Services for seniors and the with physical and/or sensory impairments
Summaries of five grants for seniors and those with physical or sensory impairment
Grant 1 | Grant 2 | Grant 3 | Grant 4 | Grant 5
Grant 1: Ida Rupp Public Library
Identify geographic area impacted:
Port Clinton is located in Ottawa County in Northwest Ohio.
Identify population segment served:
This project will serve the senior and special needs population in the library's service district.
Explain need for the project:
This project will allow the Ida Rupp Public Library to add
four adaptive technology workstations to the library's computer lab to serve
seniors and other patrons with special needs. Presently, wheelchair-bound
patrons are unuable to participate in the library's technology classes.
Similarly, seniors and other patrons with visual and dexterity challenges
experience barriers in accessing library resources and services. By applying
adaptive technologies and adding ADA compliant workstations, the special
needs of these patrons can be accomodated and the barriers they face overcome.
What are the objectives of the proposal:
1. To make emerging library technologies available to all
patrons by providing a barrier-free library environment.
Describe program activities and who will perform them:
An ADA compliant four position modular computer workstation
to house four lab computers will be purchased. Using the "Internet
Access for Frail Seniors" model established by McGill Centre for Studies
in Again, the four computers will be equipped with Kensington Orbit Trackballs
and 17" high-resolution monitors. The workstations will be loaded with
Generations Online, an online tutorial specifically designed for seniors.
The five library staff members responsible for technology instruction will
complete in-house training on use of the adaptive workstations and the Generations
Online program. Library staff will meet with government officials, social
service professionals, and the administrators of area nursing homes, retirement
and assisted living communities, and the Port Clinton Senior Center to partern
with them in making the adaptive technologies lab known to community members.
A Generations Online course will be added to the six courses already offered
each month.
Explain method for evaluating the proposal:
The project will be considered successful if, after one year,
the library experiences no less than a 10% increase in the number of patrons
attending technology classes. This figure is commensurate with both the
increase in the number of technology classes offered every month and the
library's ability to serve patrons with special needs.
Budget:
Federal: $8,312 ---- Local: $2,771 ---- Total: $11,083
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Grant 2: Toledo-Lucas County Public Library
Identify geographic area impacted:
Toledo is located in Lucas County, in Northwest Ohio.
Identify population segment served:
The primary population to be served are the 13,456 people
in Toledo-Lucas County who are partially or fully visually impaired.
Explain need for the project:
13,456 people in Toledo-Lucas County are partially or fully
visually impaired. To this group of people the print resources of the Library,
be they hard copy or electronic, are largely unusable without assistance.
Using grant funds, the Library will purchase 3 ADA adaptive technology workstations
to enable existing and new patrons who are visually impaired to utilize
both online and hard copy print resources. Two ADA workstations will be
placed in the Main Library building and one unit will be placed in a branch
library location which serves student populations of 14 public and private
K-12 schools, 2 community colleges, and the local university.
What are the objectives of the project?
1. To provide enhanced information access to the visually
handicapped constituency of the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library.
Describe program activities and who will perform them:
Three PC units and furniture will be ordered and installed.
Library staff will be trained in their use. The Library will work with area
agencies and organziations serving the visually handicapped to promote the
availability of the new adaptive technology. It is anticipated that the
new equipment will reach 150 people at Main and 50 people at Sanger Branch
between June and August 2000 and will reach 25 persons per week at each
workstation thereafter.
Explain method for evaluating the proposal:
Libary staff will record the number of times patrons access
the units daily as well as the number of demonstations and one-on-one training
provided. Software will provide counts on the number of times users click
on menu buttons opening the following programs: Internet, the Library Catalog,
online electronic reference databases, and so on. Users will be invited
to share feedback on the equipment via an electronic www user comment page.
Budget:
Federal: $15,000 ---- Local: $7208 ---- Total: $22,208
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Grant 3: Puskarich Public Library System
Identify geographic area impacted:
Cadiz is located in Harrison County in Eastern Ohio.
Identify population segment served:
This project will benefit all individuals in the library service
district with physical or sensory impairments.
Explain need for the project:
Technology has revolutionized the lives of people with disabilities.
They have been brought into the mainstream with computers, software, and
adaptive devices. Libraries have the responsibility to provide access to
all individuals. The goal of this project is to make emergine technologies
available to all patrons by providing a barrier-free environment. This project
will allow the Puskarich Public Library to add three adaptive technology
workstations to serve individuals with physical or sensory impairments that
prevent them from using the library's present computers to access information.
The library is well suited to house and maintain adaptive technology workstations;
patrons to be served reside in close proximity to the library and the library
has already established successful outreach programs to seniors in area
nursing homes and local assisted living communities. The library will work
with the Harrison County MRDD, Harrison Hills City School District and the
Harrison County Senior Center to target individuals with the greatest need.
What are the objectives of the proposal:
1. To add one adaptive technology workstation to the current
training lab and to place two adaptive technology workstations in the library
for public access.
2. To develop a series of technology related classes specifically
for those with special needs beyond the current classes offered.
3. To offer a variety of hands-on instructions to those with
special needs at least twice per month.
4. To provide staff with in-house instruction so that they
may assist individuals on the use of the new workstations and software.
5. To provide library staff with 8 hours of in-service training
focused upon serving those with disabilities and creating awareness.
Describe program activities and who will perform them:
The library will purchase and install the adaptive technology
workstations. Workstations will be equipped with Window-Eyes for Windows,
MAGic screen magnification software and trackballs. Additionally, a Kurzweil
3000 reader will be purchased. The library computer instructor will develop
the classes for those with special needs. Library staff will offer hands-on
instruction on a variety of applications. In-service training will be provided,
focusing on serving those with disabilities and creating awareness. The
sessions will be presented interactively and led by instructors of the Harrison
County MRDD program. The library will host an open house to promote the
new workstations to the community. Library staff will also give presentations
about the new equipment at the assisted living facility, group home, Gable
Care Center and Cadiz Senior Center.
Explain method for evaluating the proposal:
The goal of this project will be met if, after one year of
implementation, the library has a 10% increase in the number of individuals
attending technology classes. This figure will reflect the additional number
of classes offered each month and the library's ability to serve patrons
with special needs. Questionnaires following classes will rank the value
of the adaptive devices to the users evaluate if they are more likely to
use resources
Budget:
Federal: $8287 ---- Local: $2762 ---- Total: $11,049
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Grant 4: Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library
Identify geographic area impacted:
Willoughby, Willowick, and Eastlake are located in Lake County
in Northern Ohio.
Identify population served:
The primary beneficiaries of this project are those people
with low vision, particularly the elderly, within the Willoughby-Eastlake
Public Library service area.
Explain need for the project:
The Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library is in the process of
developing a three year strategic plan. The Library's technology mission
statement affirms the Library's commitment to serving all of its patrons
without regard to physical ability to access information. Staff believe
that the Internet is of great interest to senior citizens and many of the
Library's older users express an interest in learning more about the WWW.
The Library has accomodated increased patron demand for more access to the
WWW by purchasing nine Wyse WinTerms (network PCs) but for those with a
visual impairment, the WinTerm may be unsatisfactory because the text appears
too small to be read easily. Even using the font-enlarging capabilities
of Windows NT and Netscape often results only in a jumbled screen display.
This project will address the needs of those with low vision, particularly
senior citizens, by providing special equipment to offer the visually impaired
access to the web.
What are the objectives of the proposal:
To provide at least 100 low vision patrons with access to
print and Web-based information resources.
Describe program activities and who will perform them:
Each of the three libraries in the Willoughby-Eastlake Public
Library system will be supplied with a large screen PC that makes use of
the font-enlarging capabilities of Windows NT and Netscape. The Willoughby
Library, which is used by the largest number of senior citizens, will be
equipped with a large screen PC, special magnification software to handle
enlargement of both text and graphics, and a magnifiying machine that will
enable print and 3-D objects to be magnified for easy viewing. When the
PCs are not in use by low vision patrons, they will serve as additonal workstations
for use by any patrons, thus ensuring that the equipment will deliver maximum
value. A series of classes will be developed to train low vision patrons
in the use of this equipment to access print and Web-based information resources.
Curriculum will be prepared for Computer Basics, Introduction to the World
Wide Web, and Email. The new equipment and the classes will be publicized.
Explain method for evaluating the proposal:
The Library will offer an evaluation form to each patron who
attends a workshop to assess the value of the workshop. The Library will
keep statistics on the use of the new equipment. The Library Manager of
Technology will meet with the Breckenridge Village (senior citizen residence
with 450 residents) Computer Group to determine the success of the project
and discuss future needs and programs.
Budget:
Federal: $10,275 ---- Local: $3,425 ---- Total: $13,700
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Grant 5: Oak Harbor Public Library
Identify geographic are impacted:
Oak Harbor is located in Ottawa County in Northwest Ohio.
Identify population segment served:
The project will benefit all residents in the library's service
area with sight and dexterity impairments.
Explain need for the project:
The Three-Year Plan of the Oak Harbor Public Library includes
the statement, "The library will provide special services to patrons
with special needs." One of the goals listed under this statement is,
"Investigate additonal service possibilities, including a computer
interface for the disabled." Research indicates that these services
are not being provided by any other agencies within the library's service
area, although there are numerous individuals who could benefit. This project
will allow the library to provide a computer workstation outfitted with
assistive adaptive devices and software. This workstation will provide computer
access to individuals with impaired vision and dexterity, particularly the
senior population of Oak Harbor.
What are the objectives of the proposal:
1. To increase by 30% the number of patrons with impaired
vision and dexterity who are utilizing computerized information resources
at the library.
Describe program activities and who will perform them:
The library will purchase one Internet accessible workstation
and adaptive devices and software. This will include ZoomText Xtra Level
2 software, Generations Online software, BigKeys, and Orbit Trackball. Staff
will be trained to use the new equipment and software. Training materials
will be developed or adapted as necessary to promote effective use with
the intended audience. The availability of the new service will be widely
promoted.
Explain method for evaluating the proposal:
The project will be evaluated by examining the statistics
gathered during the first year of implementation. The number of individuals
with impaired abilities that complete training courses will be compared
to the number of students in previous years. Comments concerning the effectiveness
of training sessions and the usefulness of adaptive devices and software
will be compiled. The number of independent users of the workstation will
be tabulated monthly.
Budget:
Federal: $2148 ----- Local: $716 ----- Total: $2864
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