SWFLN Reference Tools for Helping Patrons with Disabilities

 Many people with disabilities go from being surrounded by their teachers, peers and helpers regularly, to being by themselves more often and needing to learn strategies for independence. Creating an environment that focuses on understanding disabilities and leverages learning tools can help with education and in daily life. Learn some tips for understanding disabilities and aiding with independence as well as cool websites, tools, and apps that can help our diverse library patrons.

Academic Library staff will be interested in this webinar because it will help them understand and relate to students and provide technological resources to help them in research. Academic library staff will want to attend because they will learn about “cool tools” that will help their students navigate the library better.

Public Library staff will find this training beneficial because it will help them understand and to relate to patrons and provide technological resources to help them with basic services. Public library staff will want to attend because they encounter every kind of disability in their patrons, and some apps and websites will be provided that can help with various disabilities.

School Librarians and Media Specialists will enjoy this webinar because them understand and relate to students and parents. They will want to attend because this webinar will provide tools and apps that will help parents and teachers.

Special Libraries will be interested in this workshop because it will help them relate to diverse patrons and disabilities and provide technological resources to help them in performing research. Suggested apps, websites, and tools will be provided.

Dr. Stephanie Rollins is the Reference and Instruction Librarian and full Librarian at Samford University. She is also an adjunct “Digital Reference Professor” for the University of Alabama. Stephanie serves on both regional and state library committees, and she has 20 years of experience in academic and special libraries. She holds a BA in English from Auburn University, a Master’s Degree in Library Service and a Doctorate in Public Administration (both from the University of Alabama).