Three steps to make your library more accessible

Posted by Beth Ashmore
on May 15, 2023
in Accessibility, DEI, Professional Development

Graphic: Accessibility in Libraries. Image by macrovector on Freepik.

In honor of Global Accessibility Awareness Day on May 18th, the ASERL Accessibility Interest Group would like to share 3 steps you can take to make your library more accessible.

Step 1: Get acquainted!

If your library has users, you have users with disabilities! Two-thirds of students with disabilities never inform their college or university to receive assistance. Get to know your community and understand what barriers your services, resources, and physical spaces might pose to them.

Resources:

Disability Impacts All of Us, CDC

A Majority of College Students with Disabilities Do Not Inform School, NCES

Step 2: Evaluate!

Take a look at your spaces, resources, and services to see where you can make improvements that would benefit all your users. Not sure where to begin? Reach out to your peer institutions, library associations, consortia, and disability advocates in your community for help.

Resources:

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility Checklist

How to Meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines

Step 3: Educate & advocate!

You don’t have to figure out how to make a difference all alone. Join with the wider accessibility and library communities to educate yourself on best practices to make your services, resources, and spaces accessible. Share what you learn with others. Accessibility is a team sport!

Resources:

Project Enable

Library Accessibility Alliance

Ready to do something?

Take advantage of Global Accessibility Awareness Day and join in-person and virtual events with the worldwide accessibility community to learn more and make our world a little more accessible today and every day.