[Baynet] Infopeople's workshop on Library Accessibility at SFPL

[Linda Rodenspiel]

We have added a session of this workshop at the San Francisco Public Library.

Attention, public service staff!  Infopeople is pleased to offer a new 
course for anyone who works directly with library users:  Beyond Ramps - 
Library Accessibility in the Real World.  True accessibility is more than 
just building modifications; we need to realign the way we provide our 
services as well.  This workshop will increase your awareness of proven 
techniques for serving all of your customers, and prepare you to meet the 
special needs of visitors with access challenges in a sensitive and 
effective manner.  It will acquaint you with issues affecting people with 
disabilities and will teach effective techniques for providing services to 
them and for working with colleagues with disabilities. Don't miss this 
opportunity to enhance your repertoire of frontline public service skills.


Title:  Beyond Ramps ­ Library Accessibility in the Real World

New date and location:

Thursday, September 14, San Francisco Public Library

To register for this workshop:  Use the online registration form at
http://infopeople.org/WS/workshop/Workshop/272

Fee:  There is a $75.00 fee for this workshop.


Thanks to regulations that support the Americans with Disabilities Act, 
most California library buildings have been designed or renovated to 
include ramps, desks and water fountains that comply with height
regulations for wheelchair users, and restrooms with accessible stalls. 
However, to make our services truly accessible, we need to find creative 
ways to improve our day-to-day interactions with users who need unique 
accommodations.

In this workshop you will learn how to

--Communicate comfortably with users with disabilities,
--Find resources to help assess and respond effectively to the needs of 
your local disability communities,
--Locate ideas and sources for different types of accommodationsboth free 
and inexpensive, as well as more sophisticated, and
--Develop policies and procedures for effective and equitable services for 
users with disabilities.


Workshop Description: Through discussion as well as individual and group 
exercises, this all-day workshop will provide participants with 
opportunities to share their knowledge and begin developing plans for 
establishing or improving services for library users with disabilities. The 
instructor will provide a full range of tips and tools that can be applied 
immediately in the workplace: sample guidelines for service, sources of 
local information about people with disabilities, tip sheets for working 
with people with different types of disabilities, and information about and 
sources for assistive technologies. Participants will explore the life 
experiences of people with disabilities, gain an overview of the disability 
rights movement, and discover practical ideas for library accessibility.

Preliminary Course Outline:

Who Are We Talking About?
--How many people in the U.S. have disabilities?
--How is a "disability" different from a "handicap"?
--Respectful language

It's the Law - And It's the Right Thing to Do!
--Federal and state laws that regulate services for people with disabilities
--Library guidelines and publications

Accommodating Unique Needs
--Responding to specific requests
--Simple tools can provide practical solutions
--With more resources you can do even more cool stuff

Nothing About Them Without Them
--It is essential to involve people with disabilities in planning for services
--Taking the next steps

Workshop Instructor: Marti Goddard.  Marti Goddard has enjoyed working in 
the disability community since she was 13 years old. Beginning as a 
volunteer in a Colorado Springs Therapeutic Recreation program, she went on 
to be a teacher of deaf children. After earning her MLS from the University 
of Hawaii at Manoa, Marti was a reference librarian at Pikes Peak Library 
District and a school librarian at the New Mexico School for the Deaf 
before coming to the San Francisco Public Library in 1989 as the Deaf 
Services Program Manager. Since 1998, Marti has been the SFPL Access 
Services Manager, responsible for coordinating and supporting the 
activities of staff in seven programs of service, including those for 
people with disabilities, seniors and adult learners. She also serves as 
the Library's ADA Coordinator for public programs and services.

Who Should Attend: California librarians, support staff, and volunteers who 
provide direct public service in any type of library. This course is also 
appropriate for library ADA coordinators and managers who are responsible 
for crafting public service policies and procedures.

Prerequisites: None

Other Logistics:

*On-site check-in is from 8:30-9:00 AM;  instruction is from 9:00 AM-4:30 PM.

*Maps, directions, and parking information are available on the Infopeople 
Web site at http://infopeople.org/WS/workshop/Directions.  Infopeople does 
not validate or pay for parking.

*Infopeople does not provide refreshments or lunch.  Since some training 
locations do not have in-house or convenient food service, Infopeople 
recommends that participants bring a sack lunch.

To view a complete list of Infopeople workshops and for general information 
about Infopeople training opportunities, go to the main Infopeople 
Workshops page at http://infopeople.org/WS/workshop

If you have questions about registration or scheduling of workshops, please 
contact Linda Rodenspiel, the Infopeople Project Assistant, at 
assist at infopeople.org or by phone at 650-578-9685.