WIND Librarian Beth Robertson researched and coordinated library materials for a project
that received a national award for innovative disability service.
The Wyoming Institute for Disabilities (WIND) Resource Library in the University of Wyoming College of Health Sciences has received a national award for an innovative disability service project.
The WIND Library received the 2010 Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies award for its project, "Disability Etiquette and History Infusion Units: Changing Attitudinal Barriers at the University of Wyoming." This award is given to a library organization that has made services more accessible through changing physical and/or attitudinal barriers. The award was announced at the recent American Library Association's annual conference.
Disability infusion unit teaching presentations were developed by WIND staff and presented at various classes to more than 850 students in seven UW colleges, says Beth Robertson, WIND librarian. She researched and coordinated library materials about the American with Disabilities Act, disabilities "do' s and don't's," disability history, rights and stereotypes.
WIND's mission is to assist individuals with developmental and other disabilities to achieve their desired quality of life by promoting and supporting full community inclusion, community membership, independence, productivity and social participation.
"Educating people to improve attitudes toward those with disabilities helps individuals with disabilities achieve their desired quality of life," Robertson says.
The WIND Resource Library offers more than 2,000 books and films devoted exclusively to all aspects of disabilities. Materials are available to the public as well as students and faculty. For more information on the library go to the website or e-mail Robertson at brobert@uwyo.edu.
