Public and academic librarians: Consider sharing your knowledge/experiences and keep an eye out for the new website.
Regards,
John
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This was posted on ILI-L (Information Literacy Instruction LISTSERV):
For the past few years, the Center for Digital Literacy (CDL) at Syracuse University has been working on Project ENABLE, a professional development program for librarians that focuses on the best practices of library programs and services to students with disabilities (projectenable.syr.edu). Last year, the CDL was awarded an Institute of Museum and Library Services grant so that it could expand the current website to include information for public and academic librarians. We are planning to launch this new, updated website later this fall. At this point, we have updated a great deal of the website, and are currently working on Module 4, which relates to instruction. We are researching how instructional librarians in academic libraries tailor their instruction to meet the needs of students with disabilities. While we have found a great deal about access in academic libraries, there is a limited amount of research on instruction in academic libraries.
Specifically, we are looking for information on (with regard to academic libraries):
How academic librarians should work toward...
(1) Motivating students with disabilities
(2) Collaboration (with course instructors, disability services, etc.)
(3) Preparing lessons to address the needs of students with disabilities (differentiated instruction)
(4) Assessing that their instructional goals and objectives are being met (especially in connection to students with disabilities)
(5) Developing inclusive programs or lessons that are taught at the library (i.e., not passive programs or events not requiring instruction)
Many academic librarians have shared with the staff at the CDL is that they are typically not provided with a lot of information on students' disabilities for a number of reasons, but usually because the student does not provide Disability Services with this information.
Knowing this, is there any way that any of you, as academic librarians, design your lessons (or might design a lesson) to try to help students who may have disabilities of which you are not aware?
If you have any information on this, or would like to share your experiences, please email Jessica Regitano at jlregita@syr.edu. Thank you in advance for your assistance; it is greatly appreciated!