Assistive Technology in the K-12 Library Media Center: Survey, Results, and Recommendations

Due to the Least Restrictive Environment provision of Federal law, there is a growing trend in the United States of providing services to students with special needs in inclusive general education classrooms. By extension, school library media specialists are major allies in providing materials and information skills education to students with disabilities. It is unclear whether media specialists have received the training to evaluate collection materials, recommend and implement assistive technologies, or use effective educational techniques in providing information skills instruction to students with disabilities. The purpose of this study was to assess current practices of school librarians in the provision of materials and services to students with disabilities. Topics covered in the survey included; collection development, inter-library loan, transfer of information skills, current budget levels, and amount of finances set aside for materials that serve this student group. Recommendations for further study are also given.