Sarah is definitely right, of course. ALA members set the policy and try to
solve the problems. The logistics of assuring that all meeting and program
facilities be assessible are daunting -- especially when, as we discovered
several years ago, the hotels and convention centers will report that they
are accessible when they aren't. At one time, we talked about asking for
local volunteers to check out accessibility doing actual walk throughs. I
don't think that was done very many times, and it would be virtually
impossible to do it for every room. I don't have any answers except to
suggest that this be an agenda item for the Assembly and the ASCLA Board. It
sounds like policy needs to be changed, too, along the way. We are way
beyond the time when people with disabilities are only interested in
"disabilities" meetings. Actually, I don't think that ever was true! Linda
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sarah Hamrick" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, July 18, 2005 1:35 PM
Subject: Re: Fw: Re: Placing Accessibility once again on ALA's agenda
>I have a few concerns with the issue that has been raised here regarding
> accessibility at the ALA Conference in Chicago. First and foremost,
> blaming "ALA" for accessibility issues isn't very helpful. Linda,
> you're off the hook since you're no longer a member, but I suspect many
> subscribers to this list are still members, and WE are ALA. If we think
> something isn't right we need to work within the ALA system to get it
> resolved.
>
> Second, I've re-read ALA's policy #54.3.2 regarding library services for
> people with disabilities, and it doesn't mention universal design or
> universal accessibility for conferences. It says "ALA Conference
> Services Office... must make every effort to provide accessible
> accommodations as requested by individuals with special needs..." If we
> aren't happy with that part of the policy, let's change it!
>
> Third, ALA's Annual Conference is HUGE. This year there were about
> 25,000 participants. In recent years there have been more than 350
> programs over 3-4 days at a typical conference (that's programs, not
> meetings). ALA's Conference Services staff is a pretty small group with
> a very big job. The reality of our world is that many conference
> facilities are simply not as accessible as we would like. Convention
> centers are cavernous, and we often have to walk a long way to get from
> one place to another. Buses and bus transportation don't always work
> very well. Rooms don't have appropriate amplification. Elevators
> aren't convenient (if they are there at all) or don't work. Bathrooms
> are up a flight of stairs. Public computers don't have assistive
> technology. Until we live in a world that is 100 accessible, there's
> really no way ALA can put on a conference that is 100% accessible --
> there are just too many of us!
>
> I, for one, would much rather ALA staff use my money and focus their
> time on providing appropriate accommodations for the people who really
> need them (and make the conference 100% accessible for those individuals
> who need it!) than give attention to making things accessible just in
> case someone might have a need!
>
> And while I'm on my soapbox, it really bugs me that the ALA
> Accessibility policy says that "Conference programs and meetings
> focusing on the needs of, services to, or of particular interest to
> people with disabilities should have priority for central meeting
> locations in the convention/conference center or official conference
> hotels." I wasn't thrilled with that statement when the policy was
> written, and I'm still not. I think it implies that we assume members
> with disabilities are primarily interested in programs about services to
> people with disabilities, and I hope that's not true! I'll raise that
> issue for the Accessibility Agenda meeting in San Antonio at Midwinter.
>
> I'd love to see some discussion on this list about things WE can do to
> make conference more accessible. If it's really a problem, let's work
> through the Accessibility Assembly and ALA Conference Services to make
> something happen!
>
> Sarah Hamrick
>
> --
> Sarah E. Hamrick
> Director of Information Services
> Gallaudet University Library
> 800 Florida Avenue, NE
> Washington, DC 20002
> (202) 651-5214 V/T
> (202) 651-5213 FAX
> [log in to unmask]
>
> ---------------------------
> Check out EASI New Synchronous Clinics:
> http://easi.cc/clinic.htm
> EASI Home Page http://www.rit.edu/~easi
> Online courses and Clinics http://easi.cc/workshop.htm
> Check the EASI Library Web http://www.rit.edu/~easi/lib.htm
>
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---------------------------
Check out EASI New Synchronous Clinics:
http://easi.cc/clinic.htm
EASI Home Page http://www.rit.edu/~easi
Online courses and Clinics http://easi.cc/workshop.htm
Check the EASI Library Web http://www.rit.edu/~easi/lib.htm
>>> Error in line 8 of AXSLIB-L.MAILTPL: unknown formatting command <<<
-> . . . . . . . . . <-
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