Dear Everyone:
There are two groups of people in this world:
1. People who self-identify as having access needs.
2. People who have yet to self-identify as having (admit that they do have) access needs.
Sooner or later everyone joins the first group. Membership in Group 1 is a condition of living. It is just a matter of time. Just some of us - with lifelong differences that are readily identifiable by others - seem to be the "early birds."
Accessibility IS about everyone, everywhere, all of the time: a universal, the basis of $$$-cost-saving do-it-right-the-first-time Universal Design and Universal Design for Learning. By definition no limiter is necessary. The term Accessibility says it all. Perfectly.
The more people who show up at this proposed group's events and meetings, the better, even by accident, especially due to ....
ALA's Numero Uno Access Issues:
1. ALA and its divisions and members have one huge, seemingly insurmountable age-old access issue, particularly at conferences - that of trying to be at two events held at the same time in (invariably distant), different locations. People are missing out on important conversations and information. Absent cloning ...
2. The ECONOMIC CRISIS: With the economic crisis and more expensive airline, hotel, etc. costs (and other travel restrictions such as for baggage), people are cutting back travel. Even if we wish and may even be given the time to attend (happening at reduced frequency), we cannot afford it.
3. Unintentionally, groups across divisions and across division sections are duplicating agendas and programs and efforts with fewer and fewer members and meeting/event attendees.
4. We all simply need to do more with less. There is no other alternative.
Why I strongly urged [unfortunately unsuccessfully] that another forum NOT be created within ASCLA's LSSPS.
Why I now am advocating that ACRL's proposed Accessibility Services SIG be a part of an already long-existing, very active, cross-ALA divisional [positively-named] group that has this proposed group's exact agenda, and even has an officially designated ACRL representative among its permanent members:
ASCLA's ACCESSIBILITY ASSEMBLY.
Thank you,
Ellen Perlow
[log in to unmask]
> Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2009 10:10:59 -0500
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: ACCESSIBILITY Services SIG
> To: [log in to unmask]
>
> 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
> >
> >
> >
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> 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:
> http://easi.cc/clinic.htm EASI Home Page http://www.rit.edu/~easi Online
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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
>
> >>> Error in line 8 of AXSLIB-L.MAILTPL: unknown formatting command <<<
> -> . . . . . . . . . <-
>
> ---------------------------
> 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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