I will second Kate's comments on dedicated machines - they are othering, not what I would recommend, and attempts to make people use them as opposed to the "normal" computers are often received as stigmatizing.
As a practical recommendation, both Windows and OS X have numerous built-in accessibility features that are of use to patrons with a wide variety of needs and preferences. These include settings like magnification and zoom, various high-contrast and other color modes, and screen readers. Access to these is often turned off in centrally-managed computers (which is to say most library PACs).
Making these features available (and making staff aware of how to assist in enabling and using them) can make public computers considerably more versatile in responding to patron needs without the need to install or pay for additional software or hardware.
Windows 10 built-in accessibility features are described at https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/windows?activetab=pivot_1%3aprimaryr2
OS X accessibility features are described here at https://www.apple.com/ca/accessibility/mac/
ALAN HARNUM
SENIOR INCLUSIVE DEVELOPER
INCLUSIVE DESIGN RESEARCH CENTRE, OCAD UNIVERSITY
E [log in to unmask]
OCAD UNIVERSITY
100 McCaul Street, Toronto, Canada, M5T 1W1
www.ocadu.ca <http://ocadu.ca/>
On 2018-12-04, 11:32 AM, "Code for Libraries on behalf of Kate Deibel" <[log in to unmask] on behalf of [log in to unmask]> wrote:
I'm honestly not seeing the problem here needing a solution. You cannot force any user---disabled or not---to use specific technologies even if you think they are better for that user. This patron's magnifying glass is working for him apparently. Let him use computers as he pleases.
What is a problem is LOLing at that patron's decision and emotional reaction to your efforts to push him to use something he doesn't want to use. You imply the problem is with him and do not consider that your approach or the proffered ADA machine is the problem. How was the recommendation phrased? Was it a suggestion or was it more of a directive that disabled patrons should use that computer? Disability is stigmatized and not everyone acknowledges having one. That decision is an individual freedom.
Dedicated machine approaches are also inherently problematic for disability access. In your case, your library has ONE such machine, meaning that only ONE disabled patron can ever be accommodated. For your patron in question, his solution lets him use any machine. Additionally, dedicated machines are also a means of othering and marking a person as disabled. That's why the recommended best practice is to make assistive software available on all machines via looking at site licenses, free software, or floating license systems.
Katherine Deibel | PhD
Inclusion & Accessibility Librarian
Syracuse University Libraries
T 315.443.7178
[log in to unmask]
222 Waverly Ave., Syracuse, NY 13244
Syracuse University
-----Original Message-----
From: Code for Libraries <[log in to unmask]> On Behalf Of John Klima
Sent: Tuesday, December 4, 2018 10:10 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [CODE4LIB] ADA access
We are investigating options for ADA access public computers. We have one wheelchair-accessible machine set up with Zoom Text on a large monitor which works ok but doesn't get a lot of use. We don't have any options on our OPACs. We have one gentleman who uses a large magnifying glass to use our OPACs and he gets irate if you try to suggest he use the ADA machine. LOL
What sort of creative solutions do you all use?
John Klima
Assistant Director
Waukesha Public Library
262-524-3688
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