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Resources Supporting Kids and Teens with Disabilities

The Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA) provides an overview of information for library staff to support kids and teens with disabilities. This document begins with links about general disability etiquette, language, and customer service.

Accessible Board and Card Games

NNELS Accessibility Board and Card Games were made available so people with vision loss can enjoy games with others. The page acknowledges the social benefits, physical, tactile games, and online and video game options.

Disability Books (Genre)

Goodreads “Disability Books” (genre) has multiple categories of content educating disabilities or telling stories about characters with disabilities or are by authors who identify as having disabilities. Books in the collection cover a range of ideas around disability.

IFLA Libraries Serving Persons with Disabilities Section

The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Libraries Serving Persons with Print Disabilities Section discusses the general goals of getting materials to people with print disabilities.

Braille at NNELS

The National Network for Equitable Library Service (NNELS) in Canada has launched initiatives to improve braille accessibility in public libraries based on a 2018 study. Their efforts include a braille pilot project with two main components: the Distributed Braille Collection and the Print-Braille Collection, supported by the Government of Canada.

Accessibility Report for World Book Online

The World Book Online provides K to 12 students with educational resources like dictionaries, games, and encyclopedias. All of these resources are available for free through most public library cards.

Accessibility Report for Mango Languages

Mango Languages is an online learning platform often available to library patrons through their library card. This site has overall adequate accessibility for most with print disabilities. This resource describes how the websites and apps are accessible and some gotchas that should be noted when recommending this service to a patron.

A Crash Course in Ebook Accessibility

This playlist of videos produced by the National Network for Equitable Library Service (NNELS) provides a comprehensive introduction to ebook accessibility. It covers topics such as Reflowable Content, image descriptions, navigation, metadata and more.

Braille displays supported by iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch

The Apple Support page provides a comprehensive list of Braille displays compatible with Voiceover on an iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. It details the various models supported by different manufacturers, such as Alva, American Printing House for the Blind (APH), Baum, and many more.

Building Braille Inclusion in Libraries

This video discusses making libraries more inclusive for braille readers. It provides practical tips for making storytimes more accessible by including braille and tactile materials, highlights accessibility challenges with digital services offered by libraries, and offers suggestions on making STEAM activities and maker spaces more inclusive.

Considering Accessibility when Procuring Licensed Digital Resources

Procurement, at its most basic, is the process of purchasing goods and services, and all libraries have a part to play in this activity. The procurement process for licensed digital resources in public libraries is complex, and locally variable. This guide recommends accessibility considerations to include in the procurement process of accessible licensed digital resources in general, as well as some particular considerations for accessible digital books.

Certified Publishers: Benetech

The Global Certified Accessible (GCA) program assists publishers and vendors in creating content accessible to all readers by adjusting workflows and ensuring compliance with accessibility standards. Publishers can get GCA certification to assist them in producing accessible titles.

Collections of Representative Content

Library content should represent the community, which, of course, includes persons with disabilities. We have brought together lists of #OwnVoices (OV) content to help you create representative collections.

Improving Braille Availability in Canadian Public Libraries

This study on improving Braille availability in Canadian public libraries was requested by NNELS in 2018 and written by a group of Canadian writers and researchers led by the Canadian Federation of the Blind. The paper’s purpose is to explore how to improve access to Braille for those who need it.

Kanopy Report

The Accessibility Report for Kanopy, from the National Network for Equitable Library Service (NNELS) with support from the Government of Canada’s Social Development Partnerships Program, examines the video streaming platform’s usability for individuals with print disabilities.

Refreshing and Rethinking Braille Awareness Presentations with a Focus on Equity and Accessibility

This presentation discusses approaches to raising awareness of braille literacy beyond sharing information about braille. It emphasizes engaging braille readers in co-designing lessons to foster inclusion and accessibility. Some examples of lessons that were shown include connecting braille to coding, discussing the diversity of assistive technologies for braille use, and more.