Libraries and Accessibility

What is accessibility? Why is it important?

There are many reasons why accessibility is important in our libraries but the main reason
is the Access Ontario Project and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. The
Access Ontario project and the AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act) ensures
that all of Canada must be accessible to people with disabilities. When things are accessible for
people with disabilities it equals the playing field. Accessibility is important because it benefits
individuals with a disabilities.
For libraries of educational and training institutions:
All Materials must be made accessible.
Obligated organizations to which this section applies shall meet the requirements under this
section in accordance with the following schedule:
1. In respect of print-based resources or materials, January 1, 2015.
2. In respect of digital or multimedia resources or materials, January 1, 2020

There are many different ways that libraries can become more accessible for people with Learning Disabilities. Many Universities and Colleges have libraries that are accessible to people with Learning Disabilities. The University of Ottawa is a very good example of an accessible library. They have an Adaptive Technology lab. This Adaptive Technology lab has a lot of the software that people with you Learning Disabilities and other varying types of disabilities use. The software that they offer is Kurzweil, Dragon Naturally Speaking, and Zoom Text to name a few.
To look more into this library check out:
http://www.biblio.uottawa.ca/html/Page?node=accessibility-tech&lang=en

The AERO (Alternative Education Resources for Ontario) library is another example of an accessible library for people with Learning Disabilities. This library is ran through the Ministry of Education so that schools all throughout Ontario can access accessible format for their students that use Assistive Technology and Accessible Format. Only teachers can access this library and request Accessible Format.

Accessible resources need to be available to all individuals who have a disability not just for when student attend academic institutions where this information is made available.

Why should libraries be accessible for someone with a Learning Disability?
• The right to information and lifelong learning
• To create the joy of reading in your Learning Disability population
• Remove the barriers of accessing and comprehending information. Create the access in
the ways that work for us.
• Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act ultimately wants libraries to be a more
accessible and inviting place for people with Learning Disabilities

There are many different ways that libraries can become more accessible for people with
Learning Disabilities. Many Universities and Colleges have libraries that are accessible to people
with Learning Disabilities. The University of Ottawa is a very good example of an accessible
library. They have an Adaptive Technology lab. This Adaptive Technology lab has a lot of the
software that people with you Learning Disabilities and other varying types of disabilities use.

The software that they offer is Kurzweil, Dragon Naturally Speaking, and Zoom Text to name a
few.
To look more into this library check out:
http://www.biblio.uottawa.ca/html/Page?node=accessibility-tech&lang=en

The AERO (Alternative Education Resources for Ontario) library is another example of an
accessible library for people with Learning Disabilities. This library is ran through the Ministry
of Education so that schools all throughout Ontario can access accessible format for their
students that use Assistive Technology and Accessible Format. Only teachers can access thislibrary and request Accessible Format.

Accessible resources need to be available to all individuals who have a disability not just for
when student attend academic institutions where this information is made available.