Towards Inclusive Accessibility in Libraries (TIAL)

How did TIAL come to be?

In 2023, we launched, as part of the Growing Equitable Library Services (GELS) program, a virtual professional development series for library staff in Connecticut entitled, ADA and Beyond that encouraged library staff to think Beyond ADA when serving patrons in their communities. Topics included making documents accessible, accessibility and the web, an assistive technology "petting zoo", and a panel discussion about making library programs accessible.

After reflecting on the success of ADA and Beyond and the needs of the CT library community, we chose to expand the series into its own initiative, developing a new name, logo, and mission statement for it. In particular, we felt that the topics of Accessibility and Aging have considerable overlap, which led us to our new series title, Towards Inclusive Accessibility in Libraries: Expanding Possibilities for All Ages and Abilities, and our mission:  

We recognize that providing greater accessibility expands inclusion. Towards Inclusive Accessibility in Libraries (TIAL) seeks to address the knowledge gaps and biases that exist about people with disabilities and people who are aging, and to aid libraries in extending access to library resources and services, enriching the lives of all community members. 

This project is funded by the State of Connecticut and the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the Connecticut State Library.