Sensational Spaces Disability Justice in Academic and Public - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Sensational Spaces Disability Justice in Academic and Public Libraries Quincy Knapp and Nicole Cunha

Overview ● Disability Justice and Libraries Third Space ● ● Sense of Physical Space ● Digital Space ● Sensory Programming and Collections Questions? ● Works Cited ● ● Links 2

Disability Justice and Libraries Third Space 3

Disability Justice “ challenges the idea that our worth as individuals has to do with our ability to perform as productive members of society” (Lamm, 2015) 4

Disability Justice ● Medical Framework ● Social Framework ○ Individual has “impairment” ○ “Impairment” is created by “impairment” must be social interaction ○ managed ○ If a tree falls in the woods...If a ○ Individual and caretakers person is alone… must advocate ○ Stairs don’t build themselves Submits paperwork which is Access framed by social ○ ○ then evaluated and maybe justice must work to dismantle approved systems of ableism that create ○ “Access is achieved!” disability Access happens over and ○ over again between people 5

Third Space The space where individuals “with less obvious social, political, or military power can still exert influence on space by resisting the represented structures of dominant cultures” (Elmborg, 2011, p. 345) 6

Library “A place of mild climate where I can find adventures ” (Elmborg, 2011, p. 346) 7

Third Space ● Library as Institution ● Library as Patron Space ○ Library hosts materials ○ Patrons seize space as their Librarians are interface to own ○ materials ○ Create own purpose, create ○ The purpose of the library as space to achieve purpose an institution dominates the ○ After home and work, library space is third space for social ○ Funnels patrons through strengthening regulated spaces with ○ Librarian as facilitator for regulated uses patron’s adventure 8

Sense of Physical Space 9

ADA Standards Americans with Disabilities Act - Baseline Spaces ● Signage: Large and clear, high contrast Height of desks ● ● Wide spaces: ○ Paths and Doors ○ Around public access computers Between aisles ○ 10

Academic and Public Libraries Boston Public Library Earl Center, Wheelock College 11

Universal Design Flexible spaces for flexible use Furniture on wheels! 12

Distinct Flooring - Earl Center ● Texture ○ Squares on floor mark entrances ○ Adds visual/stimulatory interest 13

Distinct Flooring - Boston Public Library ● Visual ○ Color lines ○ Lead to color-coded areas 14

Glass Walls Natural light ● Stripes ● ○ Depth Perception ○ Textured 15

Integrating Sensory into the Space 16

Textured Walls 17

Digital Space 18

Website ● Clear text, high contrast No extreme flashing gifs ● (epilepsy/seizure risk) ● Captioned images, alt-tags ● Be aware of how folks navigate! Headers ○ ○ Links Online Tools ● 19

Floating Tool 20

Check Your Website! 21

Electronic Resources: Computer ● Know your tools Jaws ○ ○ NVDA Apple ○ ● Icons ○ Corners and edges 22

Sensory Programming and Collections 23

Manipulatives ● Develop motor skills Engage in Sensory play ● ● Defray costs for individual families 24

Collection on the Shelves ● Circulation possibilities 25

Makerspace ● When Makerspace is accessible, patrons can make their own accommodations. ● They are the experts in what they need. 26

Patron-Empowered Accessibility: Signs ● Service dogs open doors too! Trial and error ● ● Measure, measure, measure 27

Patron-Empowered Accessibility: Braille Books 28

Patron-Empowered Accessibility: Tactile Books 29

Questions? 30

Links Disability Organizations Disability Law Center Disability Policy Consortium and The Nonprofit Center of Boston- Last year the DPC co-sponsored the Disability Intersectionality Summit in Boston. New England ADA Center- Each regional office that provides training and guidance on the ADA Extensive list of categorized organizations via Olmstead Rights Boston Center for Independent Living Professional Organizations Association of Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) Events Abilities Expo- Boston Chapter 31

Works Cited Elia, N. (2015). Why you should take advantage of the Boston Public Library. Her Campus . Retrieved from: http://www.hercampus.com/school/emerson/why-you-should-take-advantage-boston-public-library Elmborg, J.K. (2011). Libraries as the spaces between us: Recognizing and valuing the third space. Reference & User Services Quarterly 50 (4), 338-350. TheDarkHood. (2016). Braille Learning Board V2. Thingiverse. Retrieved from: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1275150 Kumbier, A. and Starkey, J. (2016). Access is not problem solving: Disability justice and libraries. Library Trends 64 (3), 468-491. doi: https://doi.org/10.1353/lib.2016.0004 Lamm, N. (2015). This is disability justice. The Body Is Not An Apology. Retrieved from: https://thebodyisnotanapology.com/magazine/this-is-disability-justice/ TactilePictureBooks. (2014). Tactile Goodnight Moon. Thingiverse . Retrieved from: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:390159 Wheelock College Staff. [2017]. Sylvia Earl Innovation Award. [General Format]. Retrieved from: http://www.wheelock.edu/about/programs-and-initiatives/innovation-agenda-for-wheelock/sylvia-earl-innovation-award 32