Central Michigan University Libraries Celebrates National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Happy National Disability Employment Awareness Month! The U.S. Congress started this celebration in 1988 to celebrate “... the value and talent workers with disabilities add to America’s workplaces and economy...” and to represent the United States Department of Labor’s “... commitment to ensuring disabled workers have access to good jobs, every month of every year.” This year’s theme is “Access to Good Jobs for All.” 

At Central Michigan University (CMU) Libraries, we know that for many students, their studies are their full-time work. To ensure that the library provides the support that students and employees need to be successful in their work, we are implementing an accessibility assessment this year. This assessment will help us find out how well the library is meeting the needs of students with disabilities, student workers, university employees, and community visitors. This year, we are assessing the library’s physical spaces, collections, and services.  

Along with learning how accessible the library is, this initiative also focuses on finding new ways to promote the accessibility resources we currently offer. These resources include: 

• A remote book delivery services via Documents on Demand for CMU community members who live outside the Mt. Pleasant area; 
• Our virtual Ask a Librarian service; 
• Accessible entrances and elevators in the Park Library building; and, 
• Study rooms and Quality of Life Rooms in the Park Library. 

All these efforts show our strong commitment to making sure that everyone has access to an environment where they can fully express their value and talents through their work. As we examine these services further, we look forward to identifying adjustments we can make to enhance the accessibility of the CMU Libraries.