ERIC Number: EJ935754
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2007
Pages: 5
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Meeting the Learning and Information Needs of All Students: Universal Design for School Libraries. Guest Writer
Parker, Katie
Educators' Spotlight Digest, v2 n3 p1-5 Fall 2007
Over 5 million students aged 6 to 21 received services under the "Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)" during the 2000-2001 school year. In partial response to this growing population of diverse learners, the relatively recent and highly controversial "No Child Left Behind (NCLB)" legislation has served as a catalyst between special educators and other professionals in educational organizations. Under NCLB, the federal government holds individual schools and school districts accountable for the achievement of all students, including those with disabilities. Students with disabilities represent a special subgroup of students whose student achievement data is now disaggregated from their peers and closely followed to ensure that adequate yearly progress is being made. This shift in accountability from special educators and parents of children with disabilities to schools and school districts represents an important change that holds great potential for school libraries. Greater diversity of learners in a culture of increased accountability challenges all educators, including school library media specialists, to empower every student to achieve the same high standards. Provision of school library media services to students with disabilities is a topic not often addressed in the professional literature. However, as active members of the school community charged with analyzing and meeting the learning and information needs of all students, the author of this article is certain that most school library media specialists would agree that increased attention is needed in the area of serving students with disabilities in the school library media center. This article outlines several strategies for creating inclusive school library programs that benefit all students, including those with disabilities.
Descriptors: Information Needs, Federal Legislation, Educational Improvement, Federal Programs, Academic Achievement, Disabilities, School Libraries, Learning Resources Centers, Accessibility (for Disabled), Library Services, Library Role, Access to Information, Change Strategies, Improvement Programs, Special Needs Students
S.O.S. for Information Literacy. Syracuse University Center for Digital Literacy, 105 Hinds Hall, Syracuse, NY 13244. Web site: http://www.sosspotlight.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: Media Staff
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Laws, Policies, & Programs: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; No Child Left Behind Act 2001
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A