Assistive Technology for Library Users Who Are

Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing

Justine MaedaLIS 670: Introduction to Information

Science and TechnologyAugust 5, 2011

Overview

• Definitions• Identifying the Deaf • Deaf History and Laws• Current and Local Library Technologies for the

Deaf Community• Implications for Libraries• Guidelines for Library Services to the Deaf

Community• Newer Library Technologies for the Deaf

Community

Definition: “disability”

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) definition:

A. A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of the individual

B. A record of such an impairment;

C. Being regarded as having such an impairment

Definition: “deafness”

• “deafness” -- a physical condition characterized by a relative lack of auditory sensitivity to sound compared to the species norm. (Ladd, Patty)

• Deafness vs. deafness

• "hearing-impaired” – refers to people with a less than severe hearing loss or people who acquired deafness in adulthood as opposed to have grown up deaf. (Ladd, Patty)

Identifying the Deaf• According to the National Association of

the Deaf, there are approximately 28 million deaf and hard-of-hearing people in the U.S. -- roughly 10 percent of the total population.

•Within the actual ranks of deaf people, more than half reportedly use American Sign Language (ASL) on a regular basis.

Identifying the Deaf (2)

Deaf People• Born Deaf or deafened before acquiring

speech, often to Deaf parents• First language is American Sign Language•May not consider themselves disabled,

but as part of the cultural and linguistic minority Deaf community

Identifying the Deaf (3)

Deafened People• Those who have suddenly lost sense of

hearing and acquisition of spoken language as the result of illness or injury. • Continue to identify with the hearing

community • Use their original spoken language.

Identifying the Deaf (4)

Hard of hearing people•Many are over 60 years old. • Have usually grown up speaking and

reading their first language and are still able to do so; they retain some residual hearing and are likely to use hearing aids.

.

Identifying the Deaf (5)

Deaf-blind/dual sensory impaired• Have a significant degree of both sight

and hearing loss.

Deaf History

Laws Related to Library Users Who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing

•Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990: discrimination based on disability became illegal in employment, public transportation, public programs, telecommunications, and public accommodations such as restaurants, hotels, shopping centers and offices.

• Implications for the Deaf?

Laws Related to Library Users Who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing (2)

• Television Decoder Circuitry Act in 1993 • Rehabilitation Act, with key sections 504

and 508• Twenty-First Century Communications

and Video Accessibility Act of 2010

Implications for Librarians

The social model approach to deafness enables service providers to respect deaf service users as equals and to remove barriers in a way that does not set deaf people apart as a ‘special needs’ group.

The social model asks simply:Who are you?What do you need?

(Playforth 2004)

“Interact with each person as an individual.”

Ann Ito (Director of Kokua Program, UH Manoa, 2011)

Current Local Library Technologies for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing

Hawaii State Public Libraries• e-reference • Job Access with Speech (JAWS) software• Closed captioned DVDs, videos. • TTY/TDD • Microphone system when necessary• Sign Language Interpeters • Partner with Better Hearing Hawaii

Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped • a collection of American Sign Language books and videos

TTY/TTD• Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf (TDD), also

known as TTY (text telephone), is a small device like a typewriter that allows a hearing-impaired person to send text over a telephone line.

Current Local Library Technologies for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing

University of Hawaii, Manoa Library •TTY/TDD•Sprint Relay Service•Close-captioned videos and DVDs •Audio-Visual Lab with headphones and

adjustable volume •E-reference, email, 24/7 chat service•Workstation with software, amplification

(headphones)

UH Library Website

“Guide to assist in providing educational services to differently abled peoples”http://guides.library.manoa.hawaii.edu/accessibility

Current Local Library Technologies for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing

Kokua Program at UH ManoaPriority RegistrationTranscription ServicesNote-taking ServicesSign language Interpreters (live or remote)Faculty Technical AssistanceAudio-Visual CaptioningTesting AccommodationsAssistive Technology (TTY, Web Cams)Education and Advocacy

Current Library Technologies for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (2)

People who are: May also benefit from these accomodations:

D/deaf or hard-of hearing

-Qualified sign language interpreters for public programming -A staff person knowledgeable in sign language -Closed/Opened Captioning-Telephones-Public TTY/TDD-Instant Messaging-Video relay service access-Hearing Ear Dogs

Hearing Dogs

Current Library Technologies for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (3)

(3)People who are: May benefit from these accomodations:

D/deaf or hard-of hearing

-Clear signage-Visual alert / warning system-Equal accessibility to all programs and services-Paper and pencil

Current Library Technologies for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (4)

(4)(4People who are: May benefit from these accomodations:

Hard-of hearing -Assistive Listening Device (ALD)

-Amplification system

-Headsets and "Neckloops”

-Hearing aid compatible public telephones

A “Neckloop”

Guidelines for Library Services to the Deaf Community

•Personnel•Communication•Collections• Services•Program Publicity

Guidelines for Library Services to the Deaf Community (2)

Personnel• Are staff trained on the issues pertaining

to servicing the deaf community? • Is training provided on how to

communicate effectively?• Employment of persons who can obtain

credibility within the deaf community?

Guidelines for Library Services to the Deaf Community (3)

Communication• Are Text telephones (TTY) available at each main service point (i.e.

the reference desk)?• Do telephones have amplification? • Is the library’s internet presence wholly accessible?• Are current technologies for communication in place? • Are communication aids for supporting computer-assisted real-

time captioning available for meetings? • Are closed caption/television decoders available? • Are sign language and oral interpreters, computer-assisted real-

time captioning, or computer-assisted note taking services available?

• Does the library use visible warning signals?

Guidelines for Library Services to the Deaf Community (4)

Collections• Are collections interesting and related to deafness/culture? • Is there a wide, impartial collection of information provided in

regards to educational options, referral agencies, and programs for community of deaf?

• Is there access to collections of high interest / low reading level materials?

• Are television, video programs and other such media with audio portions captioned or signed?

• Is there sufficient equipment necessary to view videos?• Is there a collection of videotapes/films in sign language?

Guidelines for Library Services to the Deaf Community (5)

Services• Are collections, services, and programs accessible and

encouraged for deaf patrons?• Is the library’s deaf community involved in the design and

development of the library’s services to deaf people?• Are programs conducted in sign language?• Do library-sponsored literacy programs meet the unique

needs of deaf individuals?• Is local deaf-related Information provided in its online

community information and referral database?

Guidelines for Library Services to the Deaf Community (6)

Program Publicity• Are programs and services to the deaf

community being actively publicized?• Does all library publicity provide for

access to the library’s deaf community?

New Technologies for Libraries to Consider

Internet Protocol Relaytext based system that enables persons who are deaf to use sign language or speech reading to communicate with any telephone user via a Video Interpreter (VI) at a relay service call center. The user has a videophone or webcam connected to a video relay service call center using an internet connection.

Internet Protocol Relay (IP)

Video Relay Service (VRS)enables a deaf user to use sign language or speech reading to communicate with any telephone user via a Video Interpreter (VI) at a relay service call center. The user has a videophone or webcam connected to a video relay service call center using an internet connection.

Bibliography

Alliance for Technology Access. 2000. Computer and Web Resources for People with Disabilities. Alameda, California: Hunter House Publishers.

Aragaki, Tisha M. Acting Section Head, Edna Allyn Room for Children. Hawaii State Library. Email Interview. 4 August 2011.

Assistive Technology Resource Centers of Hawaii (ATRC). September 2002. Tools to Use: A Guide to Assistive Technology Devices. Honolulu, Hawaii: Assistive Technology Resource Centers of Hawaii.

Bell, Lori. 2004. Product Pipeline. Library Journal. Net Connect, Vol. 129

Christensen, Ross. Public Services/Librarian. Hamilton Library, University of Hawaii at Manoa. Phone Interview. 4 August 2011.

Claire, Mary. E-Reference Librarian, Hawaii State Library. Email Interview. 3 August 2011.

Cohen, Sandy. 2006. Making your Library Accessible for People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. Tennessee Libraries; 2006, Vol. 56 Issue 1

Day, John Michael. 2000. Guidelines for Library Services to Deaf People. 2nd Edition. Revised edition of Professional Report No. 24. International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions IFLA Professional Reports, Nr. 62.

Hamrick, Sarah. Accessibility at the Gaulladet University Library. Interface (02706717); Fall2004, Vol. 26 Issue 3, p2-2, 2/3p

History Through Deaf Eyes. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/soundandfury/index.html

Ito, Ann. Director of Kokua Program. Phone interview. 4 August 2011.

Jeal, Yvette, Roper, Vincent de Paul, Ansell, Elaine. 1996. Deaf people and libraries - should there be special considerations? Part 2: material and technological developments London: New Library World. Vol. 97, Iss. 1126; pg. 13

Kokua Program. http://www.hawaii.edu/kokua/

Ladd, Paddy. 2003. Understanding Deaf Culture: In Search of Deafhood. Clevedon, Great Britain. Multilingual Matters Limited.

McQuigg, Karen. Are the Deaf a Disabled Group, or a Linguistic Minority. Issues for Librarians in Victoria’s Public Libraries. Australian Library Journal; Nov2003, Vol. 52 Issue 4, p367-377, 11p. Accessed online from EBSCO.

Padden, Carol A. 2005. Inside Deaf Culture. Cambridge, MA, USA: Harvard University Press

Peters, T. and Bell, L. Hello IM, Goodbye TTY. Computers in Libraries, 10417915, May2006, Vol. 26, Issue 5.

Peters T; Bell L. 2006. Assistive Devices and Options for Libraries. Computers in Libraries. Oct; 26 (9). pp. 38-40. Accessed online from EBSCO.

Playforth, Sarah. 2004. Brief Communication. Inclusive Library Services for Deaf People: An Overview from the Social Model Perspective. Health Information and Libraries. 21 (Suppl. 2), pp. 54–57. Accessed online from EBSCO.

University of Hawaii at Manoa Library. http://library.manoa.hawaii.edu/

“A Day in the Life, Girl’s Night Out.” VRS. YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhO2cpmm_mo

IP Relay Service image. http://ddtp.cpuc.ca.gov. Hearing Dog image. http://www.lions.org.uk/health/speech_and_hearing/index.php. Neckloop Image. http://www.hearinglosshelp.com/products.htm. TTY/TDD Image. Unitedtty.com. Video Relay Service image. http://www.clevelandhearingandspeech.org