Inclusion starts with awareness

Since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law in 1990, great strides have been made in bringing physical accessibility to buildings and public spaces, including libraries. However, even after 25 years, much work still needs to be done in the area of providing persons with disabilities full access to these same spaces and resources, including digital counterparts. In planning to create inclusive library environments, it is important to understand the challenges of identifying users with disabilities as they enter the library. It is important to remember that a person's particular challenges may not be identifiable by their appearance alone. Views held about people with disabilities, even by the most well-meaning advocates, are always susceptible to bias. Librarians can't effectively meet the needs of users with disabilities by waiting to address them on a case- by-case basis. Library staff must become aware of the many needs of users and ensure that equitable access is not only easily available to those who need accommodations but also standard operating procedure.