”
Developer site

Proloquo2Go (iTunes Preview)

“Proloquo2Go provides a full-featured augmentative and alternative communication solution for people who have difficulty speaking.”
Developer site

Sign 4 Me (iTunes Preview)

“‘Sign 4 Me – A Signed English Translator’ is the ULTIMATE tool for learning sign language. The ONLY app that provides sign language instruction in 3D!”
Developer site

soundAMP R (iTunes Preview)

“Amplify the world around you discreetly with iPhone and iPod touch.”
Developer site

ZoomReader (iTunes Preview)

“In combination with your iPhone’s built-in camera, ZoomReader lets you magnify and read printed text by first taking a picture of an object like a book or menu, then converts the image into text using state-of-the-art Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology. ZoomReader will then read the text back to you using a natural-sounding voice.”
Developer site

Other resources:

4 Ways iPads Are Helping People With Disabilities | Mashable

Touch devices — most notably the iPad — are revolutionizing the lives of children, adults and seniors with special needs.

Appolicious

“Appolicious is the place to discover and share the latest and best iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, and Android apps through social recommendations as well as reviews from users and our editorial team.” See LuisP’s profile for several disability and accessibility-related curated lists from the Florida Center for Instructional Technology’s Luis Perez.

ATMac

From the site: “This website covers all Apple products with a slant towards disability. This website is about users with a disability, adaptive and assistive technology, and making accessible programs and content.” Also from AT Mac:

iPad | ATMac

Archive of iPad-related ATMac articles.

iPad Assistive Technology/Disability Round-Up | ATMac

Articles about accessibility and the iPad.

Stories: iPad Users With Disabilities | ATMac

“There have been a plethora of stories in the mainstream news and in blogs about the iPad and the amazing positive effects it’s having for people with various disabilities… here’s a round-up of some of them.”

The iPad as an Affordable Communicator: Initial Review | Do It Myself Blog – Glenda Watson Hyatt

“Then, I did something I had never done before: I went into one of the many Starbucks at O’Hare and ordered my first mocha frappuccino by myself. No misunderstanding or hand gesturing involved. It was so cool, like another door had just opened for me!

I feel like technology is finally catching up with what I truly need.”

The Mac-cessibility Network

“The Mac-cessibility Network is devoted to connecting, compiling, and providing easy access to the best resources for blind, visually impaired, and other disability groups using Apple products. It is maintained by a dedicated group of visually impaired volunteers, who are Apple enthusiasts themselves.”

MacRumors

“Apple Mac iOS Rumors and News You Care About.” Also from MacRumors:

Apple Activates Assistive Touch in iOS 5 Beta 3 | MacRumors

“The new settings allow users to activate a menu overlay on the iPad with by pressing on a designated corner. The menu allows one-tap access to all of the iPad’s functions including rotation, shaking, volume changes and even gestures. Known gestures such as pinch and swipe can be recalled by a tap, and custom gestures can even be recorded and played back on command.”

iPad News and Rumors | MacRumors

iPad-related news and rumors on MacRumors.com.

Mobile Learning 4 Special Needs

Resources from the Florida Center for Instructional Technology’s Luis Perez, including links to app lists and video tutorials.

Our Favorite Apps | Tools for Life

Searchable app database from Tools for Life, Georgia’s Assistive Technology Act Program.

Text-to-speech could be Apple’s next mobile trump card | GigaOM

“Over the weekend, Apple released iOS 5 Beta 5 to developers, and some intrepid digging by 9to5Mac revealed that it contains a text-to-speech system powered by Nuance, the makers of Dragonsoft Naturally Speaking. The system apparently works by allowing users to switch from keyboard to speech input at any text field, and it looks likely to be a system-wide feature, if it makes it to public release.”

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)

Apple “news, information and analysis.” Also from TUAW:

Apple enables ‘Assistive Touch’ features on iPad in latest iOS 5 beta | TUAW

“Apple has enabled a very cool feature for iPad users in the latest beta of iOS 5. ‘Assistive Touch’ allows users to perform gestures and button actions on the iPad with one touch.”

The iPad could be the best mobile accessibility device on the market | TUAW

The iPad “may become the most accessible and least expensive assistive computing device ever made.”

The World of iPads, iPod Touches, and Apps | Tools for Life
Archived webinar from Tools for Life, Georgia’s Assistive Technology Act Program.

Wolverton, Robert, and Karen Davidson. “E-Resource Round Up.” Journal of Electronic Resources Librarianship. 23.1 (2011): 68-95.

The article includes a write-up of my 2010 Mississippi State University Libraries Emerging Technologies Summit presentation. While I can’t post the article here, it is available to JERL subscribers at Taylor & Francis Online. Laurel Sammonds, the MSU librarian who served as a reporter for the session, also posted a write-up on the Summit blog. Jacquelyn Marie Erdman also posted some notes on her site, Technolust & Loathing.

While I read the blog posts when they were published last year, I forgot to look for the JERL article, and it didn’t pop up in my search alerts because Google’s spiders couldn’t get their hands on the full text. I’m posting everything here because I am totally famous in order to keep track of the mentions.

ETA: Just now, as I was searching for Laurel’s post, I found this picture on the Mississippi State University Libraries Flickr page. You can’t see my references in the shot, but the slide shown in the picture is an adaptation of one shown in an EASI webcast.

The resources referenced in my presentation, Keeping Up: Current Awareness Tips & Tools for Educators, are listed below.  They are also available via the Diigo collaborative bookmarking site: mbfortson’s aetc2011 Bookmarks on Diigo.

You can find a copy of the presentation slides here: Keeping Up: Current Awareness Tips & Tools for Educators.

Feel free to contact me via the “connect” links or the comments below, and thanks again for visiting!

About Twitter | Twitter

“Social networking and microblogging service utilizing instant messaging, SMS or a web interface.”

Advanced Search | Twitter

Create your own Google Scholar RSS feed | What You’re Doing Is Rather Desperate

“The process for creating a Google Scholar feed is a little complex. Here’s my first attempt.”

current awareness service | Online Dictionary for Library and Information Science (ODLIS)

“A service or publication designed to alert scholars, researchers, readers, customers, or employees to recently published literature in their field(s) of specialization, usually available in special libraries serving companies, organizations, and institutions in which access to current information is essential. Such services can be tailored to fit the interest profile of a specific individual or group. Some online catalogs and bibliographic databases include a “preferred searches” option that allows the library user to archive search statements and re-execute them as needed. Synonymous with selective dissemination of information. See also: current contents.”

Feed43

“Your favorite site doesn’t provide news feeds? This free online service converts any web page to an RSS feed on the fly. ”

Google Alerts

“Google Alerts are email updates of the latest relevant Google results (web, news, etc.) based on your choice of query or topic.”

Google Reader

“Google Reader constantly checks your favorite news sites and blogs for new content.”

Google Reader for Beginners | Official Google Reader Blog

Google Realtime Search

“Realtime Search lets you see up-to-the-second social updates, news articles and blog posts about hot topics around the world.”

Google Scholar

“Provides a search of scholarly literature across many disciplines and sources, including theses, books, abstracts and articles.”

How to Start Tweeting (and Why You Might Want To) | ProfHacker | The Chronicle of Higher Education

“Twitter can help academics make and maintain connections with people in their fields, find out about interesting projects and research, or crowdsource questions and technical problems.”

JournalTOCs

“JournalTOCs is the largest free collection of scholarly journals Tables of Contents (TOCs). It contains TOCs for 15,194 journals (including 1,698 Open Access journals) collected from 709 publishers.”

Page2RSS

“Create an RSS feed for any web page.”

#rss | Lifehacker

Lifehacker.com stories with the #rss tag.

RSS in Plain English | Common Craft

“An introduction to RSS as a way to save time reading web sites.”

Twitter Guide Book: How To, Tips and Instructions by Mashable | Mashable

“Twitter is a social network used by millions of people, and thousands more are signing up every day to send short messages to groups of friends. But where’s the user manual for Twitter? Where do new Twitter users go to learn about Tweeting, retweets, hashtags and customizing your Twitter profile? Where do you go if you want to know all about building a community on Twitter, or using Twitter for business? How can you find advanced tools for using Twitter on your phone or your desktop? To answer all these questions and more, we’ve assembled The Twitter Guide Book, a complete collection of resources for mastering Twitter. Happy Tweeting!”

Video: RSS in Plain English | YouTube

WeFollow

“Twitter Directory and Search.”

What Are Hashtags (# Symbols)? | Twitter Help Center

“The # symbol, called a hashtag, is used to mark keywords or topics in a Tweet. It was created organically by Twitter users as a way to categorize messages.”

What Is RSS | Dive into XML | xml.com

“RSS is a format for syndicating news and the content of news-like sites.”

Write a Literature Review | UC Santa Cruz University Library

Professional literature: “scholarly articles, books and other sources (e.g. dissertations, conference proceedings) relevant to a particular issue, area of research, or theory.”

The resources referenced in my presentation, The Disability Experience in a Post-2.0 World: Implications for Libraries, are listed below.  They are also available via the Diigo collaborative bookmarking site: mbfortson’s msuet10 Bookmarks on Diigo.

Those seeking additional information on library services and people with disabilities may be interested in Crash Course in Library Access & People with Disabilities, Access to Electronic Resources for Patrons with Disabilities, and other posts in the blog’s “Disability” category.

Feel free to contact me via the “connect” links or the comments below, and thanks again for visiting!

Aaron Cannon, Blind Web Developer on Vimeo“Aaron Cannon, blind since birth, shows how he (and other blind users) browses the web using screen reader technology. Presentation given November 2007 at LDS Church headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah.” Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

Academic Resources and Universal Design | ProfHacker | The Chronicle of Higher Education

“The situation would be much improved if more of us embraced the concept of universal design, the idea that we should always keep the largest possible audience in mind in our design decisions, ensuring that our final product serves the needs of those with disabilities as well as those without. In fact, the argument goes, embracing universal design results in an improved environment for all people.” Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

Accessibility and Assistive Technology | Help Center | Facebook

Facebook Help Center page “intended for users with vision impairment or physical disabilities.” Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

Accessibility of Next Generation Web Applications | EASI Webcast | WebAIM

“Dynamic HTML and AJAX are beginning to dominate the internet. Next generation web applications can impact accessibility of the web for better or worse.” Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

Accessibility | WordPress Codex

“Accessibility is for everyone, even WordPress users. But what is it?” Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

Accessible Twitter

‘”Web accessibility for the Twitter.com website application.” Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

Are Social Networking Sites Accessible to People with Vision Loss? | American Foundation for the Blind

“Using JAWS and Window-Eyes—popular assistive technology products that provide access to information on a computer screen—AFB evaluated these sites to see if a blind computer user, with basic screen reader skills, could independently register, create a standard profile, post photos, and interact with other group members.” Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

Captcha SUCKS! | YouTube

Demonstrates “audio verification which is just as useless” as indiscernible CAPTCHAs. Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

Chronic Disease and the Internet | Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project

Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation:

“When other demographic factors are held constant, having a chronic disease significantly increases an internet user’s likelihood to say they work on a blog or contribute to an online discussion, a listserv, or other online group forum that helps people with personal issues or health problems.”

“Living with chronic disease is also associated, once someone is online, with a greater likelihood to access user-generated health content such as blog posts, hospital reviews, doctor reviews, and podcasts. These resources allow an internet user to dive deeply into a health topic, using the internet as a communications tool, not simply an information vending machine.”

Considering the User Perspective: A Summary of Design Issues | WebAIM

Clear, concise description in chart form describing web accessibility challenges and solutions. Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

[Designing for All in a Web 2.0 World] | Vimeo

Robin Christopherson’s 2009 Future of Web Design presentation. Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

Disability.gov

Federal web site whose mission is “to connect people with disabilities, their family members, veterans, caregivers, employers, service providers and others with the resources they need to ensure that people with disabilities can fully participate in the workplace and in their communities.” Recommended reading: the Assistive Devices & Equipment and Laws & Recommendations sections. Visitors can use the Information by State feature to locate information and resources close to home. Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

DisaboomLive

“Disability Community: Blogs, Disability Forums, Caregiver Support, and More.” Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

Element 4: Disseminate Through Different Media | NICHCY

“NCDDR developed this list of options in 2001. Since then, we’ve seen an explosion in the use of social media to reach and engage users. The tools of social networking (Facebook, Twitter, RSS feeds) offer disseminators a remarkably powerful and very popular new avenue to explore. In the same way, the rapid advance of technology has also given us many new tools.” Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

Emerging technologies | Wikipedia

Sample Wikipedia page referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

Facebook

Social networking website referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

[Facebook Mobile Site] | Facebook

Facebook social networking website optimized for mobile device users. Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

Giz Explains: How Blind People See the Internet | Gizmodo

August 2010 Gizmodo feature referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

HiSoftware Cynthia Says Portal

“The HiSoftware Cynthia Says portal is a web content accessibility validation solution. It is designed to identify errors in your content related to Section 508 standards and/or the WCAG guidelines.” Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

How People with Disabilities Use the Web | W3C

“This document provides an introduction to use of the Web by people with disabilities. It illustrates some of their requirements when using Web sites and Web-based applications, and provides supporting information for the guidelines and technical work of the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI).” Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

Is Wikipedia usable for the blind? (Buzzi and Leporini)

Abstract: “Today wikis are becoming increasingly widespread, and offer great benefits in a variety of collaborative environments. Therefore, to be universally valuable, wiki systems should be easy to use for anyone, regardless of ability. This paper describes obstacles that a blind user may encounter when interacting via screen reader with Wikipedia, and offers some suggestions for improving usability.” From the proceedings of the 2008 international cross-disciplinary conference on Web accessibility (W4A). Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

Keep Facebook Accessible | Facebook

Group for Facebook users interested in accessibility issues. Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) | Facebook

Official NICHCY Facebook page. Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

National Down Syndrome Society | Facebook

Official NDSS Facebook page. Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

ODEP News Release: Disability.gov offers social media tools, upgrades to complement information from 22 federal agencies on disability-related programs and services

Press release announcing Disability.gov revamp “with social media tools to encourage interaction and feedback, and new ways to organize, share and receive information. Visitors can sign up for personalized news and updates, participate in online discussions and suggest resources for the site. New features include a Twitter feed, Really Simple Syndication feeds, a blog, social bookmarking and a user-friendly way to obtain answers to questions on such topics as finding employment and job accommodations. Additional tools will be added during the months ahead.” Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

Online Social Networks Bridge Gaps for Chronically Ill | NYTimes.com

“For many people, social networks are a place for idle chatter about what they made for dinner or sharing cute pictures of their pets. But for people living with chronic diseases or disabilities, they play a more vital role.” Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

Policies Relating to Web Accessibility | WAI

Outlines legislation and policies related to web accessibility. In the United States, these include Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act, Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

The Power of Social Networking for People with Disabilities | Accessible Technology Online Series

“The explosion of the use of Internet-based social networking sites and social media to communicate and connect with friends, work colleagues, potential job applicants and customers has been particularly beneficial to businesses and people with disabilities who may not have had the opportunity to connect so freely through more traditional or in-person means. This session will examine what social networking is all about and how it can be leveraged successfully to enhance communication and to break down barriers to full participation by everyone in the digital age.” Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

Relationship between Mobile Web Best Practices (MWBP) and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) | W3C

“This technical report describes the similarities and differences between the requirements in Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and Mobile Web Best Practices 1.0 (MWBP).” The report’s appendix includes links to “Experiences Shared by People with Disabilities and by People Using Mobile Devices,” “Mobile Web Best Practices 1.0,” and other resources to assist designers in making web content accessible to both people with disabilities and users of mobile devices. Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

SeaBeast Theme Demo

“Accessible” WordPress theme. Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

Services to Persons with Disabilities: An Interpretation… | ALA

“All library resources should be available in formats accessible by persons of all ages with different abilities. These materials must not be restricted by any presuppositions about information needs, interests, or capacity for understanding. The library should offer different, necessary modes of access to the same content using equipment, electronics, or software. All information resources provided directly or indirectly by the library, regardless of technology, format, or method of delivery, should be readily, equally and equitably accessible to all library users.” Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

Social networking sites lock out disabled users | eNation reports | AbilityNet

“Social networking sites may be revolutionising internet communication, and creating new and exciting opportunities in both leisure and business, but is this Brave New World as democratic and inclusive as it appears?” Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

Tennessee Justice Center | Facebook

Official TJC Facebook page. Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

Twitter

Microblogging service referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

Twitter Accessibility | Slideshare

Presented by WebAIM’s Jared Smith at the CSUN Tweetup. Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

Twitter Accessibility Roundup | Blog | WebAIM

List of Twitter users who “post frequent and insightful messages on web accessibility.” Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

The W3C Markup Validation Service

“This validator checks the markup validity of Web documents in HTML, XHTML, SMIL, MathML, etc.” Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

Wabi Sabi WordPress Theme

“Accessible” WordPress theme. Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

WAI-ARIA Overview | W3C

“WAI-ARIA, the Accessible Rich Internet Applications Suite, defines a way to make Web content and Web applications more accessible to people with disabilities. It especially helps with dynamic content and advanced user interface controls developed with Ajax, HTML, JavaScript, and related technologies.”

Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool

“WAVE is a free web accessibility evaluation tool provided by WebAIM. It is used to aid humans in the web accessibility evaluation process. Rather than providing a complex technical report, WAVE shows the original web page with embedded icons and indicators that reveal the accessibility of that page.” Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

WCAG 2.0 Theme Song, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines | YouTube

Lighthearted take on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.

Web Accessibility | American Foundation for the Blind

Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation:

“The same good techniques that make web pages accessible to those of us who use assistive technology benefit users of other devices as well. For example, people with…
* slow Internet connections
* devices that do not show color
* devices such as cell phones that have tiny screens
…all make use of design features such as alt-text and keyboard access. While a highly motivated and patient person browsing the web with a tiny handheld monitor might find it possible to navigate your site, unlabeled graphics and vast navigation bars filled with indecipherable graphics might well render your site unusable. ”

Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)

From the site: “The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) works with organizations around the world to develop strategies, guidelines, and resources to help make the Web accessible to people with disabilities.” Recommended reading: the Introducing Accessibility section and its Introduction to Web Accessibility, Introduction to “How People with Disabilities Use the Web,” and Quick Tips to Make Accessible Web Sites. Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

Web Accessibility: WCAG 2.0 at a Glance

“This page provides a summary of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines WCAG 2.0.” Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

What-accessibility-means-in-25-words (pdf)

“To launch the 2010 season of Accessibility 100 – a series of 100 easy-to-implement, free and inexpensive tips for improving accessibility for people with disabilities, I challenged people to share ‘What does accessibility mean to you?’ in 25 words.” Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

What is a CAPTCHA?

Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation:

“A CAPTCHA is a program that can generate and grade tests that humans can pass but current computer programs cannot.”

“The term CAPTCHA (for Completely Automated Public Turing Test To Tell Computers and Humans Apart) was coined in 2000 by Luis von Ahn, Manuel Blum, Nicholas Hopper and John Langford of Carnegie Mellon University. At the time, they developed the first CAPTCHA to be used by Yahoo.”

Wikipedia: Manual of Style (accessibility) | Wikipedia

Wikipedia Manual of Style’s accessibility guidelines. Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

Wikipedia:WikiProject Accessibility | Wikipedia

WikiProject Accessibility is “a group of editors promoting better access” for users with disabilities. Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

WordPress | Blog Tool and Publishing Platform

Open source content management system referenced in the #msuet10 presentation. See also WordPress.com.

wp508

“Accessible” WordPress theme. Referenced in the #msuet10 presentation.

As a companion to my ALLA/AACRL Best Practices Mini-Session, Access to Electronic Resources for Patrons with Disabilities, I’ve compiled this collection of resources for those who would like to learn more about library services and people with disabilities. The list is hardly exhaustive, but I hope it will provide interested persons with a good start. The links are also available via the Diigo collaborative bookmarking site: mbfortson’s alla_access Bookmarks on Diigo.

Those seeking additional information on library services and people with disabilities may be interested in Crash Course in Library Access & People with Disabilities and other posts in the blog’s “Disability” category.

Feel free to contact me via the “connect” links or the comments below, and thanks again for visiting!

28 C.F.R. § 35.160-164 | Electronic Code of Federal RegulationsReferenced in the ALA “Purchasing of Accessible Electronic Resources Resolution.”

28 C.F.R. § 36.303 | Electronic Code of Federal Regulations

Referenced in the ALA “Purchasing of Accessible Electronic Resources Resolution.”

Accessibility of Online Library Information for People with Disabilities (PDF) | Encyclopedia of Information Science and Technology

“This article seeks to determine the extent to which the library profession addresses the need of people with disabilities for accessibly designed online resources—by reviewing the professional library literature for coverage of this issue, by summarizing empirical accessibility studies, and by analyzing pertinent policies adapted by libraries and their
professional organizations.”

Accessibility of Online Resources in Academic Libraries

Presented by Axel Schmetzke & Suzanne Byerley at the 11th Annual Accessing Higher Ground: Assistive Technology and Accessible Media in Higher Education Conference, Nov. 11-14, 2008.

Accessibility to Library Databases and Other Online Library Resources for People with Disabilities | ASCLA Wiki

From the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA), a page “for sharing information among library employees about accessibility of library databases and other online resources.” Includes information about specific vendors and strategies for/experiences of evaluating resources.

AccessLibraries | DO-IT

DO-IT = “Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology.” Includes presentation materials for “Universal Access: Electronic Resources in Libraries,” a training program to help library staff and volunteers “become more aware of the issues, needs and concerns of people with disabilities in accessing electronic resources.”

Adaptive Technology for the Internet: Making Electronic Resources Accessible to All | ALA

Online edition of Mates, B. T., Wakefield, D., & Dixon, J. M. (2000). Adaptive technology for the Internet: Making electronic resources accessible to all. Chicago: American Library Association.

ALA Policy Manual | ALA

Includes the section referenced in the “Purchasing of Accessible Electronic Resources Resolution,” 54.3.2 (“Library Services for People with Disabilities.)

Americans with Disabilities Act | ADA.gov

Referenced in the ALA “Purchasing of Accessible Electronic Resources Resolution.”

Computers in Libraries 21 (9) | Information Today

Introduction to How People with Disabilities Use the Web | WAI

Provides examples of people with different disabilities access online content. Includes scenarios, examples of the barriers encountered by web users with specific disabilities, and specific assistive technologies and access strategies.

Library Hi Tech 20(2) | Emerald

“Special Issue: Accessibility of web-based information resources for people with disabilities.”

Library Hi Tech 20(4) | Emerald

“Special Issue: Accessibility of web-based information resources for people with disabilities: part 2.”

Library Hi Tech 25(4) | Emerald

“Special Issue: Special Sections on Accessibility and OPAC.”

Library Services for People with Disabilities Policy | ASCLA

Further information on the section of the ALA Policy Manual referenced in the “Purchasing of Accessible Electronic Resources Resolution,” 54.3.2 (“Library Services for People with Disabilities”).

Purchasing of Accessible Electronic Resources Resolution | ALA Connect

Text of resolution passed at the 2009 ALA Conference. The resolution posted here is in .doc format; it is available as a .pdf file via the ACRL website (URL: http://www.acrl.org/ala/aboutala/offices/wo/referenceab/colresolutions/PDFs/electronicresources.pdf).

Resolution of Principles for Digital Content (PDF) | ALA

Referenced in the ALA “Purchasing of Accessible Electronic Resources Resolution.”

Schmetzke Web Accessibility Survey Homepage

Axel Schmetzke’s “clearinghouse for studies involving the collection of accessibility data pertaining to web sites and online resources in education, particularly in higher education.” Includes research studies and vendor-supplied information on the accessibility of online library catalogs, indexes, and databases.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act | Section508.gov

Referenced in the ALA “Purchasing of Accessible Electronic Resources Resolution.”

Section 508 Standards | Section508.gov

Referenced in the ALA “Purchasing of Accessible Electronic Resources Resolution.”

Software Accessibility, Usability Testing, and Individuals with Disabilities | ITD Journal

“This paper reports on a collaborative project between a university and technology corporation that explored computer software usability and accessibility with older adults and individuals who have disabilities, some of whom use assistive technology. The project history and overall goals are described. In addition, the methods and results from usability/accessibility studies involving individuals with visual impairments, people with mobility impairments, and older adults are presented. The implications of these findings are discussed relative to the notion that in order for information technology products to be considered “usable” (i.e., efficient and easy to learn and use), they should be universally designed to meet a wide range of user needs, with or without the use of assistive tech.. Suggestions for future research, as well as for promoting the consideration of the needs of consumers with disabilities during product design, development, and usability testing are also discussed. ”

Testing More Than ALT Text- Techniques for Testing Usability and Accessibility (PDF)

“Conducting usability studies with participants who use assistive technology requires some non-traditional techniques. The complexities of the systems, and poor accessibility on the Web today make doing these studies imperative but challenging. Based on many sessions with participants with disabilities, this paper includes insights and practical tips for managing
planning, recruiting for, and facilitating these studies.”

Think Accessible | ASCLA

An ASCLA toolkit designed to increase awareness regarding the purchasing of products that are accessible to people with disabilities. Includes guidelines and checklists to help ensure usability for patrons with disabilities.

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 | W3C

Referenced in the ALA “Purchasing of Accessible Electronic Resources Resolution.”

Mission accomplished.

Association of Specialized & Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA)
From the site: “The Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) enhances the effectiveness of library service by providing networking, enrichment and educational opportunities for its diverse members, who represent state library agencies, libraries serving special populations, multitype library organizations and independent librarians.” Recommended reading: ASCLA’s Issues, Libraries Serving Special Populations Section, and Publications pages; the Library Accessibility: What You Need to Know and Think Accessible toolkits; the ASCLA Wiki.

Other resources from the American Library Association:

ALA Connect
ALA’s online professional network offers several disability-related Member Communities, including ACRL’s Universal Accessibility Interest Group and communities associated with ASCLA’s Libraries Serving Special Populations Section.

Library Services for People with Disabilities Policy
From the policy: “Libraries should use strategies based upon the principles of universal design to ensure that library policy, resources and services meet the needs of all people.”

Schneider Family Book Award
From the site: “The Schneider Family Book Awards honor an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences.” Recommended reading: listing of past winners and the Select Bibliography of Children’s Books about the Disability Experience.

Services to Persons with Disabilities: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights
Applies principles of the Library Bill of Rights to library services and people with disabilities.

Other sites:

AccessLibraries | DO-IT
Materials produced through a year-long collaboration between DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking and Technology) and the University Libraries at the University of Washington.

Awareness & Etiquette resources from Easter Seals, United Cerebral Palsy, and VSA arts.
From the UCP site: “The rules of etiquette and good manners for dealing with people with disabilities are generally the same as the rules for good etiquette in society. These guidelines address specific issues which frequently arise for people with disabilities in terms of those issues related to disability.” Recommended reading: UCP’s Interaction & Etiquette Tips and “suggestions on how to relate and communicate with and about people with disabilities”; Disability Etiquette, Myths and Facts About People With Disabilities, and Understanding Disability from Easter Seals.

Disability.gov, a federal web site whose mission is “to connect people with disabilities, their family members, veterans, caregivers, employers, service providers and others with the resources they need to ensure that people with disabilities can fully participate in the workplace and in their communities.” Recommended reading: the Technology and Laws & Regulations sections. Visitors can use the Information by State feature to locate information and resources close to home.

The Disability History Museum and Museum of disABILITY History both offer collections whose focus is the history of people with disabilities. The latter also offers resources for educators.

Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)
From the site: “The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) works with organizations around the world to develop strategies, guidelines, and resources to help make the Web accessible to people with disabilities.” Recommended reading: the Introducing Accessibility section and its Introduction to Web Accessibilityand Introduction to How People with Disabilities Use the Web.

Looking for a particular kind of resource? Have a favorite site or publication to share? Please post a comment below.

I’ve compiled A Young Librarian’s Crash Course in Library Access and People with Disabilities, a set of links for those who would like to learn more about library services and people with disabilities.  The list is hardly exhaustive, but I hope it will provide interested persons with a good start.  The links are also available via the Diigo collaborative bookmarking service: mbfortson’s yl_crash Bookmarks on Diigo.

Thanks again to Leah for creating a space in which to share our experiences as young information professionals.  If you’re reading this and haven’t sent in a submission, I hope you will.  I look forward to hearing your stories.