Even with more archival collections being created about people with disabilities, people with disabilities will be kept from learning their own community’s history if they cannot access the collections.
To understand the barriers to accessing and using archival records, one first needs to identify the tasks involved in archival research to remove them. Below is a simplified sequence of tasks involved in accessing and using archival documents.
Step 1: Identify Research Topic
- Barrier #1: Not having access to technology or the internet to use databases to locate materials
- Barrier #2: Not having access to accessibility devices to use the technology (screen readers, ergonomic mouse, voice-to-text, eye-tracking devices)
- Barrier #3: Web browsers (Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.) or websites are not usable with accessibility devices
- Barrier #4: Search results that include large words and concepts that are difficult to understand for the user
Step 2: Discover Resources
- Barrier #1: Not being able to look through a library or archive’s collections due to not being a member or physically in the space
- Barrier #2: Databases (online spaces where you can search through materials owned by a group) are not accessible with accessibility devices
- Barrier #3: Databases and catalogs use language that is difficult for the users, including instructions on how to use them
- Barrier #4: Search tools are too advanced for the user
Step 3: Access Archival Items
- Barrier #1: Not being able to see the items because the place does not do virtual appointments, and the person cannot physically get there
- Barrier #2: Not being able to use fine motor skills in your fingers to manipulate folders carefully and handle items in boxes
- Barrier #3: Not being able to put on gloves to handle photographs
- Barrier #4: Having physical text on items that blind and low vision users cannot read
Potential Solutions
- Having libraries and archives provide both virtual and in-person appointments to the general public
- Having librarians and archivists host community workshops for people with disabilities to help them with their reference and research questions
- Having librarians and archivists provide one-on-one support to library and archival users who may need help with physical tasks when using those services
- Digitizing (putting online) archival documents that include optical character recognition, a feature that makes documents searchable and readable to accessible technology devices
- Expanding access to resources for non-members through virtual and email assistance