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Cornell University Library

Task Force on Services for the Disabled

Minutes from 15 May 1998

Present were: Stuart Basefsky (chair), Janet Gillespie, Nan Hyland, Carmen Blankenship, Katie Margolis, and special guest, Joan Fisher from the Office of Equal Opportunity (Cornell).

Joan Fisher, Director for Disability Services at OEO, was given the floor and spoke about areas of major concern from her perspective. Among those concerns were (a sample):

1. SIGNAGE - Libraries need rescue plans for the disabled. Are there rescue areas designated in these buildings for persons unable to use stairs in case of a fire? Are there visual signs (i.e., footsteps) to follow for exiting purposes? Is there an overall exit plan? Is there one button on the library website to get information relevant to the disabled?
2. SERVICES -
   • Can a disabled person get an elevator key on demand if they need one? Whom do they ask, where do they ask, is the person trained to respond quickly?
   • Are there means to get around Exit Gates for the disabled who need to because of medical conditions, pins in their legs? Are there alternative exits to use on demand?
   • Have TV's been upgraded (produced after 1993) in libraries so that they all have telecaptioning devices built in.
   • Are publications made available in alternative formats if needed? Are mechanisms in place to respond to these kinds of needs?
   • When "independence-oriented accommodations" can not be made (i.e., fine arts and music libraries), is staff ready to retrieve materials on demand? Can books be delivered to certain disabled patrons? (The Campus Store does this already).
   • Can "Reserve Times" be extended for the Learning Disabled?
   • For persons who have special disabilities related to environmental problems, such as fresh paint fumes (asthmatics), who can benefit by exposure reduction, are there policies to place helpful signs on how to avoid these areas of the building while construction is present?
3. COMMUNICATIONS -
   • The disabled know they need to self-identify for accommodations to be made? What policies are in place so that their individual privacy is not violated?
   • What is it that the library needs to know? Perhaps only what disabilities are present on campus and which libraries are most likely to be affected.
   • Who is responsible for providing this communication? What is the proper sequence so that libraries become informed?
   • Do all libraries know where special needs can be met? Which libraries have which equipment? Are all persons at the desk trained to provide this information?
   • There is a database in the Registrars Office which lists each classroom and its accessibility for the disabled.
   • Project 2000 is expected to have an element related to accommodation of the disabled at some point.
4. COSTS -
   • OEO has $15,000 yearly for statutory college equipment needs (including the statutory libraries).
   • The Ridley Foundation is another source of funding.
   • There is a need to establish an ongoing contingency budget for accommodating the disabled (perhaps easily endowed).
5. VISITORS TO CAMPUS - While Faculty, Staff, and Students are expected to be treated equally in terms of accommodation at Cornell, there may be a more stringent demand on Statutory Libraries in meeting visitor needs because of NY Law.

Joan Fisher provided several brochures, some of which are available at the Office of Equal Opportunity Services website at: http://www.cornell.edu/Admin/OEOSVC.html

The brochures given to the task force were:

• "Faculty Guide on Services for Students with Disabilities"
• "What makes people with disabilities disabled?"
• "Campus Guide for Persons with Disabilities" (including maps for accessibility routes on campus)
• "College/Area Disability Representative" (contact list)
• "Notes From Disability Service"

Actions taken by members of the task force include:

• Nan Hyland - produced "Preliminary Literature Search"
• Janet Gillespie - contacted some Cornell Offices
• Stuart Basefsky - wrote minutes and contacted Joan Fisher
• Katie Margolis - made preliminary inquiries about library kits for disability services
• Carmen Blankenship - made preliminary review of associations helpful in establishing disability services

Members of the task force were shown the Disability Services Area (legal and information services) in the Catherwood Library.

Some preliminary recommendations came out of discussions concerning the issues brought to our attention by Joan Fisher. Among them are:

1. There is need for a central list of all equipment which can serve the disabled in terms of expected library services and perhaps a list of how to acquire needed equipment "just in time" to accommodate short-term needs.
2. All public service personnel will need training in how to accommodate the disabled.
3. Brochures outlining services and contact persons must be created.
4. Policies which get materials to persons in need of them must be established.

The next meeting will be on May 21, from 3-4pm at ILR, Catherwood Library, Director's Meeting Room. A working Outline of Policies and Recommendations will be available to review at that time.

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rev. 6/2/98 peo