Kate Vasili and Ruth Houghton - Supporting students at Middlesex University: filling the...

Supporting Students at Middlesex University:

filling in the gaps

Kate Vasili, Copyright Officer

Ruth Houghton, Disability Liaison Librarian

sherif , 24th February 2017

Where we started

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© Middlesex University

Disability Support Service

Staff to support students

Equipment to create accessible versions

Software and technical support

Advice on where to get help and funding e.g. Access to Learning Fund and Disability Support Allowance.

Support for Exams, with Tutors and also with finding suitable Rooms

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We had…Visual impairment and blindness

• Video magnifiers and text scanner readers in all libraries.

Hearing impairment and deafness

• Communication Support Workers or Sign Language Interpreters.

• Deaf awareness training for academic and support staff.

• Induction loops in most major (large) lecture theatres.

• Local area loop systems at library issue counters and student office counters Administrative database.

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We had continued…

• Dyslexia

• Extensive support from the Learner Development Unit.

• General Support

• Separate room for students additional needs to use

https://www.dyslexia.uk.com/ | 5


But then……

Scissors cutting the word costs concept for recession or credit crisishttp://www.dustjacketreview.com/efficient-cost-cutting-aims-at-eliminating-wastage-and-

thereby-increase-in-output-quality/| 6

• Cost cutting and restructures


Then came the legal changes

howtostartablogonline.net | 7


UK LegislationPublic Sector Responsibilities:

•Disability Discrimination Act 1995, replaced by the Equality Act 2010

•Public Sector Equality Duty 2011 requirements to:(a) remove or minimise disadvantages suffered by persons who share a relevant protected characteristic that are connected to that characteristic;

(b) take steps to meet the needs of persons who share a relevant protected characteristic that are different from the needs of persons who do not share it;

(c) encourage persons who share a relevant protected characteristic to participate in public life or in any other activity in which participation by such persons is disproportionately low.

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UK Legislation contd…..

• Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 as amended (inter alia) by ‘Visually Impaired Persons (VIP) Act 2002’,

Provisions for providing accessibly copies of whole works to Visually Impaired Persons or those unable to physically manipulate a print copy.o Excluded certain types of work (music and computer

programs)o Failed to address other print disabilities i.e. dyslexia,

dyspraxia.

• Subsequently amended again by ‘The Copyright and Rights in Performances (Disability) Regulations 2014.

Now covers all types of works and all types of disabilities as defined in the Equality Act 2010.



Licensing

CLA (Copyright Licensing Agency) Clause 9

•Incorporated into the Licence provisions 2003

•Provided for copying whole mandated works for any print disabled authorised persons.

•No reporting or other administrative requirements



Changes at Middlesex

• Disability Support became part of the Library as ‘Library and Student Support’ (LSS) 2013

• Accessible Format Requests under remit of Copyright Officer

• 2 Disability Liaison Librarian volunteers

• New Disability and Dyslexia Support Manager appointed

• LSS Disability Support Group established



Accessible Format Requests• Middlesex registered with both RNIB Load2Learn and

Bookshare

• Collection Development Policy = ‘e’ first for core texts and essential reading

• Digitisation of essential chapters/articles (all OCRd)

• Flow diagram created to establish stages of checking:– Student needs and eligibility (DDS)– Library holdings and accessibility (DLL)– Availability to purchase in required format (DLL)– Availability via Load2Learn (DLL)– Request accessible format from publisher (CO)– Create an accessible format copy (CO)– Provide accessible format to Load2Learn (CO)



EnvironmentAreas of Concern Issues Identified Actions

Entrance Heavy glass doors Replaced by Automatic Doors

Library Lifts Too small Replaced Lift Carriages

Ask a Librarian Study Hub Awkward for wheelchair users.

Customised to allow easier wheelchair access

Laptop Loan Cabinets Opening at random heights New wheelchair friendly cabinets and configuration

Study Furniture Not easily accessible with wheelchairs

New height adjustable desks and chairs

Personal Library Support Someone available at key times to help with physical constraints

‘Buddy’ scheme

Unihelp Hearing Loops Not working Power supply addressed

Deaf Alerts Emergency/fire evacuations etc.

Auto. Text alerts to students’ mobile devices.



Entrance Doors


Double set of heavy glass doors

Double set of concertina style automatic doors


Lifts

Rear entrance LG to G


Main lift to all floors


Ask a Librarian - Study Hub



Adjustable Study Furniture



Lap Top Loan Cabinets



Personal Library Support



Hearing Loops



Deaf Alerters

• Deaf Alert devices replaced by automatic text alerts to personal mobile devices under PEEP (Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan)



Inclusive PracticeOne size does not fit all!


Developing guidelines for teaching. Possible ideas include:

•Glossary handout to explain jargon•Outline the scope of the session•Upload teaching material in advance •Use Arial or Verdana (Sans Sarif)•Use no smaller font size than 24•Limit number of bullet points•Use a variety of teaching activities to reinforce themes


University Networked ITAssistive Technology

•Read & Write Gold

•Mindview

•Kaltura

Coming Soon:

•SensusAccess/Robobraille

Under consideration:

•Dragon

•Abbyy finereader

IT Support staff and online guides for how to use them



The Little Things

Items to loan or give out

•Portable Hearing Loops

•Ergonomic mice (mouses? misces?)

•Ergonomic/Braille keyboards

•Magnifying screens

•Coloured overlay sheets

•Document stands/holders



Student Information

•Disability and Dyslexia Service http://unihub.mdx.ac.uk/your-support-services/disability-and-dyslexia

•Library support for disabled students

http://unihub.mdx.ac.uk/your-study/library-and-it-support/help-and-support/library-support-for-disabled-students



Image Sources:

• Slide 4: A person reading a braille book with two fingers, antonioxalonso - CC BY 2.0 http://www.flickr.com/photos/fotoblasete/3780972882/sizes/o/

• Deafness: http://www.belmarrahealth.com/hearing-loss-in-later-life-early-deafness-caused-by-mutations-in-hearing-related-gene/

• Slide 5: Dyslexia: https://www.dyslexia.uk.com

• Slide 6: Scissors cutting the word costs concept for recession or credit crisis http://www.dustjacketreview.com/efficient-cost-cutting-aims-at-eliminating-wastage-and-thereby-increase-in-output-quality/

• Slide 7: Judges Hammer, Legal Gavel CC BY 2.0 howtostartablogonline.net/legal

• Slide 24: Assistive Technology: https://sites.google.com/site/sarahsexceptionalatsite/visually-impaired/at-resources

All other images © Middlesex University


Kate Vasili and Ruth Houghton - Supporting students at Middlesex University: filling the...

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