Libraries, Archives, Museums: Assisting LAM users with disabilities: Assisting visitors

Comprehensive guidance

ADA update - A primer for state and local governments

Assisting people who are deaf or hard of hearing

Working with patrons who are deaf
Tips from Gallaudet University Library. Includes tips for working with sign language interpreters.
Arrange for a sign language interpreter in Juneau
Contact Robin Brenner of Brenner Sign Language Interpreting Services: 907-321-1027 cell/text, 800-937-2937 videophone, or email at dragonflyterp@yahoo.com. Due to budget cuts Southeast Alaska Independent Living no longer operates its referral service.
Arrange for a sign language interpreter in Anchorage
(1) RNR Interpreting, 569-7446; Short Notice: 317-2235, Email: Email: RNRInterpreting@aol.com;
(2) Sign Language Interpreters, 248-6622
Arrange for captioning of a live webinar or video conference.
We can arrange for captioning of a live webinar or video conference upon request. Contact the Division's or Department's ADA Coordinator for assistance.
Use Alaska Relay to contact someone who is deaf or hard of hearing
LAM offices may communicate by telephone through Alaska Relay with people who are deaf or hard of hearing and have text telephones (TTYs) or voice carry-over (VCO) phones.
Create a transcript of, or caption, a recorded program.
This is required for all audiovisual content we publish on the web. We have a deposit with 3Play Media to caption audiovisual content. See Katie Fearer or Daniel Cornwall for more information.
Use the Dragon Dictation app
Dragon converts speech to text, and can allow you to give information to or ask questions of a visitor who can't hear you. Record up to 60 seconds of voice at a time. If you need to record for more than 60 seconds, simply record in chunks.
Use a pocket talker
You can offer a pocket talker to a visitor for use in a tour, a conversation with staff members, or a small meeting room. One pocket talker is maintained at the museum desk, and a second is at the library's circulation desk. Place sanitary covers on the headphone before providing it to the visitor. The device should be used under the supervision of a staff member.
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At the end of each day of use, all headphones should be disinfected using the sanitizer maintained at the museum desk.
Learn about American Sign Language through ASL-LEX
There are many avenues to learning about American Sign Language. ASL-LEX is "a searchable, interactive visualization of the ~2,700 ASL signs contained in the ASL-LEX 2.0 database."

Assisting people with low vision

Offer publications in alternative formats
Ask what formats would enable the individual to use the publication. Print publications may be offered electronically or in larger font. We may also be able to arrange for translation of a LAM publication into Braille.
Offer to read aloud a document or publication.
Arrange for a staff member to guide the individual through the facility.
Offer a magnifying lens. At least one magnifying lens should be available at each public service desk. See Katie F. if you can't find one.
Visitors using public computers in the Information Services reading room may elect large print or a computer with a large print keyboard.
Use the Google Translate app to take a snapshot of printed text, and translate it to voice
Take a digital photo of printed text, then use the app to OCR the text and read it aloud.
Refer the visitor to the Alaska Talking Book Center
If the visitor expresses an interest in reading, but can't use standard print books, provide contact information for the Talking Book Center.
Offer a handheld digital magnifier
A handheld digital magnifier is maintained in the library reading room, and can be used under the direction of a staff member. It magnifies to 25 times and has 28 different color modes.

Assisting people with mobility and cognitive disabilities

Three wheelchairs, a rollator, and two cane seats are available for visitors in Juneau
They are maintained at the museum desk.
Arrange for a staff member to guide/assist the person
Staff members can help retrieve books, turn pages, make copies, move manuscript boxes, read signs and materials, and computers and equipment. Visitors are asked to contact LAM in advance of their visit to arrange for a guide/assistant.
Refer the visitor to the Alaska Talking Book Center
If the visitor expresses an interest in reading, but can't use standard print books, provide contact information for the Talking Book Center.
Offer a computer with a trackball and adjustable desk.
One public computer in the library reading room and one in the research room is equipped with a trackball mouse and adjustable desk.

Service animals in LAM facilities

LAM welcomes service animals in its facilities. While under the State's ADA Policy service animals may only be dogs or miniature horses, LAM also permits other species in its facilities, as long as they are assisting individuals with disabilities. Follow this procedure if a visitor enters a LAM facility with an animal.

If the animal (1) appears to be assisting an individual with a disability (or is marked as a service animal or service animal in training) and (2) is under control and not creating a disturbance (voice or signal control is permitted if the disability prevents other forms of control), no questions or other steps should be asked or taken.
If the animal does not appear to be a service animal or animal in training, you may ask "Is this a service animal?" If the visitor says that it is, allow the animal in and no other questions should be asked.
If you still have doubts, you may ask "What work has this animal been trained to perform?" If the person answers the question in any way that is at all responsive and reasonable (such as, it helps me get around or serves my disabilities), allow the animal in and no other questions should be asked.
If the person refuses to answer either of the two questions, or the animal is out of control (uncontrolled barking, relieving itself, jumping on or snarling at visitors, causing damage to LAM property), you may ask the person to control the animal or take the animal out of the facility. Or you may ask for assistance from our Director, Director of Operations, or ADA Coordinator.

Conduct on State Property Policy
Permits guide dogs and other guide animals used to assist people with disabilities on state property.
AS 11.76.130 - Law regarding interferance of rights with a person who is disabled
Did you know that preventing or restricting a disabled person's use of a certified service animal in a LAM facility can constitute a crime?
AS 11.76.133 - Law regarding interferance with training of a service animal
ADA Guidance on Service Animals
The U.S. Department of Justice describes the ADA's requirements with respect to Service Animals, focusing on 2011 changes to Federal regulations.
State of Alaska Service Animal Policy

Communicating with people who have disabilities

Effective Communication, from the Department of Justice
Covers what LAM must do to ensure effective communication with people with disabilities, including use of auxiliary aids and services.
Chapter 3 of ADA Best Practices Tool Kit for State and Local Governments: General Effective Communication Requirements Under Title II of the ADA

Highlighted resources

Article: "This is What Accessibility Sounds Like" by James Dinneen
Published the September 2009 Brooklyn Rail, this article will inspire you to, in the words of the author, think "about accessibility from the beginning of the artistic process."
Cboard Text to Speech Web App
This web application allows people to select and click on images to communicate. It is a more sophisticated version of the printed communications boards we have at our service desks. It has a text to speech function too.
Allen Institute for AI paper/PDF to html converter
Upload a pdf to convert it to html for a better experience for someone using a screen reader. Also excepts .gz, .tr, and .nxml files.

Get help

Contact LAM's Publications Specialist and Webmaster with questions about publications and online content:

Holly Fogus, holly.fogus@alaska.gov, 907-465-1313

Contact LAM's Building Manager and ADA Coordinator with all other ADA-related questions:

Clint Farr, clint.farr@alaska.gov, 907-465-4809

Contact the Department of Education & Early Development's ADA Coordinator with any ADA-related question:

Bobi Jo Grimes, bobijo.grimes@alaska.gov, 907-465-5536

Gain perspective

A Disability History of the United States by Kim E. Nielsen
ISBN: 0807022047
Publication Date: 2013-10-01
Available on the Alaska Digital Library

Annual Disability Statistics Compendium
Did you know that nearly a third of Alaskans report having a hearing disability and nearly a fifth report a vision disability? Learn more from this annual compilation of disability statistics.