As some of you may have noted elsewhere, and specifically at the ASCLA SIG "Bridging Deaf Cultures @ Your Library" site I have posted this link to the Maryland Legislative bill proposed by Delegate Eric Luedtke on January 31, 2013. This is a continuation of my work, and that of Alice L. Hagemeyer, and it is in no way complete. The Deaf Culture Digital Library or the DCDL is taken with the deaf in mind, but lies upon the basis of universal access. It is about the deaf, but for everyone and further takes definitions to inclusion. Specifically where the 'deaf' are 'of various hearing levels'.
And without regard to hearing level, there are impacts upon one's life and that is what we want to preemptively consider, if you will. Any new library builds upon the next, and in that sense I'd like to see the Maryland legislation be a model.
The question for each us is this; how do I see this bill? It is not an end in itself, naturally. Each of you, will see this different. I am deaf so obviously I have blind spots (wordplay knows no end), I need to know how this is viewed, and even maybe what is missing. It matters not, this is going to be one of the next big projects where we Transform Our Libraries, Ourselves. Universal access is a starting point, not a back door.
http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2014RS/bills/hb/hb0653f.pdf