Access to Academic Materials for Post-Secondary Students with Print Disabilities Access to Academic Materials for Post- Secondary Students with Print Disabilities Final Report: May 2005 Written by: Dr. Liam Kilmurray and Neil Faba, with support from Laurie Alphonse Edited by: Frank Smith and Neil Faba National Educational Association of Disabled Students Rm. 426 Unicentre Carleton University Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6 Email: [email protected] Web site: www.neads.ca ISBN 0-9686659-4-2 This report was developed with funding support from the Social Development Partnerships Program, Human Resources and Social Development Canada Table of Contents Acknowledgements .....................................................................................................1 Executive Summary......................................................................................................2 Introduction to the NEADS Project ............................................................................5 Organizational Profiles ..............................................................................................10 Post-Secondary Campus Disability Resource Centres and Libraries ...........................10 University of British Columbia ..................................................................................10 University of Alberta ................................................................................................11 University of Guelph ................................................................................................11 University of Toronto ...............................................................................................12 Queen’s University...................................................................................................12 Carleton University ..................................................................................................13 St. Mary’s University................................................................................................14 National Organizations ...........................................................................................14 Library and Archives Canada ...................................................................................14 The National Network for Equitable Public Library Service for Canadians with Print Disabilities...............................................................................................................15 The E-text Clearinghouse for Canadians with Print Disabilities Pilot Project ...............16 Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB)......................................................17 Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D)...........................................................17 Provincial and Local Governmental and Non-Governmental Organizations..............18 British Columbia College and Institute Library Services (CILS)....................................19 Manitoba Department of Education.........................................................................19 W. Ross MacDonald School for the Blind ..................................................................20 Construction And Dissemination Of The Surveys .....................................................22 Objectives...............................................................................................................22 Production..............................................................................................................22 Dissemination .........................................................................................................23 Methodology..........................................................................................................24 General Overview ...................................................................................................25 Limitations of the Research......................................................................................25 Student Survey...........................................................................................................27 Student Profiles.......................................................................................................27 Student Survey Details ............................................................................................29 Section A: Demographic Information........................................................................29 Section B: Disability information ..............................................................................42 Section C: Accessibility to Academic Materials ..........................................................51 Section D: General Questions...................................................................................76 Service Provider Survey .............................................................................................88 Service Provider Profiles...........................................................................................88 Service Provider Survey ...........................................................................................89 Section A: Institutional Information..........................................................................89 Section B: Materials...............................................................................................107 Section C: General Questions.................................................................................122 Findings and Conclusions .......................................................................................136 Recommendations ...................................................................................................143 Appendix 1: Summary of Organizational Submissions to the NEADS Project........146 Changes to Legislation ..........................................................................................146 Universal Standards...............................................................................................147 Appropriate Funding.............................................................................................147 Braille Needs.........................................................................................................148 National Sharing Database....................................................................................148 Disability Service Organizations’ Submissions ........................................................150 Assistive Technology BC........................................................................................151 Background...........................................................................................................151 Access to Academic Materials.................................................................................151 Issues....................................................................................................................152 Recommendations.................................................................................................153 Conclusion ............................................................................................................154 Disability Service Providers in Post-Secondary Education in Alberta ........................156 Challenges ............................................................................................................156 Recommendations.................................................................................................157 Canadian Association of Disability Service Providers in Post-Secondary Education (September 2004).................................................................................................160 Introduction ..........................................................................................................160 Current Issues........................................................................................................161 Impact ..................................................................................................................164 Recommendations.................................................................................................165 Conclusion ............................................................................................................167 CADSPPE Focus Group ...........................................................................................168 Disability-Related Support Review:.........................................................................186 Overview of Transcription Services at Ontario Publicly-Funded Post-Secondary Institutions............................................................................................................186 Services Provided ...................................................................................................187 Role of the Contact Person.....................................................................................187 Role of the Student ................................................................................................187 RSL Process and Procedures ...................................................................................187 Overview of Activities at the Federal Level...............................................................188 Response to Ministry Questions..............................................................................189 W. Ross MacDonald School (May 2004)................................................................192