- Blind, or visually impaired
- Deaf, or hard of hearing
- Physically disabled
However, the Access Centre is
intended for use by all Kitchener Public Library
customers. The Centre is also designed to help
anyone who has difficulty accessing our resources
in the traditional way.
Resources
Resource Lists
KPL staff have created lists
on various topics that are in Large Print
format.
Resource File
Pamphlets
and documents for and about people with disabilities.
Other Print Resources:
- Large Print Magazines and Newspapers.
The collection is a mixture of resources on
people with disabilities, but also of general
interest for people with low vision.
- Reference sources: a dictionary
and a World Atlas in large print.
- Descriptive videos. The visual
action is described by an unobtrusive narrator
who supplies information about what is happening
during pauses in the actors' speech.
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Adaptive Technology
The Access Centre has a number
of products, software and hardware, designed specifically
for the purpose of providing enhanced access to
our many services and collections.
 JAWS
at KPL!
The most popular screen reader worldwide is now
available at KPL’s Main Library! Specifically
designed for people with low vision or no vision,
JAWS (Job Access with Speech) provides access
to standard computer applications, including Microsoft
Office applications, the Internet, and email.
With its internal software speech synthesizer
and the computer’s sound card, information
from the screen is read aloud, providing technology
to access a wide variety of information, education
and job related applications. This software, along
with our new 21 inch monitor, zoom text software,
and scanner, are the latest additions of adaptive
technology to the Access Centre.
Headphones are available at the
Information Level 2 desk to be used with JAWS.
PC
with 21-inch
monitor and scanner
Our new PC allows you to search the Internet,
check your email, read and write using Microsoft
Word, and utilize many other Microsoft Office
applications. The 21 inch flat screen monitor
provides ease of access and comfort for those
customers with low vision.
Zoomtext
ZoomText Magnifier enlarges everything on your
computer screen, making all of your applications
easy to see and use.
Closed Circuit Television
This machine helps customers with low vision to
read, or see what they are writing. The machine
will magnify, highlight, change the contrast of
the document, etc. Use the Closed Circuit Television
for everything from reading the newspaper, to
writing out and signing your cheques.
Other Equipment Available
for Use
- Hydraulic tables
- Walker and wheelchair
- Illuminated stand magnifier
- Hand held magnifying glasses
- Book stands
- Reading lamps
VisuNET Canada
VisuNET Canada is the Canadian National Institute
for the Blind’s (CNIB) networked library
service for Canadians unable to read print. The
service is intended to provide members of the
community who are print disabled with access to
the CNIB Library’s Online information sources
including the
Children's Digital Portal and the Digital
Library.
A screen magnifier (Zoomtext) and a screen
reader (JAWS) is available to support this service.
Anyone who is print disabled because
of blindness, visual impairment, physical disability
and/or learning disability in accordance with
the definition provided in the Canadian Copyright
Act, can access VisuNET Canada at the Kitchener
Public Library or at home. Library staff are available
to log eligible customers onto VisuNET Canada.
To access the Children's Digital Portal
or the Digital Library, individuals must apply
through the Main Library or call 519-743-0271
ext. 286.
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Additional Services
There are many services and collections
available at KPL for customers with special needs.
- Visiting Library Services
- Talking Books
- Large Print Books
- Infolink: The Answer Line (TTY
phone service is available)
- Special Children's Collection
- The Computer Centre on Level
3 has software installed on all the machines
(screen narrator and screen magnifier). There
are also sound cards installed on all the computers
and headphones are available for sale at the
Level 3 Information Desk.
- Closed Captioned Videos. These
are found throughout the collection, and are
not housed in the Access Centre. Staff and customers
may search for these videos by subject in the
catalogue. The subject heading is "video
recordings for the hearing impaired." The
collection is growing rapidly and is intended
for all ages.
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