Digital Accommodations for Students Living with Print Disabilities: A Literature Review

Area of Science:

• Medical education
• Library science
• Disability studies

Background:

• Growing literature emphasizes the need for accessible academic resources for students with print disabilities.
• Medical learners with print disabilities face unique challenges accessing digital and physical library materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the experiences of print-disabled medical learners regarding access to academic resources.
• To identify barriers encountered by these learners within medical libraries.
• To understand how critical disability and self-efficacy theories can inform library services.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on print disabilities in medical education.
• Application of critical disability theory to understand systemic barriers.
• Application of self-efficacy theory to analyze learner motivation and challenges.

Main Results:

• Print-disabled medical learners encounter significant obstacles in accessing essential library resources.
• Understanding learner behavior requires considering their motivation, determination, and perceived challenges.
• Librarians can leverage theoretical frameworks to better support these students.

Conclusions:

• Improving access to academic resources is crucial for the success of medical learners with print disabilities.
• Medical libraries must proactively address barriers to ensure equitable resource access.
• Theoretical frameworks offer valuable insights for developing effective support strategies and services.