10 Accessibility Ideas for Your Library
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Photo by Sigmund on Unsplash |
Today I'm looking at accessibility ideas for use in your library. You may think that accessibility is only for people with disabilities, but in reality accessibility can help everyone. For example, I am currently recovering from major surgery and I can tell you that that senior citizen handle which was installed in my shower before we purchased our house has come in super handy. Am I disabled? No. But have I taken full advantage of said shower bar during my recovery? Yes. It's simple things like built in ramps that people in wheelchairs need, but people with strollers or unsteady steps can easily use. These library ideas are like that, they can help more than one demographic of students allowing everyone to learn to their fullest potential.
Physical Accessibility Resource Ideas
1. Oversized / Large Print Keyboards and Stickers
Keyboard example: https://logickeyboard.com/shop/largeprint-1142c1.html
Price: Average $120
Sticker example: https://www.amazon.com/large-print-keyboard-stickers/s?k=large+print+keyboard+stickers (image shown: https://a.co/d/bTG52T7)
Price: Average $9
Benefits: Students with low vision can benefit from the large sans serif font on each key and the high contrast lettering between the letter color and the background. The keyboard is compatible with Windows computers and is offered with wires or wireless. The stickers are used to cover existing keyboards at a much more affordable price and can be used on most keyboards. If (re)placed on library computer keyboards no one would be singled out, students who need it wouldn't have to ask for assistance, and most students would benefit.
2. Classroom Microphone
Microphone example: https://teachlogic.com/choosing-a-classroom-audio-system/
Price: Varies depending on microphone complexity
Benefits: A school library can be a noisy place despite the "shhh!" stereotype. Teaching while wearing or holding a microphone can bring your voice to the back of the classroom allowing all listeners to hear you better. The presentation microphones do not throw your voice like an auditorium, but makes it clear enough for students who are hard of hearing to better understand you in all areas. Some are simple handheld microphones to a simple speaker and others have speakers integrated into the classroom or library. It really depends on your need.
3. Concentration Tools
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IMAGE: Generated by Bing Image Creator, |
Noise Canceling example: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Project-Source-Foam-Hearing-Protection-Earmuffs/5014190925
Price: Average $15
Benefits: Nothing fancy, these are basic hearing protection earmuffs without breakable technology to remove distracting sounds so students can focus. Especially great if there is no quiet area in your library. Students can grab one from a basket, if needed, without having to ask. No special set up or connectivity required!
Seat Fidget example: https://bouncyband.com/collections/flexible-seating-on-chair
Price: Average $25
Benefits: I have heard nothing but great reviews for these wiggle seats from classroom to specials teachers. It allows students to wiggle and move without distracting others and enables the wiggly student to concentrate on what they are doing. A great way to help kids stay in their seats and not climbing the stacks! Students could grab one when they need it or if possible, have one at each seat so the student can decide.
Leg / Foot Fidget example: https://bouncyband.com/collections/desk-work
Price: Average $20 and up (can be bought in bulk)
Benefits: Essentially these giant rubber bands are attached to chairs or desks allowing students to quietly expel their energy while sitting which leads to higher concentration. There are other styles out there but in general they are all simple and easy to install and once put in place they do not need to be removed. All students can access and benefit from it without asking for an accommodation.
Hand Fidgets example: https://therapyshoppe.com/category/1052-fidget-toys-classroom-fidgets-focus-concentration-toys-tools
Price: Varies
Benefits: With various fidgets that are small enough to hold in your hand, students can keep a fidget with them at the desk without bothering other students. Fidgets relax students and keeps their minds focused. One second grade elementary teacher told me she used to keep hand fidgets in a box and would take it out if she noticed a student was having trouble. Now she leaves it open and students come up on their own and grab one. She reported the class focused a lot more when she let them decide and allowed the box to be available to everyone.
4. Left-Handed Tools
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IMAGE: Photo by Julie Dennehy, |
Tools example: Left-handed scissors, reversed notebooks, books about being left-handed, books about playing musical instruments left-handed: https://www.leftyslefthanded.com/Left_Handed_Kids_s/95.htm
Price: Varies
Benefits: Growing up left-handed in a right-handed world can be challenging at times. I'm a righty, but my friend in school was a lefty. We shared a table at school and swapped seats so when we wrote we would not be elbowing each other. My son is a lefty and recently I bought him left-handed scissors for home and school because I watched him struggle trying to cut a piece of paper. I asked if they had left-handed scissors at school and he said no. He didn't believe they would make a difference until his cutting was not a struggle any longer. It's the simple things. You do not need to have enough for an entire class, but having a small handful of left-handed tools or resources would be greatly appreciated by your left-handed students.
5. Reading Guide Bookmarks
Price: $1.30 and up
Benefit: A bookmark to take anywhere that has a colored transparent strip in the middle that acts like a highlighter while reading. They are great for students who need help focusing or with visual perceptive challenges. Plus, you can offer it to all your students in the library without signaling anyone one out. Not to mention, they act as a bookmark so it can easily go anywhere with the student whether in the library, the classroom, or at home.
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IMAGE: Generated by Bing Image Creator, https://www.bing.com/images/create, prompt: "A goblin with headphones interacting with a computer". |
6. Accessibyte
Application: https://www.accessibyte.com/products-2/
Price: Price depends on the number of teachers and students using it. Discounts for large number of students. Quotes are available: https://www.accessibyte.com/school-pricing/
Benefits: Accessibyte is an online application with six different educational applications for blind and visually impaired students of all ages which includes learning to type with large letters, learning to type braille, online flashcards, and educational games with audible settings for deaf or hard of hearing students. Students can log in from school or even at home! While it is not for every student, this application can help those who would fall behind on regular typing programs catch up and be equal to their peers.
7. Learning Ally
Application: https://learningally.org/
Price: Subscription, but 7 states have a state contract which allows access to Learning Ally to students free of cost to schools.
Benefits: An award winning audiobook program for students who are legally blind, visually impaired, dyslexic, are below reading level, or have an impairment that makes reading printed books difficult or impossible. It displays word highlighting with text-to-speech so students are able to have both visual and audio input. Many books available could also be available in your library or are required classroom reading. Accessible online in school or at home with an active account.
8. Goblin.Tools
Application: https://goblin.tools/
Price: Free
Benefits: A great addition to a student resource page on your library website. Goblin Tools helps neurodivergent students organize and compile to-do lists, convert chaotic thoughts into coherent paragraphs, understand the tone of a phrase, breakdown an explanation, make a pros and cons list, estimate time, and even input ingredients and allergies to come out with what to cook! Students who are not neurodivergent would also benefit from its AI organizational features.
9. Bookshare
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IMAGE: Generated by Bing Image Creator, |
Application: https://www.bookshare.org/
Price: Free with restrictions
Benefits: Bookshare was originally created for blind and visually impaired people. It allows books to be downloaded in a variety of formats like ePub (eBook format), BRF (Braille Ready Format), and PEF (Portable Embosser Format). Then the files can be transferred to whatever hardware the student is using. It has expanded to include assistance for dyslexia or page turning help. While it is free, students need to qualify or have specific IEPs for access to certain books (publisher copyright). So while not everyone can use this application, the fact that books can be transferred to various devices makes this application worth considering for more than one accommodation.
10. Read&Write for Google Chrome Extension
Application: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/readwrite-for-google-chro/inoeonmfapjbbkmdafoankkfajkcphgd?hl=en-US
Price: Price based on number of students, over 10 students requires a quote
Benefit: This application has the ability to be shared to everyone, if the budget allows. Help students with their research papers with its spelling and grammar, dictionary look-up along with visual enforcement on what a word means. It can read a Google Doc (and PDFs) and highlight as it reads, includes a study tool (like the Reader Guide Bookmarks) to keep focus, has speech to text capabilities, highlighting tools along with extracting tools based on what a student highlights that then can be collected and made into a separate Google Doc with a reference link to the original document. Students are also able to highlight single words to generate a separate vocabulary list which automatically includes definitions and symbol representations. All students could benefit from different aspects of this extension and no one would stand out for using it.
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IMAGE: Generated by Bing Image Creator, https://www.bing.com/images/create, prompt: "students with disabilities using a school library". |
While not listed on my 10 accessibility ideas, check out the Universal Design Library Checklist and the ADA Library Accessibility Checklist from Project ENABLE for other ways to make your library accessible for all students!
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