Disability- and Accessibility-Related Library Graduate-School Education from the Student Perspective

Abstract

This study explored library graduate student perceptions of their readiness for and comfort levels in doing activities related to accessibility and disability. The study also aimed to determine the training needs of library graduate students. A survey with both quantitative and qualitative questions was developed, snowball sampling was used, and the survey was administered in the fall of 2018. Analysis of both data types indicates that library graduate students generally feel unprepared to work with patrons with disabilities or address activities related to accessibility. Based on the results, there are several recommendations for improvement within library graduate education, including incorporating accessibility and disability more robustly into the current curriculum, creating training/education programs that teach practical skills, including how to troubleshoot assistive technologies, and recruiting and retaining students and faculty who have disabilities.