Edited by Kodi Laskin
Essays by Kodi Laskin, Leah Keevan, Jackie Kruzie, Katherine Schneider, Cecilia James, and Alex Kerr
4 stars
A helpful and insightful guide with some simple steps for interacting with patrons with various disabilities in a library setting.
The book covers basic information on service animals, mobility aids, speech assistive technology, blindness and low vision, deafness and hard of hearing, and learning differences.
The book obviously can’t cover all disabilities but does contain a good variety of information and provides helpful insight into working with patrons with specific needs. It also gives information on making libraries physically accessible and on various ways of communicating including ASL and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).
Each chapter contains practical advise on combating stereotypes and preconceived notions, making the library a more accessible, inclusive, and welcoming place, and providing the best customer service to all patrons.
I found Kerr’s section on learning differences especially helpful, which explains different learning styles (visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic) and how job training can be adapted to include all four to better accommodate all types of learners.
The format is concise and easy-to-follow. A great place to start in making libraries more accessible and in helping library staff become better prepared to assist patrons with a variety of needs.