Home | Access and Services for people with 
Physical, Sensory and Learning Difficulties (Summary)
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SUMMARY

SCOPE
This guideline is concerned with issues regarding access to information held by or provided through public libraries, museums and archives for people who have difficulty using facilities provided for the general public, including those who are temporarily disabled, e.g. through accidents, as well as those with age-related disabilities. 

POLICY ISSUES
Disabled people are a major target for e-Inclusion. IST are especially promising for disabled people as they can assist them in using facilities. However, take-up is subject to two basic conditions: the removal of technical barriers for using IT equipment, and the provision of supportive technologies, software and web-content. 

Studies underline the persistence of a ´disability gap´. Computer and Internet penetration is considerably lower among disabled people and the usage of on-line services is less intensive. There is to date no uniformity of Government policy across Europe to address this, although the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) guidelines provide a benchmark to measure compliance with generally accepted principles for access. 

In the vast majority of public libraries the provision of access and services for disabled people is currently insufficient. Disabled people will not use public library services unless adequate physical and intellectual access is provided. 

GOOD PRACTICE GUIDELINES
Services provided by public libraries, their accessibility and suitability for disabled people can be categorised in four main areas: 

• physical access (to buildings, service counters, workstations, reading rooms, shelves etc); 

• intellectual access (to the content of information carriers, including the availability of alternative format materials, adapted workstations and special software);

• training for staff in helping disabled people.;

• virtual access (to provide access to services for those not able to visit the actual building. This can include visits to housebound people by volunteers as well as digital access)

Most issues, at least concerning physical access and staff training, are equally valid and relevant for museums and archives.

Disabled people should be included as full users of services through appropriate policies and design; they should have equity of access both to services in general and to information services in particular; they should be able to access and use services independently, without additional intermediaries.

FUTURE AGENDA
With digital inclusion becoming a social imperative, preventing the development of an underclass of ‘information poor’ by providing adequate access to electronically-handled information for all members of the community will be one of the main responsibilities and challenges got public libraries, museums and archives for the next decade.

Disabled people are potential customers and must be taken into account if public libraries are to remain competitive. As the European population ages, increasing numbers of older people will develop visual or other impairments. Public libraries in Europe are running the risk of excluding 10% of Europeans as potential clients unless specific steps are taken. The same applies to museums and archives.

Home | Access and Services for people with 
Physical, Sensory and Learning Difficulties (Summary)
Full Text: Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4