Abstract
This paper presents the findings of a survey that aims at exploring the potential of Sri Lankan library professionals for serving the disabled users. Results revealed that the librarians are not adequately knowledgeable and sufficiently skilled to operate an inclusive service for people with special needs, though, they are extremely willing to do so. The paper also discusses the areas that should be strengthened in order to empower the librarians while highlighting the necessity of broadening the boundaries to welcome this very special group of users.Journal of the University Librarians Association of Sri Lanka, Vol. 18, Issue 1, January 2014, Page 1-18
Highlights
Protecting the rights of disabled people is not a new topic even to developing countries like Sri Lanka
We are far behind our developed counterparts such as United States of America (USA) and United Kingdom; the countries that could be topped the list of nations who pay the most attention towards their disabled citizens
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that addresses the needs of people with disabilities of USA has characterized disabled people as “individuals with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities”
Summary
Protecting the rights of disabled people is not a new topic even to developing countries like Sri Lanka. We are far behind our developed counterparts such as United States of America (USA) and United Kingdom; the countries that could be topped the list of nations who pay the most attention towards their disabled citizens. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that addresses the needs of people with disabilities of USA has characterized disabled people as “individuals with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities”. Equality Act 2010 of the United Kingdom has described disabled people with more or similar terms; “persons with a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect on their ability to do normal daily activities”. An attitudinal change in the society (inclusive of both disabled and abled community) is essential to convert a dependant disabled person, who used to live under the protection and care of the family and friends, into an empowered individual
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