Disability Awareness

1. Disability Awareness Teresa Pedroso Disability Librarian

2. Aims of this session • Recognise the basics of disability legislation • Identify different types of disabilities • To precise some facilities available for disabled readers • Recognise the need for customer care

3. Legislation • DDA and SENDA • Disability Equality Duty • Disability Equality Scheme • 4th December 2006 • Equal opportunities between disabled and other people • Obligation to take needs of disabled people into account in policies – impact assessments • Transparent complaints procedure • Anticipatory duty of all service providers

4. Definition of Disability • ‘A physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities’ • Impairment? – mobility, physical co-ordination, speech, hearing or eyesight, memory or ability to concentrate, severe disfigurement and progressive conditions

5. Discrimination • Treating a disabled person less favourably than a non disabled person for a reason related to his/her disability without justification • Refusing to provide a service • Providing a lower standard of service on different term than to other people • Failing to make a reasonable adjustment for someone with a disability

6. On the Front Line • Good customer service / Common sense • Disabled people are people first • If in doubt ASK never ASSUME • Be willing to change your assumptions • don’t be offended if help is refused • How would you want to be treated? • Medical questions/Questions related to disability

7. Different Disabilities • Visible / invisible • Mobility impairment – e.g. wheelchair users • Hearing impairment • Visual impairment • SpLD- Specific Learning Difficulties – e.g. Dyslexia • Mental Health Difficulties and Medical Conditions

8. Mobility Impaired • Wheelchairs, mobility scooters, canes, crutches, walking frames or NOTHING • Access • Lifts and stairs • Book fetches – top shelf/lower level materials • Are there areas the reader can’t get to? • Alternatives – moving books to other libraries

9. Tips on addressing someone who has a mobility impairment • Wheelchair – Private space • Go to meet your reader • Talk to your reader, not to his/her helpers • Can you open the doors for them?

10. Hearing Impaired/Deaf • 9 million people in the UK are deaf or hard of hearing • Terminology • Deaf people and Deaf Community • Hard of hearing • Deafened people • Deafblind • Tinnitus

11. Tips on speaking to someone who is deaf I Face the person Ask what is the best way to communicate Speak clearly – and not too slowly Don’t exaggerate facial expressions don’t cover your mouth DON’T SHOUT! Don’t keep repeating – say it another way

12. Tips on speaking to someone who is deaf II • Be patient • Check understanding (yours and visitor’s) • Don’t pretend you understand when you don’t! • Be clear and succinct • Don’t waffle • Hearing Loops • Fixed and portable in reading rooms • Fire alarms • Vibrating pagers/visual alarms/Peep

13. Visually impaired • 2 million people in the UK have sight problems • Over 1 million could be registered as blind or partially sighted • Terminology • Blind • Partially Sighted • Deafblind

14. Visually impaired • Communication • Paper based • Braille • Moon • Large print • Clear print • Electronic – JAWS, WindowsEyes… • Audio - DAISY • Lip read • Verbal

15. Tips on speaking to someone who is blind I Word of mouth – verbal communication No eye contact - difficult Talk to the blind person directly Say ‘Hello’ and introduce yourself A light touch Say goodbye

16. Tips on speaking to someone who is blind II Guiding Guide/ Assistance Animals allowed in libraries Don’t pet the guide dog – it’s working!

17. Dyslexia and dyspraxia • Invisible • Specific Learning Difficulties [SpLDs] – Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Dyscalculia • Don’t use jargon • Be clear • Coloured acetates and paper – receipts • Clear signs and notices • Scanning and photocopying • Longer loans

18. Autism and Asperger’s • Autistic Spectrum Disorders • Asperger’s Syndrome • Routine – dislike change • Obsessive behaviour • Pedantic Language • Communication • Patience • Familiarisation

19. Other disabilities • Speech Impairment • If you don’t understand – ask! • Use another medium (writing) • Wait for the reader to finish his sentence

20. Bi-polar Affective Disorder (manic depression) • Patience • Longer loans • Epilepsy, Asthma, Diabetes • First Aid • Water and food in libraries

21. Disability and Language • Avoid association with negative images – cripple; handicapped; lunatic; freak • Avoid terms that invite pity • Don’t define by disability – ‘wheelchair user’ not ‘wheelchair bound’ • Do not worry if you say ‘See you later!’ • People first

22. What does OULS do for readers? • Longer loans • Height adjustable desks and chairs • Hearing loops • Software – JAWS, textHELP • Hardware – keyboards, mice • http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/services/disability/aracu/aracu_resources • ARACU

23. Further information • Teresa.pedroso@bodleian.ox.ac.uk • www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/services/disability • http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/eop/disab • www.rnid.org.uk • www.rnib.org.uk • www.nas.org.uk • www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/ • http://www.mind.org.uk/ • http://www.skill.org.uk • http://www.techdis.ac.uk/