Mobile Technology, Wounded Warriors, and Base Libraries

Where Wounded Warriors Meet Mobile Technology

(Military Families Learning Network)

Working on Camp Pendleton as a Library Technician at the Patrick J. Carney Library means that I serve and support a very unique community that consists of military personnel, their families, and retirees. One cross-section of the community that I recently started to consider as I examined the subject of this blog post was Wounded Warriors - a small group of severely injured veterans working to gain mobility and independence despite their injuries.

At the main library branch on base, there are some devices that support wounded veterans, like headphones and alternative keyboards, however mobile technologies like screen readers and screen magnification application could greatly support patrons with disabilities. Currently, there are a few library patrons on Camp Pendleton whose physical impediments affect their speech, sight, and hearing. One patron with very little sight often struggles to use computers at the Patrick J. Carney library. He brings in his own glass magnifier to use the keyboard and computer because there are no large print keyboards or screen readers to support his disability. Library support staff often help him utilize technology and accommodate his resource needs.

On the U.S. Army's official website, an explanation of the Defense Department's Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP) "offers wounded warriors assistive technologies and training to help them cope with...their personal recovery." While CAP works to provide equal access to information for all veterans with disabilities there is room for growth between the Wounded Warriors campaign, CAP, and the library system that accommodates this user population. Specifically, CAP targets the following injuries as the program works to facilitate employment opportunities for disabled veterans: vision loss or low vision, cognitive impairments, communication disabilities, deaf or limited hearing, and limited dexterity.

(YouTube)

Screen Readers, like Zoom Text, could greatly improve a patron's interaction with information at Camp Pendleton libraries. Being able to magnify a part of a screen while trailing a mouse arrow over the text is just one aspect of this type of mobile technology. Additionally, ZoomText users can also change the screen color to suit their own vision needs.  It's important to recognize that the DOD's CAP provides this software for Wounded Warriors at home, but this program has no outreach currently at base libraries. As library that works to support all cross-sections of the Camp Pendleton Community, connecting with programs like Wounded Warrior could vastly improve a disabled patron's ability to thrive in a world driven by technology and information.

To further understand the benefits of this mobile technology, view the following video provided by the Department of Defense's Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP) YouTube Channel:

All and all, when discussing information accessibility in relation to visual impediments one could also view this gap as diversity issue. As pointed out by the authors of "Accessibility and Diversity in Library and Information Science," building an "inclusive information architecture specifically focused on screen-reader access" will help those who struggle to access library materials navigate resources in an easier manner (Kyunghye, Yoon, et al.). Remaining aware of different user populations when constructing library environments, both physical and technological, will create more inclusivity to all groups utilizing library services. 

Works Cited

Brauner, Rachel. “Assistive Technology to Enhance Wounded Warrior Employment Opportunities.” Military Families Learning Network, The U.S. Department of Defense, 24 Oct. 2012, militaryfamilies.extension.org/2012/10/24/assistive-technology-to-enhance-wounded-warrior-employment-opportunities/.

“Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP).” CAP, The U.S. Department of Defense, www.cap.mil/WSM/Default.aspx.

Kyunghye, Yoon, et al. "Accessibility and Diversity in Library and Information Science: Inclusive Information Architecture for Library Websites." Library Quarterly, vol. 86,  no. 2, Apr. 2016, pp. 213-229. EBSCOhost, login.ezproxy.palomar.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lxh&AN=113857476&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

“Today's Focus: Assistive Technology Helping Wounded Warriors.” STAND-TO! - Assistive Technology Helping Wounded Warriors, 24 Mar. 2009, www.army.mil/standto/archive/2009/03/24/.