Library services for students with disabilities at the University of Wisconsin-Stout

This paper investigates the University of Zululand Library’s response to the university’s inclusive education agenda with respect to the accessibility of library services to students with disabilities. This was a qualitative study within the interpretive paradigm that used Michael Oliver’s social model of disability as an underpinning theory. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from students with disabilities and library staff. In addition, physical inspection of the library building was also conducted. Data analysis was done by thematic analysis. The study reveals that the University of Zululand Library services are not inclusive. Students with disabilities struggle to access library services. They faced such challenges as inaccessibility of library services, unavailability of resources in alternative formats and assistive technologies, and the lack of a disability policy. The study also found that the library faced the following challenges in providing services for students with disabilities: limited funding, a lack of staff awareness and training, the lack of a disability policy and a lack of collaboration. Formulating regulations to enforce the implementation of disability policy and legislation, developing institutional disability policies, and providing assistive technologies are critical in ensuring the accessibility of library services to students with disabilities at the University of Zululand. Unless students with disabilities have equal access to information, the university’s inclusive education agenda will remain a distant dream. Access to academic library services is critical to the full participation of students with disabilities in education. Likewise, inclusive university education can only be realised when students with disabilities have equal access to information. This aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals and the United Nations Convention on the Rights for Persons with Disabilities, which promote equal access to services and facilities to persons with disabilities. This paper raises awareness for both library staff and university management about the current status of library facilities and services with respect to accessibility for students with disabilities and how to address inclusiveness in library service provision.

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Convenience and accessibility of library services to students with disabilities at the University of Limpopo in South Africa

Journal of Librarianship and Information Science ◽

10.1177/0961000616654959 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 49 (2) ◽

pp. 180-190 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Justice Phukubje ◽

Mpho Ngoepe

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Students With Disabilities ◽

Best Practice ◽

Information Access ◽

Library Services ◽

Disabled Students ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Service Unit ◽

The Disabled ◽

The University

Students with disabilities require special convenient access to library services as compared to the general student population. Despite the special needs requirements, there is consensus among researchers that access to library services by students with disabilities is not yet fully available, especially in countries in the global periphery. This study utilised quantitative data collected through questionnaires directed to 92 disabled students registered for the 2013 academic year, an interview with the librarian responsible for the disabled students unit and observation using the IFLA checklist for access to libraries for disabled people to evaluate the convenience and accessibility of library services for students with disabilities at the University of Limpopo in South Africa. Even though the study established that a purpose-built library service unit for students with disabilities that complies with international best practice was in place, students with disabilities were not adequately satisfied with the library services they received as very few library materials had been transcribed into accessible formats. The situation was compounded by the fact that only one librarian was assigned to manage and run the library services for the disabled. The study recommends that the university should hire more librarians to assist students with disabilities in the audio-braille library. It is hoped that the study will stimulate policy makers to include students with disabilities in information access and collection development policies. A further study on the needs and academic progress assessment of students with one group of disabilities is recommended.

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Academic library services for students with disabilities (Research project for the Daphne Clark Award 1991/2)

Library and Information Research ◽

10.29173/lirg420 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 19 (62) ◽

pp. 10-18 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Hazel Clarke

Keyword(s):

Students With Disabilities ◽

Academic Library ◽

Academic Ability ◽

Library Services ◽

Learning Support ◽

Research Project ◽

The University ◽

North London

The project began as a challenge. The University of North London has a goal to facilitate access to all potential students with the academic ability to complete their chosen course. The library plays a key role in providing learning support, yet had no policy on providing for students with disabilities. The research project was formulated, and submitted to LIRG for consideration for the Daphne Clark award 1991/92. The main objective was to gain information on which to base a policy and plan of action to provide services for students with disabilities. Students at North London provided a practical base for the project.

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Provision of Assistive Technology for Students with Visual Impairment in University Libraries in India

DESIDOC Journal of Library & Information Technology ◽

10.14429/djlit.39.3.14329 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 39 (3) ◽

pp. 104-108 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Anand M Dodamani ◽

Sukanya M Dodamani

Keyword(s):

Assistive Technology ◽

Visual Impairment ◽

Students With Disabilities ◽

Library Services ◽

University Libraries ◽

Staff Members ◽

Systematic Exploration ◽

The Status ◽

Library Websites ◽

The University

The use of advanced IT applications has enabled the university libraries to provide innovative library services to their patrons. While the general students are getting all required services from the libraries, the students with visual impairment have continued to face challenges in accessing the library collection. The technology to help overcome these challenges is available today in the form of assistive technology (AT). Unfortunately, a majority of the university libraries in the country do not have this technology in their libraries due to which a huge amount of information stored in the books and journals subscribed by them has become out of reach of the students with visual impairment. The present study was conducted to ascertain the status of AT to support students with visual impairment in university libraries. The study which has covered around 185 universities, provides the first systematic exploration of the status of AT in university libraries in India. The major findings of the study in context of university libraries in India are: 12.97 per cent having Braille Books in their collection; 22.70 per cent have made provision for AT for students with visual impairment; 22.70 per cent have accessible library websites; 21.08 per cent have designated staff members to serve the students with disabilities; 22.70 per cent have ‘written disability policy or ‘documented minutes’ related to the ‘library services for the students with disabilities’.

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The Availability of Services and Facilities Provided for Students with Disabilities at Al al-Bayt University in Jordan from Their Own Perspective

Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies ◽

10.36941/ajis-2021-0108 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 174

Author(s):

Wael Alshurman ◽

Akef Al-Khateeb ◽

Ihsan Al-Saree

Keyword(s):

Students With Disabilities ◽

Social Services ◽

Physical Disabilities ◽

Library Services ◽

Total Degree ◽

Disability Support ◽

Medium Level ◽

The Mean ◽

The University ◽

Academic Services

The study aims to examine the availability level of services and facilities provided for students with disabilities at Al Al-Bayt University from their own perceptions. Descriptive and analytical methodologies were used. Data was collected using a questionnaire consisting of (65) criteria distributed on (6) domains. Participants included all students with visual, hearing, and physical disabilities, with a total of (53) students from all faculties. All students receive support from the disability support division at the university. Results indicated that the availability of services and accommodations provided for students with disabilities were ranked respectively as follows: facilitations regarding information resources, social services, administrative facilitation, academic services and accommodations, physical accommodations, and finally library services and accommodations. The mean degree on the total score was (M = 1.81) which indicates a medium level. Also, results showed no statistically significant differences at (α = 0.05) due to type of disability on all domains and on the total degree for the nature of services and accommodations provided. There were also no statistically significant differences at (α = 0.05) due to the type of faculty on all domains and on the total degree for the nature of services and accommodations provided. Received: 4 March 2021 / Accepted: 6 May 2021 / Published: 8 July 2021

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50 Years of Social Science Data Services: A Case Study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison

International Journal of Librarianship ◽

10.23974/ijol.2017.vol2.1.23 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 42

Author(s):

Chiu-chuang Lu Chou

Keyword(s):

Social Science ◽

Library Services ◽

Research Support ◽

Science Data ◽

Data Services ◽

University Of Wisconsin ◽

Social Science Data ◽

The University ◽

Future Landscape

The Data and Information Services Center (DISC), formerly known as the Data and Program Library Services (DPLS) has provided learning, teaching and research support to students, staff and faculty in social sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for 50 years. What changes have our organization, collections, and services experienced? How has DISC evolved with the advancement of technology? What role does DISC play in the current and future landscape of social science data services on our campus and beyond? This paper gives answers to these questions and recommends a few simple steps in adding social science data services in academic libraries.

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Some Biological Applications of High Voltage Electron Microscopy

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100051505 ◽

1974 ◽

Vol 32 ◽

pp. 298-299

Author(s):

Hans Ris

Keyword(s):

High Voltage ◽

Chromosome Structure ◽

Nerve Fibers ◽

Good Resolution ◽

High Voltage Electron Microscopy ◽

Voltage Electron ◽

University Of Wisconsin ◽

High Voltage Electron ◽

One Year ◽

The University

The High Voltage Electron Microscope Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin has been in operation a little over one year. I would like to give a progress report about our experience with this new technique. The achievement of good resolution with thick specimens has been mainly exploited so far. A cold stage which will allow us to look at frozen specimens and a hydration stage are now being installed in our microscope. This will soon make it possible to study undehydrated specimens, a particularly exciting application of the high voltage microscope.Some of the problems studied at the Madison facility are: Structure of kinetoplast and flagella in trypanosomes (J. Paulin, U. of Georgia); growth cones of nerve fibers (R. Hannah, U. of Georgia Medical School); spiny dendrites in cerebellum of mouse (Scott and Guillery, Anatomy, U. of Wis.); spindle of baker's yeast (Joan Peterson, Madison) spindle of Haemanthus (A. Bajer, U. of Oregon, Eugene) chromosome structure (Hans Ris, U. of Wisconsin, Madison). Dr. Paulin and Dr. Hanna are reporting their work separately at this meeting and I shall therefore not discuss it here.

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Ultrastructural characteristics of sporidia of Ustilago

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100155906 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 47 ◽

pp. 786-787

Author(s):

Patricia N. Hackney

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscope ◽

Type System ◽

Tube Formation ◽

High Voltage Electron Microscopy ◽

Voltage Electron ◽

University Of Wisconsin ◽

Transmission Electron ◽

Ustilago Hordei ◽

Silene Alba ◽

The University

Ustilago hordei and Ustilago violacea are yeast-like basidiomycete pathogens ofHordeum vulgare and Silene alba respectively. The mating type system in both species of Ustilago is bipolar, with alleles, A,a, (U.hordei) and a1, a2 (U.violacea) at a single locus. Haploid sporidia maintain the asexual phase by budding, while the sexual phase is initiated by conjugation tube formation between the mating types during budding and conjugation.For observation of budding, sporidia were prepared by culturing the four types on YEG (yeast extract glucose) broth for 24 hours. After centrifugation at 5000g cells were either left unmated or mated in a1/a2,A/a combinations. The sporidia were then mixed 1:1 with 4% agar and the resulting 1mm cubes fixed in 8% gluteraldehyde and post fixed in osmium tetroxide. After dehydration and embedding cubes were thin sectioned with a LKB ultratome and photographed in a Zeiss 9s transmission electron microscope or in an AE1 electron microscope of MK11 1MEV at the High Voltage Electron Microscopy Center of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

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