ALIA Disability hosted a webinar on Wednesday, March 15th, facilitated by ALIA Disability Convenor Amy Rake.

Guests included Ayla Regione from JFA Purple Orange and Dr Jo Kaeding from the University of South Australia

Key questions made during the webinar were:

  • What IS disability?
  • What does it mean to have a disability?
  • Can you recognise disability?
  • What types of disabilities are there?

Ayla Regione discussed her own experiences and the implications of the medical model vs the social model of disability on people’s lives. Ayla highlighted the impacts of a negative perception of disability and the beneficial changes when the social model is applied. 

Key messages and suggestions included:

  • Everyone has a different experience of disability; Ayla encouraged us to ask, ‘What is your story?’ 
  • Promote accessibility resources more clearly in our libraries
  • Improve staff training in accessibility and inclusivity

Dr Jo Kaeding discussed the questions in the context of her research into print disability in public libraries. She is currently; working on a project with Dr Agata Mrva-Montoya at the University of Sydney. 

Key messages and suggestions included:

  • Posed the question, if the EU can do it, why can’t we? (concerning the European Accessibility Act).
  • Jo encouraged us to ask questions to our vendors and drive the conversation with vendors for born accessible resources. 
  • Jo encouraged us to include a statement in Collection Development Policies about purchasing resources in born-accessible formats where possible.

Key concepts and theories discussed across the webinar included:

  • Disability culture and the work of Steven Brown
  • Universal design (accessibility should be in the design phase, not retrofitted)
  • Social model vs medical model
  • Born accessible resources

Suggested documents, resources and tools

The webinar included a side discussion about more accessible fonts such as Atkins.

References

ALIANational. (2023, March 15th), What is Disability?

You can now view the Draft Program for ALIA Information Online 2025 – Transformation & Disruption.

Interested in attending? Register via this the ALIA Information Online Event link.

RSVP Date: 17th March

Cost:

Members $400 | Non-Members $500| Institution  5 attendees $1800 | Institution 10 attendees $3500 | Unlimited $6000

 

One Day ALIA Member Price (includes ALIA personal members and institutional staff members): $150

One Day Non-Member Price: $200

Two Day ALIA Member Price (includes personal members and institutional staff members): $275

Two Day Non-Member Price: $375

 

 

When  is this on?

Tuesday 18th March – 20th March

Location: Online via Zoom 

Time Zoom begins: 9am AEDT

 

Program Summary:

Day 1: Tuesday, 18th March – Indigenous Knowledges (Program highlights Dialogue Session: Libraries and their Intersection with Indigenous Knowledges held on 13th October 2024).

Day 2: Wednesday, 19th March – Greening GLAMR

Day 3: Thursday, 20th March – AI

Download the Draft Program for more info.

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Poster reads draft program for Alia information online is available.

The Truck Cat Simultaneous StoryTime

Now is the time to find yourself a copy of The Truck Cat by Deborah Frenkel from your local book shop, library or department store.

Save the date for #librarystorytime on May 21st from 12pm – 1pm (AEST).

A man pats a cat on the head. A truck is behind him.

ALIA CPD Scheme Skills Audit Focus Group EOI

Are you an ALIA Student or Graduate Member?

Add to your ALIA CPD Scheme hours by joining the ALIA CPD Scheme Skills Audit Focus Group.

ALIA are in the process of reviewing the ALIA CPD Scheme to meet the ALIA Skills, Knowledge and ethics Framework.

As a member of the ALIA CPD Scheme focus group you can provide feedback on gaps in library skills in the Library and Information Service Workforce.

The Focus Group will begin in March. You can add the 2-3 hours contributing to the Focus Group as ALIA CPD Scheme hours.

Interested?

Email education@alia.org.au with the subject line ‘Skills Audits Focus Group’ to let the team know your interest in participating.

The front of the Ngutungka Henley library. South Australia's newest library.

RSVP by 12 February to join ALIA SA on their library tour of Ngutungka Henley Library.

When: Thursday, 13 February 2025

Location: 

Ngutungka Henley
378 Seaview Road
Henley Beach, SA 5022

Time: 6pm – 7pm (ACDT)

Cost: ALIA Members & Non – Members: FREE

Stay updated on ALIA SNGG, ALIA Special Interest Group (SIG) & ALIA News by bookmarking our ALIA SNGG Newsletter WordPress page.

Help promote ALIA SNGG by following  us on Facebook, Instagram, X and Linkedin.

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