U of M Health Sciences Libraries Host Disability Sensitivity Session
Anna Ercoli Schnitzer
InfoPoint Librarian
Health Sciences Libraries
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI
As part of our project, Creating Health Information Connections for Persons with Disabilities, funded by the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Greater Midwest Region, the staff members of the University of Michigan (U of M) Health Sciences Libraries attended one of two Disability Sensitivity Sessions presented by representatives of the Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living, our partner and collaborator in the project. The sessions were facilitated by Carolyn Grawi, director of advocacy and education, and Tom Hoatlin, director of development, and took place in the Conference Room of the Health Sciences Libraries on January 10 and January 17, 2008. A total of 26 people attended one of the sessions.
Tom, who uses a wheelchair, and Carolyn, who is legally blind, emphasized using “people first language,” i.e., not limiting or describing an individual by his or her disability, which should be merely an incidental factor in the totality of each person. There was also a lively question and answer period that included such issues as to whether to “help” an individual in a wheelchair up a steep incline. (Answer: Always ask before assisting.) The correct way to guide an individual who is visually impaired was demonstrated using blindfolded volunteers from the audience. There also was role-playing to illustrate how a library patron in a wheelchair might need assistance in reaching higher shelving areas. A number of staff members gave very appreciative verbal input after each session, and several others wrote to indicate that they had learned many new and helpful aspects to help them in their interactions with people who have disabilities. We’re looking forward to the next phases of our project, in which we hold focus groups and conduct a needs assessment in preparation for developing target health information classes for the community. There are also plans underway for our Library Human Resources to hold similar sensitivity sessions that will be open to all of the University Library staff.
This project has been funded in whole or in part with Federal funds from the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, under Contract No. N01-LM-6-3503 with the University of Illinois at Chicago.
