Assistive Technology and Libraries: DIY Assistive Technology

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As someone getting into the field of libraries and library sciences, something that becomes clear with children who are learning to read is that not everyone starts out with a fair playing field. From visual impairments to difficulties with motor function, a ‘one size fits all approach’ is going to have some fall behind through no fault of their own. However, not every teacher or parent is going to have the funds and resources to accommodate those children by throwing money at the problem. With that in mind, I would like to talk about the ways both teachers and students have taken things into their own hands when it comes to making books easier to read for those who need assistance in reading.

To start off, I would like to bring up the scenario showcased in “Access for All: Adapted Literacy Through Low-Tech Assistive Technology'' by Cathy L. Galyon, Kim K. Floyd, and Colleen F. Wood-Fields. In the article, a situation is put in place where a small-town librarian reads for a group of children. However, when not accounting for the disabilities of various children, they quickly lose engagement and don’t pay attention to the reading. To solve this dilemma and create a “universally designed learning environment (UDL)” as the article describes, several options are brought up. Modifying the book provides several options, such as popsicle sticks for easier page turning for those that have trouble with motor functions and velcro pop ups to help engage those who struggle to pay attention to readings. Making the book into a powerpoint adds opportunities to add visuals and sound, and allows you to turn the page at the press of a button. Finally, making them into ‘squishable books’, that is adapting the book by adding tactile materials into a re-sealable bag (Galyon et al, 26), provides an opportunity for kids to read with their hands as much as with their eyes and ears.

As someone who’s volunteered in a Makerspace before, I have found that such a concept gathers people from many different walks of life that are united in a passion for creating. Therefore, it’s of little surprise that some of my favorite examples come from “BUILD A BETTER BOOK: Empathy-Driven MAKERSPACES at the Laredo Public Libraries” by Analiza Perez-Gomez. This article discusses the Build a Better Book Project, a workshop that has a group of students learn the various ways of visual impairment and get into mind of what it’s like to live with that kind of disability before being given an opportunity to make a book that would help someone with that impairment in reading it. A highlight of this is the variety of options for the making process that are given in the article. While 3D pens are recommended and there are more expensive options such as using TinkerCad for laser printers and 3D printers mentioned in the article, there are also alternative low-cost options. Whether that’s by punching in text in braille or just using simple craft supplies such as pipe cleaners, felt, and textured paper to make fairy tale objects such as the house from “The Three Little Pigs” (Perez-Gomez 34), the article shows there are many ways to make accommodations for those who need it. As not every book is made with those with disabilities in mind, creating your own assistive technology provides an opportunity to adapt those books to them through a variety of means.

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Works Cited

        Galyon, Cathy L., et al. “Access for All: Adapted Literacy Through Low-Tech Assistive Technology.” Children & Libraries: The Journal of the Association for Library Service to Children, vol. 21, no. 2, Summer 2023, pp. 22–27. EBSCOhost, https://doi-org.ezproxy.palomar.edu/10.5860/cal.21.2.22.

        Perez-Gomez, Analiza. “BUILD A BETTER BOOK: Empathy-Driven MAKERSPACES at the Laredo Public Libraries.” Computers in Libraries, vol. 43, no. 9, Nov. 2023, pp. 31–34. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lxh&AN=173352021&site=ehost-live&scope=site.




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