Training and Marketing Are The Keys to Successful Implementation of Adaptive Technology Barbara T. Mates, Head, Cleveland Public Library Library for the.

TrainingTraining and and MarketingMarketing Are The Are The KeysKeys to Successful to Successful Implementation of Adaptive Implementation of Adaptive

TechnologyTechnology

Barbara T. Mates, Head, Barbara T. Mates, Head,

Cleveland Public LibraryCleveland Public Library

Library for the Blind and Physically Library for the Blind and Physically HandicappedHandicapped

KnowledgeKnowledge is Power! is Power!

Computers, Internet, and Computers, Internet, and People with DisabilitiesPeople with Disabilities

In his study “Computer and Internet In his study “Computer and Internet Use Among People with Disabilities,” Use Among People with Disabilities,” Dr. H. Stephen Kaye reports the Dr. H. Stephen Kaye reports the following conclusions:following conclusions:– Despite the fact that people with Despite the fact that people with

disabilities are perhaps the single disabilities are perhaps the single segment of society with the most to gain segment of society with the most to gain from new technologies in this electronic from new technologies in this electronic age, they have the lowest rates of use of age, they have the lowest rates of use of these technologies. these technologies.

Computers, Internet, and Computers, Internet, and People with DisabilitiesPeople with Disabilities

– The largest barrier is one of access. . .The largest barrier is one of access. . . Many people with disabilities are poor Many people with disabilities are poor

and cannot afford:and cannot afford:– a computer capable of navigating a computer capable of navigating

the Internetthe Internet– specialized adaptive specialized adaptive

hardware/software needed to use a hardware/software needed to use a computer or the Internetcomputer or the Internet

– monthly charges to use the Internetmonthly charges to use the Internet

Computers, Internet, and Computers, Internet, and People with DisabilitiesPeople with Disabilities

In order to clarify the benefits that In order to clarify the benefits that this technology could offer to this technology could offer to populations with disabilities, it ispopulations with disabilities, it is

imperative “to offer a concerted imperative “to offer a concerted program of education, training, and program of education, training, and support in the use of support in the use of hardware/software.”hardware/software.”

Kaye, H.S. (2000). Computer and Internet Use Among People with Kaye, H.S. (2000). Computer and Internet Use Among People with Disabilities. Disabilities. Disability Statistics Report (13)Disability Statistics Report (13). Washington, DC: U.S. . Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.Rehabilitation Research.

What is our responsibility as What is our responsibility as information providers?information providers?

When we provide adaptive When we provide adaptive technology to our technology to our communities, we must go communities, we must go beyond merely buying beyond merely buying computers and installing the computers and installing the equipmentequipment

WE MUSTWE MUST REACH OUR REACH OUR POTENTIAL PATRONS POTENTIAL PATRONS

THENTHEN TEACHTEACH THEM HOW THEM HOW AND WHY TO ACCESS AND WHY TO ACCESS

INFORMATIONINFORMATION

Develop An Effective Develop An Effective Teaching ModuleTeaching Module

It is suggested that a specific person It is suggested that a specific person (and back-up) to be responsible for (and back-up) to be responsible for the adaptive technology. Their the adaptive technology. Their duties would include:duties would include:– DemonstrationsDemonstrations– Patron and Staff TrainingPatron and Staff Training– Writing instructionsWriting instructions– Provide technical assistance and Provide technical assistance and

trouble shooting on the adaptive trouble shooting on the adaptive technologytechnology

Give Staff The Tools Give Staff The Tools to Work Withto Work With

Provide a reference binder with Provide a reference binder with instructions and trouble shooting instructions and trouble shooting guides on each program for staff and guides on each program for staff and patronspatrons

Communicate with staff members Communicate with staff members where assistive technology is located where assistive technology is located to assure them support is thereto assure them support is there

Make sure staff knows that persons Make sure staff knows that persons with disabilities are “PEOPLE FIRST!”with disabilities are “PEOPLE FIRST!”

Provide Continuous “In Provide Continuous “In Service” TrainingService” Training

For library staff where adaptive For library staff where adaptive technology is housedtechnology is housed– On all adaptive technologyOn all adaptive technology– Repeat training for new staff, and Repeat training for new staff, and

refreshers for those who need itrefreshers for those who need it– Provide in-house written instructions, Provide in-house written instructions,

and name of adaptive technology and name of adaptive technology coordinator to contact in case of coordinator to contact in case of problems problems

Assure That The Entire Staff Has Assure That The Entire Staff Has A Rudimentary Knowledge of the A Rudimentary Knowledge of the

Equipment and the Actual Equipment and the Actual Accessible LocationsAccessible Locations

At staff meetings reiterate locations At staff meetings reiterate locations of equipment and their purpose of equipment and their purpose

Insert notices in the Staff Newsletter Insert notices in the Staff Newsletter at frequent intervalsat frequent intervals

Post availability of access devices Post availability of access devices on Library’s Web-Siteon Library’s Web-Site

Provide Patron Provide Patron Training on Training on

Equipment UsageEquipment Usage Provide instruction and tutoring for Provide instruction and tutoring for patrons, including:patrons, including:– Free demonstrations, instruction, and Free demonstrations, instruction, and

tutoring for individuals, done by tutoring for individuals, done by appointment with adaptive technology appointment with adaptive technology coordinatorcoordinator

– Limited instruction and training is Limited instruction and training is provided for patrons by library staff, provided for patrons by library staff, including how to get started and basic including how to get started and basic operation of the softwareoperation of the software

Be Prepared to Provide Be Prepared to Provide Training on Library UsageTraining on Library Usage

Basic search techniques must be Basic search techniques must be taught taught

-Many of the potential users have -Many of the potential users have never had an opportunity to use never had an opportunity to use traditional libraries and simply traditional libraries and simply do notdo not know what is possible know what is possible

-The potential of encyclopedias, -The potential of encyclopedias, dictionaries and other reference tools dictionaries and other reference tools must be taught must be taught

TechniquesTechniques of Web Searches and of Web Searches and Engines Need to be Explained As Engines Need to be Explained As

Well As Screen DisplaysWell As Screen Displays Concept of searching needs to be Concept of searching needs to be

explainedexplained Explain the appearance of web-Explain the appearance of web-

sites and why the screen readers sites and why the screen readers may go awrymay go awry

Suggest using “seti-search” Suggest using “seti-search” available at <www.seti-available at <www.seti-search.com>search.com>

Reach Out to the Reach Out to the CommunityCommunity

Develop a flyer in appropriate Develop a flyer in appropriate medium announcing your medium announcing your innovations and mail to: LBPH innovations and mail to: LBPH readers, social agencies, readers, social agencies, rehabilitation agencies, churches, rehabilitation agencies, churches, schools, and other integral schools, and other integral community groupscommunity groups

Organize A Media EventOrganize A Media Event

Find a reason to hold a party or Find a reason to hold a party or celebration which will draw the celebration which will draw the media. It could be a birthday party media. It could be a birthday party for a famous person with a disability for a famous person with a disability or a celebration of a person with or a celebration of a person with disability’s accomplishmentsdisability’s accomplishments

Be sure however that you remember Be sure however that you remember to invite the intended audienceto invite the intended audience

Celebrate These Celebrate These Celebrities!Celebrities!

Eliabeth Barret Browning

Goya

Sarah Bernhardt

Itzak Perlman

Lautrec

Thomas Alva Edison

ChristopherReeve

Celebrate Your Hometown Celebrate Your Hometown CitizensCitizens

Veterans Groups

NFB OR ACBMembers

Easter SealPoster Child

Friends andRelatives

Guide Dog Users

Publish Your Own Accessibility Publish Your Own Accessibility “Zine”“Zine”

Develop a simple 4-6 page Develop a simple 4-6 page newsletter which willnewsletter which will– Increase community awareness that Increase community awareness that

your Library has adaptive technologyyour Library has adaptive technology– Emphasize that using & training for Emphasize that using & training for

the adaptive equipment is “FREE”the adaptive equipment is “FREE”– Explain to the public what the Explain to the public what the

technology is, and what it could technology is, and what it could perhaps do for themperhaps do for them

Publish Your Own Publish Your Own Accessibility “Zine” Accessibility “Zine”

The should include a reply sheet where The should include a reply sheet where the public could:the public could:– Request additional information about the Request additional information about the

adaptive equipment (pricing, contact, etc.)adaptive equipment (pricing, contact, etc.)– Arrange for training Arrange for training – Arrange to see a demonstration of the Arrange to see a demonstration of the

adaptive equipmentadaptive equipment– Refer a friend whom they feel would like Refer a friend whom they feel would like

some informationsome information

Publish Your Own Publish Your Own Accessibility “Zine”Accessibility “Zine”

Include anecdotal stories that are Include anecdotal stories that are targeted to the agencies you will targeted to the agencies you will distribute the “zine”distribute the “zine”

--Interview patrons who have come --Interview patrons who have come into the library to try to equipmentinto the library to try to equipment

Include updates about new Include updates about new products, websites, manufacturer’s products, websites, manufacturer’s tipstips

Distribute the “Zine”Distribute the “Zine”

Distribute your “zine” to senior centers, Distribute your “zine” to senior centers, schools, places of worship, government schools, places of worship, government offices, etc.. Post your “zine” on your offices, etc.. Post your “zine” on your web-site then seek linksweb-site then seek links

- Ask mainstream computer groups to - Ask mainstream computer groups to link to your newsletterlink to your newsletter

- Ask school systems, government - Ask school systems, government agencies or any agency seeking agencies or any agency seeking information providers to link to your information providers to link to your “zine”“zine”

Marketing Does Bring Marketing Does Bring Results in the Form of New Results in the Form of New

PatronsPatrons

For March, 2000 67 replies to the For March, 2000 67 replies to the “LBPH Cyberwire” were received. “LBPH Cyberwire” were received. These replies included 183 different These replies included 183 different inquires for information about inquires for information about adaptive equipment. The majority of adaptive equipment. The majority of people either requested additional people either requested additional information or wanted to see a information or wanted to see a demonstration of the equipment. demonstration of the equipment.

Patrons and Staff Will Patrons and Staff Will Soon Be RewardedSoon Be Rewarded

Max, a retiree and volunteer at Max, a retiree and volunteer at the Cleveland LBPH, went from the Cleveland LBPH, went from knowing practically nothing about knowing practically nothing about computers, to successfully computers, to successfully navigating the Internet and navigating the Internet and sending and receiving his own sending and receiving his own email thanks to our adaptive email thanks to our adaptive technology and our tutoring.technology and our tutoring.

And Continue to be And Continue to be rewardedrewarded

Ron, a telephone operator, who is Ron, a telephone operator, who is blind and has cerebral palsy, blind and has cerebral palsy, purchased a computer with JAWS. purchased a computer with JAWS. Once he set-up his computer, he Once he set-up his computer, he didn’t know how to use it. After didn’t know how to use it. After three sessions, Ron can successfully three sessions, Ron can successfully find his favorite web sites, and send find his favorite web sites, and send email to friends and family. email to friends and family.

What makes the What makes the difference. . .difference. . .

Hiring and designating someone to Hiring and designating someone to be responsible for the adaptive be responsible for the adaptive technologytechnology

Developing and writing specific Developing and writing specific guides, instructions, and trouble-guides, instructions, and trouble-shooters for library patrons and staffshooters for library patrons and staff

Providing patron and staff training, Providing patron and staff training, technical assistance, and refreshers technical assistance, and refreshers on the adaptive technologyon the adaptive technology

Promoting adaptive technology to the Promoting adaptive technology to the communitycommunity

Finding Funding Also Finding Funding Also Makes A DifferenceMakes A Difference

Library Services Technology ActLibrary Services Technology Act Technology Assistance GrantTechnology Assistance Grant Civic Clubs and Service Civic Clubs and Service

Organizations -Will at least offer Organizations -Will at least offer seed moneyseed money

Local and National Foundations Local and National Foundations

Funding Reference Funding Reference ResourcesResources

Alliance for Technology Access Alliance for Technology Access Resource Centers located at: Resource Centers located at: <www.atacess.org> <www.atacess.org>

National Institute on Disability and National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research at: Rehabilitation Research at: <www.ncddr.org><www.ncddr.org>

NTIA Grant Program at: NTIA Grant Program at: <www.ntia.gov:70/1s/grantinfo> <www.ntia.gov:70/1s/grantinfo>

GRANT APPLICATION TIPSGRANT APPLICATION TIPS

Do not call anything uniqueDo not call anything unique Do not call yourselves the “only” Do not call yourselves the “only”

anythinganything Do not use the words Do not use the words growgrow or or

impactimpact as as verbsverbs Do not use professional jargonDo not use professional jargon Do not use fancy folders Do not use fancy folders

Grant Application TipsGrant Application Tips

Define Needs Using Specific Define Needs Using Specific NumbersNumbers

Use Diagrams or Pictures When Use Diagrams or Pictures When NeededNeeded

Meet Deadlines and Follow Meet Deadlines and Follow Directions CarefullyDirections Carefully

If possible, hand deliver application If possible, hand deliver application with a smile and a thank youwith a smile and a thank you

Remember you have the Remember you have the ability to give the power of ability to give the power of

information to persons information to persons with disabilities. This with disabilities. This

power will give them the power will give them the ability to change and ability to change and

enrich their lives.enrich their lives.