Using Mobile Devices to Support People with Disabilities

Mobile devices like tablets, eReaders, and smartphones are both easy to carry and can access a variety of information through the internet. This includes ebooks, which have become included in the collections of many libraries. However, the options between formats and compatibility with different devices can make considering electronic resources a complicated task for some library staff.

Despite this potential for confusion, it is very important for library staff to take resources for mobile technology seriously. What makes these devices especially important is their potential as assistive technology for people with disabilities. According to Nicole Hennig (2016), a user experience professional with a career of helping libraries effectively use mobile technologies, this is accomplished through the use of Natural User Interfaces, also known as NUIs. NUIs are designed to be more intuitive than traditional Graphic User Interfaces through their incorporation of recognizing different inputs, such as sound, touch, and sight. These features include touchscreens, voice commands, and the ability to recognize images through a camera. Allowing for a variety of ways to work a device can allow for people with disabilities to access beneficial resources through technology. For example, Hennig mentions the story of a man named Todd living with a spinal injury who was empowered through the use of Siri on iPhone, as well as a Tecla Shield device that allows him to control devices through touch using his chin and mouth.

Like in Todd's story, Tecla Shield device allows for touchscreen accessibility

As well as allowing for different methods of input, mobile technology can also offer different accessible outputs. Common forms are screen magnification for people with vision difficulties, screen readers to assist in or replace visual reading, and even braille options through the use of devices like refreshable braille displays. Hennig gives an example of this technology in action through a seventh grader named Connor, who lives with cerebral palsy. Instead of relying on his mother to read to him, Connor was able to use a service called Bookshare. The ebooks read the story aloud, highlighting the words as they reach them to help users follow along. Services like Bookshare can have learning benefits for a wide variety of people, and would be great resources for librarians to refer to patrons.

From these examples, mobile technologies and compatible assistive technology software and devices are clearly extremely important for serving patrons with disabilities. When looking into the formats though, it was clear to me that there wasn’t a “one size fits all” option for libraries. Ranti Junus (2012), a systems librarian at Michigan State University, notes that file types can provide compatibility issues for different devices. Some ebooks, like those on Kindle or Nook, are made by companies so that they will not run on their competitors’ devices. These proprietary formats are less useful than open format files, like EPUB, TXT, or HTML. A particularly valuable specialized format is DAISY, a digital text book platform that can be read using DAISY devices or apps on mobile devices like tablets and smartphones. Designed for people with print disabilities, it allows users to easily navigate content and listen to text and descriptions of pictures.

This chart from Junus's article shows which formats are compatible with which devices

It seems to me like the best course of option for libraries is to first become aware of people with disabilities in their communities. Since different options support people through different means, choosing the best option relies of meeting patron needs. Since investing in a variety of different platforms and devices can be costly, I would consider which options meet the needs of the community most efficiently. It’s important to keep in mind that people with disabilities aren’t in need of “fixing” to access information in the same ways as others, but deserve the chance to use library resources in ways that support them. Assistive technology should be used to empower, not to other or try to “fix” people such as those in the autism and deaf communities (Hennig, 2016, p. 7). For this reason, I would suggest for libraries to consult with their patrons about their needs when considering the options for mobile based assistive technology. It is well worth the investment to make sure that libraries are able to serve whole communities and function as inclusive community spaces.

References

Bookshare. (2020). Retrieved April 18, 2020, from https://www.bookshare.org/cms/

The Daisy Consortium. (2020). DAISY Format. Retrieved April 18, 2020, from https://daisy.org/activities/standards/daisy/

Hennig, N. (2016). Mobile Learning Trends: Accessibility, Ecosystems, Content Creation. Library Technology Reports, 52(3), 1–38.

Junus, S. G. R., & Booth, C. (2012). E-books and E-readers for Users with Print Disabilities. Library Technology Reports, 48(7), 22–

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Tecla. (2015, April 10). Meet the Tecla Shield - How it Works. Retrieved April 18, 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?

     v=cn41GhTDe4M