Special Needs: Blind/Deaf
Americans with Disabilities Act Information
Special Needs: Children
Special Needs: Organizations
IFLS Special Needs Resource Collection
Special Needs: Blind/Deaf
Click here for a recording of a webinar about serving people with visual impairments by Dr. Katherine Schneider.
Sign Language Interpreters
When a library needs to hire an interpreter, there are several things to consider. First, it is recommended that you ask the person requesting the service if they have an interpreter that they prefer to work with. If possible, it is a good idea to hire this person, as they already have a working relationship with the person who is deaf.
If you need help finding interpreters or suggestions about how to work with them and people who are deaf, contact Carolyn Small at the Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (contact information below). You can also check the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services website for information: http://www.dhfs.wi.gov/sensory.
Carolyn Small
Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
610 Gibson Street, Suite 1
Eau Claire, WI 54701
715/836-2107
smallcm@dhfs.state.wi.us
TTY and Wisconsin Telecommunications Relay for the Deaf
Often when a person who is deaf needs the services of an interpreter to enjoy your program, they will contact you using a TTY, a telephone that uses text. If you do not have a TTY at your library, they will need to use the Wisconsin Telecommunications Relay for the Deaf. This service allows TTYs and regular telephones to communicate. When the Wisconsin Telecommunications Relay for the Deaf calls, many people think it is a call from a telemarketer, and they hang up. Be careful of this! If you need to reach someone who has a TTY, you can call the Wisconsin Telecommunications Relay for the Deaf at 1-800-947-6644 or simply dial 711.
Notification of Accommodations on Publicity
In order to ensure that people who are deaf feel welcome to participate in library programs, it is important that all library publicity includes a statement that accommodations will be made. A sample statement is: Everyone is welcome at the library. If you need special accommodations to attend this program, please call (phone number) at least 48 hours before the program.
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Americans with Disabilities Act Information
- American Library Association/ASCLA Accessibility Toolkit http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/ascla/asclaprotools/accessibilitytipsheets/
- Department of Health and Family Services Part of the Wisconsin state government. Links to information and technical assistance related to disabilities, Centers for Independent Living, and the ADA Wisconsin Partnership (promotes full implmentation of the Americans with Disabilities Act throughout Wisconsin). http://www.dhfs.state.wi.us/
- Department of Justice: A Guide to Disability Rights Laws. Part of the federal government. Information about legislation affecting people with disabilities: American with Disabilities Act (ADA), Fair Housing Act, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/cguide.htm
- Great Lakes ADA Center. Excellent regional resource for information and guidance on any question related to the Americans with Disabilities Act. http://www.adagreatlakes.org
- Family Village Virtual community of disability-related resources from the Waisman Center in Madison, Wisconsin. http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/index.htmlx
Special Needs: Children
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The books listed on this page are available for loan from IFLS.
To borrow any of them, contact Leah Langby.
Click here for power point slides from a webinar with Dr. Katherine Schneider and Leah Langby about books for youth and teens about disabilities.
Accardo, Pasquale. Dictionary of Developmental Disabilities Terminology. 2nd edition. Paul Brookes, 2002.
Alliance for Technology Access: Computer and Web Resources for People with Disabilities. 3rd edition. Hunter House, 2000.
Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies. Guidelines for Library and Information Services for the American Deaf Community. ALA, 1996.
Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies. Guidelines for Library Services for People with Mental Retardation. ALA, 1999.
Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies. Library Standards for Juvenile Correctional Facilities. ALA, 1999.
Cirillo, Susan E., and Robert E. Danford. Library Buildings, Equipment, & the ADA: Compliance Issues and Solutions. ALA, 1996.
Crispen, Joanne L. The American Disabilities Act" Its Impact on Libraries/The Library's Responses in 'Doable' Steps. ALA, 1993.
Deines-Jones, Courtney, and Connie Van Fleet. Preparing Staff to Serve Patrons with Disabilities. Neal-Schuman, 1995.
Feinberg, Sandra, et al. Including Families of Children with Special Needs. Neal-Schuman, 1999.
Lavin, Judith Loseff. Special Kids Need Special Parents: A Resource for Parents of Children with Special Needs. Berkley Books, 2001.
Mates, Barbara T. 5-Star Programming and Services for Your 55+ Library Customers. ALA, 2003.
Rights & Reality II: An Action Guide to the Rights of People with Disabilities in Wisconsin. Wisconsin Coalition for Advocacy, 2001.
Rubin, Rhea Joyce. Planning for Library Service to People with Disabilities. ALA, 2001.
Walling, Linda Lucas, and Marilyn H. Karrenbrock. Disabilities, Children, and Libraries: Mainstreaming Services in Public Libraries and School Library Media Centers. Libraries Unlimited, 1993.
Walling, Linda Lucas. Library Services to the Sandwich Generation and Serial Caregivers. ALA, 2001.
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