Yes / Since the UK’s 2001 Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (SENDA, 2001), academic libraries have had a legal duty to provide all students with information in a form accessible to them, an obligation strengthened by the 2010 Equality Act (c15). Crucially, the latter duty covered readers with all kinds of impairments, not just visual impairment, and thus covers a huge range of needs for an enormous number of individuals. Libraries have put a huge amount of time and effort into providing documents in accessible format (alt-format) but obviously it is preferable for both libraries and readers if the documents are accessible as supplied from the publisher. Electronic resources have the potential to address many of the accessibility needs of our readers, but concerns have been growing in the HE sector (see, for instance, JISCTechdis, 2013) that the way in which e-resources are delivered actually renders them, in some cases, less accessible. This paper describes a project undertaken by the University of Bradford library to systematically assess the accessibility of our electronic resources, and gives recommendations for others wishing to do the same.

This study aimed to investigate the needs and challenges faced by visually impairedindividuals when using the internet and assess the compatibility of the challengesthey face with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.0). By exam-ining these aspects, through analysis of existing literature, surveys and interview.The study sought to gain insights into the difficulties experienced by the visuallyimpaired community and provide recommendations for improving web accessibilityand contribute to the development of more accessible and user-friendly web content.This, in turn, can improve the quality of life for individuals with visual impairmentsand promote their active involvement in social, economic, and cultural activities.The study findings indicate common obstacles faced by individuals with visual im-pairments when accessing the internet, including difficulties in reading text, limitedcustomization options, insufficient color contrast, poorly structured content, inacces-sible forms or inputs, challenges in identifying images or icons, navigating web pages,and completing forms.Individuals with visual impairments have unique requirements when using theinternet, such as the use of assistive technologies and alternative text descriptions.However, they encounter various obstacles that hinder their access and engagementwith digital content and services.Although WCAG 2.0 serves as a foundationalframework for web accessibility, there is still room for improvement in terms ofawareness, implementation, and testing. Further efforts are necessary to enhanceinternet accessibility for individuals with visual impairments, facilitating their fullparticipation in social, economic, and cultural activities.

The percentage of deaf and hard of hearing people who need mental health crisis services is similar to the percentage of the general population needing such services. Yet, coordinated mental services for deaf and hard of hearing individuals are virtually nonexistent. People who are deaf and hard of hearing, like everyone else, find themselves, from time to time, in need of mental health services.

Aus der Einleitung: "Hochschulstudium kann als ein besonderer Nutzungskontext für elektronische Informationssysteme angesehen werden. Dies gilt für Studierende mit Behinderungen oder chronischen Krankheiten in besonderer Weise. Außer klassischer Anforderungen an die Gestaltungsqualität (Usability) solcher Systeme besteht eine an Bedeutung zunehmende Herausforderung in der Gewährleistung gleichberechtigter Teilhabemöglichkeiten dieser stark heterogenen Nutzergruppe an den Studienangeboten der jeweiligen Hochschule. Es ist bekannt, dass behinderte und chronisch kranke Studierende deutlich häufiger ihr Studium vorzeitig abbrechen oder ihre Studienrichtung wechseln (müssen) als nichtbehinderte Studierende. Als Schlussfolgerung daraus befindet sich an der Technischen Universität Dresden ein "Netzwerk Behinderung und Studium" (NEBUS) im Aufbau, welches Studierende von der Studienbewerbung bis zum Übergang ins Arbeitsleben unterstützen möchte."

Aus der Einleitung: "Hochschulstudium kann als ein besonderer Nutzungskontext für elektronische Informationssysteme angesehen werden. Dies gilt für Studierende mit Behinderungen oder chronischen Krankheiten in besonderer Weise. Außer klassischer Anforderungen an die Gestaltungsqualität (Usability) solcher Systeme besteht eine an Bedeutung zunehmende Herausforderung in der Gewährleistung gleichberechtigter Teilhabemöglichkeiten dieser stark heterogenen Nutzergruppe an den Studienangeboten der jeweiligen Hochschule. Es ist bekannt, dass behinderte und chronisch kranke Studierende deutlich häufiger ihr Studium vorzeitig abbrechen oder ihre Studienrichtung wechseln (müssen) als nichtbehinderte Studierende. Als Schlussfolgerung daraus befindet sich an der Technischen Universität Dresden ein "Netzwerk Behinderung und Studium" (NEBUS) im Aufbau, welches Studierende von der Studienbewerbung bis zum Übergang ins Arbeitsleben unterstützen möchte."

Sjukvården ska vara jämlik för alla patienter, men rapport från Socialstyrelsen visar att det finns brister i den svenska sjukvården. Ögonsjukvården på ett av Sveriges större sjukhus fick under sommaren 2021 in synpunkter gällande bristande tillgänglighet och bemötande. Ögonsjukvården hade lokaler som inte var anpassade för patienter med synskada, och bemötandet visade brist på insikt i hur det är att ha en synskada. Ett projekt startades i samarbete med Synskadades Riksförbund, för att tillsammans åtgärda dessa brister. Fyra patienter med synskada fick besöka ögonmottagningen och uppmärksamma brister och ta fram åtgärdsförslag. De fick även svara på en enkät före och efter genomförandet av åtgärderna för att senare kunna utvärdera om förändringarna lett till en förbättring eller inte. Frågorna gällde fyra aspekter i tillgänglighet på olika delar av sjukhuset. För att förbättra bemötandet föreslog Synskadades Riksförbund en insiktsutbildning för personalen. Utbildningen skulle ledas av personer med synskada, med målet att öka personalens förståelse för hur det är att leva med en synskada, Utbildningen följdes av en intervjustudie för att undersöka medarbetarnas erfarenhet av co-production, och hur verksamheten i framtiden kan samarbeta med patienterna. Resultatet visar att alla utom en patient upplevde förbättring av tillgängligheten på alla fyra aspekter. En av patienterna tyckte att tre av fyra aspekter hade förbättrats. Totalt 23 medarbetare hann genomgå insiktsutbildningen. Målet på en ökad tillgänglighet uppnåddes, medan målet om att hinna med att utbilda 30 medarbetare inte uppnåddes. Resultatet av studien visade att co-production är ett uppskattat arbetssätt som anses effektivt för att uppnå mer jämlik sjukvård. Slutsatsen är att co-production tillsammans med patienterna har lett till både bättre tillgänglighet och bättre bemötande. Projektet fortsätter, och målet under året är att alla medarbetare ska hunnit genomgå insiktsutbildningen. Projektet har tilldelats medel för fortsatta insatser för en mer jämlik sjukvård för ögonsjukvårdens patienter. / Healthcare must be equal for all patients, but a National Board of Health and Welfare report found shortcomings in Swedish healthcare in this area.  During 2021 the eyecare department at one of Sweden’s largest hospitals received remarks on accessibility and service. The facilities were not adapted for visually impaired patients, and they felt a lack of insight into their needs. A joint project was started with the Swedish Association of Visually Impaired (SRF) to address these shortcomings. Four members with visual impairments visited the clinic to assess the facilities, in order to propose an improvement plan. The participants also completed a questionnaire, before and after implementation of changes, to evaluate if it had improved. The questions covered four aspects of accessibility in different parts of the hospital. To improve the patient interaction, SRF proposed awareness training for hospital staff. The training was led by visually impaired people, with the goal of increasing awareness about living with visual impairments. The training was followed by a study about the staffs’ experience on co-production and how future collaboration with patients could be done. The results show that all but one patient experienced an improvement in accessibility in all four aspects. One of the patients thought that three out of four aspects had improved. 23 employees completed the awareness training. The goal of increased accessibility was achieved; however, the goal of training 30 employees was not reached. The study showed that co-production is appreciated and was considered effective in achieving more equal healthcare.  The conclusion is that co-production led to both better accessibility and treatment. The project continues, and the goal is for all employees to complete awareness training this year. The project has secured funds for continued efforts for a more equal healthcare for eye care patients.

The purpose of this community needs assessment was to explore the unmet health needs in some of the communities of Riverside County, to discover which populations are most adversely affected by these unmet needs, and to determine what barriers hinder individuals from getting their needs met. United Way of the Inland Valleys, in cooperation with Kaiser Permanente of Riverside conducted this study as part of their community based needs assessment.

MA (Linguistics) / Department of Communication and Applied Language Sciences / See the attached abstract below