Web Accessibility Initiative

The topic of accessibility of ALD's catalog came up at our last Interest Group meeting. I came across a website of a group that is working on recommendations to improve web accessibility for people with disabilities. Some of it is rather technical, but some of the recommendations are understandable even for non-techies. Take a look here http://www.w3.org/WAI/

Ballot proposal for people with developmental disabilities

There is a proposal on the November ballot, Amendment 51, to increase the state sales tax to provide funds for services for people with developmental disabilities. To learn more about this proposal, you can go to the online version of the election "blue book", which contains the text of the proposal, analysis, and arguments for and against. http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/lcsstaff/bluebook/2008EnglishVersionforInternet.pdf
Click on the left-hand side on the sections you want to read.

ALA Office for Literacy and Outreach Services

I just returned from the Association of Bookmobile and Outreach Services (ABOS) Conference. While I was there I had the opportunity to meet Satia Orange, who is the Director of the ALA Office for Literacy and Outreach Services (OLOS). Ms. Orange spoke about the many resources that OLOS provides to those serving special populations. She also handed out toolkit sheets that I'll be sure to bring to the meeting on Wednesday. The toolkits are all available online as well. The site also includes links to ALA groups such as GLBTRT, ABOS, CALA, and REFORMA. Here is a link to the OLOS site:
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/olos/index.cfm