USE OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES IN LIBRARIES BY PERSONS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS: A CATALYST FOR ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION

Abstract

Assistive technology is viewed as a generic term used to describe assistive, adaptive and rehabilitative devices aimed at assisting people with special needs or expanding human functions or capabilities. This paper highlights the librarians' contribution on strengthening the use of Assistive Technologies to cater for the information needs of special needs library users with varying degrees of inabilities. The paper reviewed literature on the need for and significance of integrating assistive technologies for the attainment of Equal Access to Quality Information among library users especially people with exceptionalities. Information needed to actualize this paper was gathered from secondary sources of data which were obtained from textbooks, journal articles, conference papers and online sources. The content analysis was employed since the paper is a desk paper. This involves reading meaning into materials consulted for purpose of achieving a reliable conclusion. The paper also highlights the experiences derived by other developing countries from the integration of Assistive Technologies. Among other things, several strategies of library application of Assistive Technologies such as Braille embossers, Braille translation software, Tape Recorder, Talking calculator, screen magnifiers, Scan and read camera (pearl), and Voice note taker among others were briefly discussed. The paper concludes that engaging library users with special needs through the application of assistive technologies represents initiative that helps to build new opportunities for achieving a sustainable development goal especially in Nigeria, a country of Africa.