Disability Culture

Disability Culture

Knowledge of Disability culture is crucial for library and information professionals because of our responsibility as public servants and communicators of information to our communities. Each population that we serve must be allowed equal access to our services, and without thorough knowledge of the unique needs and preferences of the Disability culture, we simply cannot serve this large and complex population effectively.

Unfortunately, even with greater amounts of education about the culture of Disability, barriers still exist in library and information agencies for individuals with disabilities. Most likely, these barriers will never completely cease to exist. That doesn’t mean that library and information agencies should not create strategic goals to limit barriers to access and educate their employees and the public about the culture of disability. Understanding the collective culture of this community is no less important than understanding any other racial or ethnic culture in America.
There are many ways that LIS practitioners can leverage knowledge about the culture of disability to reduce barriers to information access.

Firstly, LIS practitioners can hold themselves and their colleagues responsible for enhancing their understanding of the culture. This can be accomplished through engagement with community and national organizations that serve and promote understanding of the culture. It can also be accomplished by reading and watching materials that include characters who are members of the culture. Daniel Keyes’s novel Flowers for Algernon and  Damien O’Donnell’s film Rory O’Shea Was Here are two works of pop culture that I greatly enjoyed and felt enhanced my understanding of the culture. It’s important to note that both of these works are fictional and great care should be taken to avoid typecasting or stereotyping individuals due to pop culture portrayals.

Secondly, LIS practitioners can tailor their collection development policies to increase materials and resources that represent the culture of Disability in an accurate manner. Much like the collection development allocation for other groups, the culture of Disability should have their own budget allocation for collection development.

Thirdly, individuals who are members of the culture should have a voice in library decisions. Perhaps by consulting with a local community organization LIS practitioners can actively involve and reach out to many members of the culture for feedback and ideas.

Works Cited:

Keyes, D. (2006). Flowers for Algernon. London: Orion.

O'Donnell, D. (Director). (2004). Rory O'Shea Was Here [Motion Picture].