Related Objectives

· Identify strategies to maximize accessibility for all library patrons

· Promote inclusiveness in libraries through collection development

Creating an Inclusive Collection

Developing a collection for students with disabilities comes with its own unique challenges. However, increasing accessibility of resources that are by, for, and about people with disabilities will ensure that all students have access to an inclusive and diverse collection.

Consider some of the questions below when planning your own collection development. For a more specific search (e.g., to find books about a specific disability), visit the Disabilities Resources tab from the home page of Project Enable. This is a database of resources on disabilities for children (Grades Pre-K to Grade 12) and adults. Search by disability category, grade level, or keyword. For example, you can search for all books, videos, websites, articles, blogs, etc. that portray learning disabilities with a target audience of students, grades 3-5.

Another excellent resource to consult when selecting books for your collection that portray characters with disabilities is www.disabilityinkidlit.com. Co-founders Corinne Duyvis and Kody Keplinger (and their team) review books monthly from the perspective of people with disabilities. In their reviews, they note how sensitive or realistic is the portrayal of the disability.

Having an understanding of your students with disabilities and their specific needs is essential. This will help give you insight into how your collection can support their educational and recreational reading needs, and what your future collection development purchases could look like. 

Have you considered the students with disabilities who visit your library when purchasing resources for your collection? Here are a few example considerations when making plans for collection development.

Does your library collection represent students with disabilities?

Having knowledge of your community's students with disabilities will help give you insight into how your collection can support their educational and recreational reading needs, and what your future collection development purchases could look like.

Your collection should offer all students perspectives that both represent their own experiences and open them up to the lives of other people, promoting empathy and understanding.  For some collection development ideas, check our Shelfari page which features books that represent people with disabilities.

Types of Resources to Include

One way that your collection can address the needs of students with disabilities AND engage students of all abilities is to offer content in a variety of formats, providing multiple means of engagement. Consider some of the following:

Periodicals/Magazines - Some students may benefit from a large collection of interesting periodicals/magazines.  Popular magazines frequently offer short to medium length articles on current popular issues, and have pictures and graphics to interest readers and help them understand the text.

Graphic Novels – While graphic novels have a wide appeal to the entire student body, they may be especially helpful for students with intellectual or learning disabilities who struggle with reading. Graphic Novels also provide supplemental clues to the text's meaning for English Language Learners. Some classic and popular novels have been adapted into graphic novels.  This genre could make for a great alternative or supplement to textbooks.

Audiobooks – Audiobooks are available on cassette, CD, playaway, or digital recording. These different formats may be helpful for students with developmental reading disabilities, visual impairments, or blindness.  Many classic and popular books, both fiction and nonfiction, are available as audiobooks.  Audiobooks deliver the same content as print books without hindering students with difficulty reading text.

Large print book – Students with visual impairments may be aided by the use of large print books. Large print books can be effective for students with developmental reading disabilities, attention difficulty, or problems tracking, because they typically use fewer words on a page.

iPods & Other MP3 players – iPods and other MP3 players can be loaded with audiobooks for the enjoyment of all students.  Loaning MP3 players full of books will help those students who do not have access to audiobook technology at home. This technology is especially helpful to students who are visually impaired or have a developmental reading disability.

Tablet Computers & eReaders – Tablet computers and eReaders assist readers in a variety of ways. Tablets and eReaders are frequently used to adjust font size in order to aid readers with visual impairments. Some eReaders have a text-to-speech function or can play audiobooks along with print books. Additionally, many eReaders have built in dictionaries to aid in reading comprehension. Some eBooks come with interactive features to help engage students and support reading comprehension.

Does your library feature a number of different formats for a diverse audience?

Can you offer students library material(s) at their reading level? If you cannot offer a student resources for their ability or interest, do you know where you can direct them to get those resources?

Examples of Appropriate Materials and Resources

A challenge in developing a collection for some students with disabilities is finding material at their ability level that will also address their age appropriate interests.  One solution to address this is high-low fiction.  High-low books are written at a lower reading level but are about topics that interest older students.

Due to budgetary constraints or other issues, librarians may not be able to offer everything they wish to offer in their libraries. However, using services like Interlibrary Loan and understanding the programs, resources, and services other local libraries offer can help direct students to the right places. For students who have developmental reading disabilities, vision impairments, or are blind, consider using Braille and Talking Book Libraries.

• Braille and Talking Book Libraries – Many states have Braille and Talking Book Libraries.  If your state does not have this type of library it may have a consortium agreement with another state to share their books.  These libraries offer books in braille and audiobooks to the blind and in many cases people with developmental reading disabilities, free of charge.

Below are books on the elementary, middle and high school levels that are written by or about people with disabilities. By passing your mouse over a book you will see an annotation to help you decide whether it is one you might want to order for your library. These can be recommended to students who want to read stories about people with disabilities or for students with disabilities to read about people like themselves.

Ohio

The Talking Book Program at the State Library of Ohio provides recorded books and magazines, in addition to descriptive videos and materials in Braille and large-print.  Additionally, the Ohio Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled offers Braille and audio materials, and descriptive videos.  The library facilitates access to BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download), which provides downloadable audiobooks and Braille books and magazines (in Braille and audio).

Does your library collection need to be more accessible? If so, generate at least one concrete goal for your library collection, and add the goal to your action plan.