Susan makes a good point, and it's not just the distance learning folks.
Libraries themselves frequently use the terms access, accessible, and
accessibility to discuss how well we enable all of our patrons to find
and use our materials. (At my library, our circulation department is
called Access Services.) Because of this, in the library realm
especially, I think it's possible that people may misinterpret the word
accessibility and not realize that in this case, it's being used to
denote a specific subset of enabling services.
I agree that we should all be moving towards more positive language and
it's great to have these listservs to keep us in touch with our
colleagues who are working towards the same goals. However, if we want
to broaden our base of people involved in this work, we need to use
language that those not currently involved will understand--language
that clearly signifies to the "uninitiated" the goals of our work.
I kind of like Kathie's idea of combining the terms:
Accessibility/Disability Services SIG. It emphasizes and introduces
positive language while connecting it to common, widely understood
language. It also nicely sets up the possibility of migrating to just
the positive "Accessibility" language in the future.
Either way, I'd like to thank Adina for all her efforts to create new
places where we can collectively discuss these issues and share
information and ideas (wikis, SIGs).
Rebecca
Rebecca Power
Reference Librarian
Miller Nichols Library
University of Missouri - Kansas City
5100 Rockhill Road
Kansas City, MO 64110
(816) 235-1508
[log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: EASI's Library Accessibility Discussion List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Susan M. Johns-Smith
Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2009 9:32 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: ACCESSIBILITY Services SIG
Just a note that outside the world of enabling services, I have seen
more
and more in the literature that "accessibility" is being coined as as
term
for distance-education, particularly in academia, i.e., are your
services
and web pages and proxied databases "accessible" offsite, offcampus.
There's another whole "genre" of researchers out there for whom
"accessibility" means nothing to do with enabling and empowering those
who
need assistance.
I'm a great proponent of the "universal accessibility" movement, but
unfortunately the distance learning folks don't quite grasp that; and I
shouldn't pick on just them, it is equally frustrating to see that
people
loosely use the term accessibility to even mean whether they can find a
certain document buried on a web page.
That probably doesn't help completely with the wording issues, but does
show
that we need to be very clear about what services we envision for a
broadened word such as "accessibility".
>
Susan Johns Smith
Systems/Circulation Librarian Voice: (620) 235-4115
Axe Library, Pittsburg State University Fax: (620) 235-4090
Pittsburg KS 66762
[log in to unmask]
http://library.pittstate.edu/staff/susan
> What about accessibility/disability services? Kathie (age 60 so
disability is a familiar term and beats the heck out of "handicapped")
>
> Katherine Schneider, Ph.D.
> Senior Psychologist, Emerita
> Counseling Service
> University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
> [log in to unmask]
>
> If you work on your mind with your mind, how can you avoid immense
confusion? - Seng-Ts'an
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: EASI's Library Accessibility Discussion List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Adina Joyce Mulliken
> Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 7:58 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: ACCESSIBILITY Services SIG
>
>
> Hi Ellen and Axel and all,
>
> Thanks for the interest and advice about the name of the SIG! I agree
that we need to focus on the positives of what people CAN do, as Ellen
said.
>
>
>
> Another piece of advice I've heard a few times, from grad student
activists in Disability Studies at my campus and from Office of
Disability Services staff on my campus, is that the word "disability" is
commonly used and understood by the public, including people who have
disabilities. So the advice was to keep the word "disability" in of the
names/titles of various things (like the library's disability services
webpage). They seemed concerned that leaving out the word disability
might exclude people with disabilities who weren't familiar with the
philosophy of focusing on the positive instead of using "dis"
(negative), and that it could put us out of touch with many disabled
people's experiences.
>
>
>
> I think both Ellen and the disability activists on my campus have good
points, even though they conflict! Since I value Ellen's and Axel's
opinions, especially since we're talking about the context of
librarianship and I think they are good representatives for that, I go
for using Accessibility Services (unless anyone wants to share some more
thoughts or ideas about it).
>
>
>
> Thanks again for your ideas and interest!!
>
> Adina
>
>
>
> From: Schmetzke, Axel [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 7:13 PM
> To: EASI's Library Accessibility Discussion List
> Cc: Adina Joyce Mulliken
> Subject: RE: ACCESSIBILITY Services SIG
>
>
>
> I agree with Ellen: ACCESSIBILITY Services SIG would be the better
name.
>
>
>
> Axel Schmetzke
>
> Library
>
> University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
>
>
>
> From: EASI's Library Accessibility Discussion List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ellen Perlow
> Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 12:11 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: ACCESSIBILITY Services SIG
>
>
>
> Dear Everyone:
>
> Please consider calling the new SIG the ACCESSIBILITY Services SIG.
>
> It is important to focus on what people CAN do and DO do, NOT on what
we cannot ["disability" by definition means "what we cannot do."]
Accessibility is something EVERYONE NEEDS. EVERYONE. EVERYWHERE. ALL THE
TIME [what a great, positive buy-in to promote membership in this
group].
>
>
> To quote President Obama (November 4, 2008) [emphasis-capital letters
added]:
>
> "... This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This
is our time - to put our people back to work and open doors of
opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of
peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth
- that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and
where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and THOSE WHO TELL US THAT WE
CAN'T, WE WILL RESPOND with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit
of a people: YES WE CAN...."
>
>
> Yes We can. Positive wins. Every time. Thank you.
> A for Accessibility.
>
> -----------------
> Ellen Perlow
> Class member/Academic librarian
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
>
> Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:11:05 -0400
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: ACRL member "signatures" wanted to start Disability Services
group
> To: [log in to unmask]
>
> I'm looking for librarians who are members of Academic and College
Research Libraries (ACRL) division of ALA to sign a petition to start a
Disability Services Special Interest Group within ACRL. They will
accept emails with the librarian's name and ALA member number, rather
than real signatures. If you or librarians you know of are members of
ACRL, I appreciate your help (you can email me). You don't have to be
involved with the group to sign, just support the idea of getting it
started. If you do want to be involved, of course you are welcome and
we hope to meet at the Annual Conference in July, probably Monday
morning.
>
>
>
> Here is a current working description of the group:
>
> The interest group is intended as a resource and discussion forum
about academic library disability service issues such as web
accessibility, assistive technology, reference and instruction for users
with disabilities, and any other disability issues of interest to
participants. We will consider projects depending on participants'
interest. Possible projects could include web 2.0 forums to share
interest, experiences, etc.
>
>
>
> Thank you!
>
> -Adina
>
>
>
> Adina Mulliken
>
> Reference Librarian, Social Work, CFS, MFT, Aging
>
> Library Disability Services
>
> Interim for East Asia & CSD
>
> Bird Library
>
> Syracuse University
>
> 222 Waverly Ave.
>
> Syracuse, NY 13210
>
> Phone: 315-443-9519
>
>
>
> --------------------------- Check out EASI New Synchronous Clinics:
http://easi.cc/clinic.htm EASI Home Page http://www.rit.edu/~easi Online
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> ________________________________
>
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Internet Explorer 8.
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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
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> --------------------------- Check out EASI New Synchronous Clinics:
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courses and Clinics http://easi.cc/workshop.htm Check the EASI Library
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>
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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
>
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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
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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
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-> . . . . . . . . . <-
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