Libraries use a variety of assistive technologies to better serve the 19% of the United States population who have a disability. These disabilities can range from hearing loss to low vision, to mobility issues to speech impairment. Patrons may have been born with these disabilities, or they may be the result of illness, accidents, or aging.
Monday, November 25, 2013
What is assistive technology? Why should we implement it in our libraries?
Assistive technology is any device, tool, or software that enables the user to more readily accomplish a task. Very broadly speaking, it can be something as simple as a magnifying glass or something as complicated as a computer operated by voice recognition.
Libraries use a variety of assistive technologies to better serve the 19% of the United States population who have a disability. These disabilities can range from hearing loss to low vision, to mobility issues to speech impairment. Patrons may have been born with these disabilities, or they may be the result of illness, accidents, or aging.
Assistive technology creates the opportunity for people with disabilities to use the library's resources--whether print or computer-based--thus giving them access to the information world. Having the tools to participate fully in the information world can create a sense of independence, increase self-esteem, and inspire people to create new goals for themselves.
Libraries use a variety of assistive technologies to better serve the 19% of the United States population who have a disability. These disabilities can range from hearing loss to low vision, to mobility issues to speech impairment. Patrons may have been born with these disabilities, or they may be the result of illness, accidents, or aging.
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