2/7/03

Colleagues,

(1) Have any of you had experience with requiring 'verification of disability' for access to services, programs, and equipment in your libraries that are aimed at serving disabled users?

I have been looking at applications that require verification such as ones for local services such as our paratransit program, applications from other local libraries, and the one from the Braille and Talking Book Library.  Please feel free to forward any of your applications to me; they might help clarify.

We are not interested in making disabled users jump through more hoops, but we do want to ensure that they have access to computers that serve their needs for adjustable tables, accessible software, and more time to work. 
We also want to weed out any people who should not be using the specially equipped computers; that is, for example, people who are not disabled who simply want to get more time on the computer.


(2) Specifically, because of the scarcity of computers in our libraries, we are considering having some computers set aside specifically for use by disabled users.  We also recognize that computers standing idle and 'waiting' for disabled users may not be a good idea in terms of the scarcity issue.  

We are looking at compromise scenarios that allow use of the computers until disabled users need them or reserve them  ―- we have a reservation system in place.  For example, we could alternate use of these computers between disabled patrons and 15-minute users (Express users).

We are also looking into allowing more time on other than these specific computers for those users who need more time (our biggest request so far for accommodation).  Unfortunately, the reservation software programs do not seem to allow alternating different user types on one computer; that is, alternating from a one-hour user to a two-hour user and back again.

Any suggestions on how to set up and implement a system of computer use that provides accommodations and access without letting computers sit idle would be greatly appreciated.

Please feel free to answer me directly, or post to the list if others are interested in this topic.

Alan Bern, Special Services
Berkeley Public Library
2090 Kittredge Street
Berkeley,  CA  94704
510-981-6121 (phone)
510-981-6111 (fax)
510-548-1240 (TTY)
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