What do you Need?
Reframing In/Accessibility in Librarianship
Start
“Disability, Identity, and Professionalism: Precarity in Librarianship” by Christine M. Moeller
“Accessibility is a social issue, and one for all employees, not just some. Rather than upholding the deficit model of disability by demanding of disabled library workers, “What’s wrong with you? How long is it going to last?” those working within libraries need to instead ask all employees questions like “Can you show me what you can do or what you hope for” (Breneman et al. 2017, 352). Price observes that posing the question “What do you need? is an important part of the micropractice of accessibility” for all employees (Price 2011, 134). This simple question—“What do you need?”—signals support and a willingness to be flexible and collaborate, whether that question is posed to a new employee or to a candidate visiting campus for an interview. When asked of all employees, such a question no longer requires employees with disabilities to single themselves out and accept the myriad of risks associated with disclosure, but instead assumes (correctly) that all employees have a variety of needs.” (467)
Next
We are taught to think about disability through the deficit (or medical) model, which views disabilities as problems of the individual. People with disabilities are expected to adapt to systems designed without their needs in mind. Accessibility gets added later as a special accommodation, and disability gets framed as a limit to overcome.
Christine M. Moeller contrasts this with the social model of disability, which argues that people are not disabled simply by their bodies or minds, but by barriers created by society.
Inaccessible buildings, workplace expectations, stigma, and ideas about professionalism exclude people far more than disability itself. Rather than asking individuals to change, this model asks institutions and communities to create flexible, inclusive environments where all people can participate fully.
Let's reframe!
Complete all missions.
Mission 3
Mission 2
Mission 1
Who benefits from the system as it already exists?
What could true accessibility look like in libraries?
How do we think about disability?
Complete all missions
Mission 3
Mission 2
Mission 1
Who benefits from the system as it already exists?
What could true accessibility look like in libraries?
How do we think about disability?
Complete all missions to obtain your certificate
Mission 3
Mission 2
Mission 1
Who benefits from the system as it already exists?
What could true accessibility look like in libraries?
How do we think about disability?
Next
Next
Next
Let's practice: You're a library manager, your employee reaches out with this email: Hi [Library Manager], I hope all is well. I wanted to reach out to discuss a workplace accommodation that would really help me. Because of a chronic health condition, I’ve had a hard time with long periods under fluorescent lighting and extended in-person meetings without breaks. I was hoping we could discuss possible adjustments! Please let me know a good time to talk about this, and thanks for understanding. Best, [Your employee] Take some time to write, type, or consider your response.
Complete
Think about your response. Did you include the central question: What do you need?
Next
Congratulations! You have completed all the missions
Mission 3
Mission 2
Mission 1
What could true accessibility look like in libraries?
Who benefits from the system as it already exists?
How do we think about disability?
Complete
You have completed the liberation room.You explored how disability is often treated as an individual problem rather than a result of systems, expectations, and environments that exclude people. Christine M. Moeller argues that true accessibility is not about making small adjustments after someone struggles. It is about rethinking systems from the beginning so that many different minds, bodies, and ways of working are welcomed and supported. Liberation happens when institutions stop asking people to fit into inaccessible systems and instead ask: “What do you need?”
Exit
Are you sure you want to exit?
Exit
Return
Reframing In/Accessibility in Librarianship
emma cameron
Created on May 12, 2026
Start designing with a free template
Discover more than 1500 professional designs like these:
View
Simple corporate escape room
View
Chaotic Kitchen Escape Room
View
Vibrant Breakout
View
Reboot Protocol
View
Science Breakout
View
Mystery Breakout
View
Musical Room Escape
Explore all templates
Transcript
What do you Need?
Reframing In/Accessibility in Librarianship
Start
“Disability, Identity, and Professionalism: Precarity in Librarianship” by Christine M. Moeller
“Accessibility is a social issue, and one for all employees, not just some. Rather than upholding the deficit model of disability by demanding of disabled library workers, “What’s wrong with you? How long is it going to last?” those working within libraries need to instead ask all employees questions like “Can you show me what you can do or what you hope for” (Breneman et al. 2017, 352). Price observes that posing the question “What do you need? is an important part of the micropractice of accessibility” for all employees (Price 2011, 134). This simple question—“What do you need?”—signals support and a willingness to be flexible and collaborate, whether that question is posed to a new employee or to a candidate visiting campus for an interview. When asked of all employees, such a question no longer requires employees with disabilities to single themselves out and accept the myriad of risks associated with disclosure, but instead assumes (correctly) that all employees have a variety of needs.” (467)
Next
We are taught to think about disability through the deficit (or medical) model, which views disabilities as problems of the individual. People with disabilities are expected to adapt to systems designed without their needs in mind. Accessibility gets added later as a special accommodation, and disability gets framed as a limit to overcome.
Christine M. Moeller contrasts this with the social model of disability, which argues that people are not disabled simply by their bodies or minds, but by barriers created by society.
Inaccessible buildings, workplace expectations, stigma, and ideas about professionalism exclude people far more than disability itself. Rather than asking individuals to change, this model asks institutions and communities to create flexible, inclusive environments where all people can participate fully.
Let's reframe!
Complete all missions.
Mission 3
Mission 2
Mission 1
Who benefits from the system as it already exists?
What could true accessibility look like in libraries?
How do we think about disability?
Complete all missions
Mission 3
Mission 2
Mission 1
Who benefits from the system as it already exists?
What could true accessibility look like in libraries?
How do we think about disability?
Complete all missions to obtain your certificate
Mission 3
Mission 2
Mission 1
Who benefits from the system as it already exists?
What could true accessibility look like in libraries?
How do we think about disability?
Next
Next
Next
Let's practice: You're a library manager, your employee reaches out with this email: Hi [Library Manager], I hope all is well. I wanted to reach out to discuss a workplace accommodation that would really help me. Because of a chronic health condition, I’ve had a hard time with long periods under fluorescent lighting and extended in-person meetings without breaks. I was hoping we could discuss possible adjustments! Please let me know a good time to talk about this, and thanks for understanding. Best, [Your employee] Take some time to write, type, or consider your response.
Complete
Think about your response. Did you include the central question: What do you need?
Next
Congratulations! You have completed all the missions
Mission 3
Mission 2
Mission 1
What could true accessibility look like in libraries?
Who benefits from the system as it already exists?
How do we think about disability?
Complete
You have completed the liberation room.You explored how disability is often treated as an individual problem rather than a result of systems, expectations, and environments that exclude people. Christine M. Moeller argues that true accessibility is not about making small adjustments after someone struggles. It is about rethinking systems from the beginning so that many different minds, bodies, and ways of working are welcomed and supported. Liberation happens when institutions stop asking people to fit into inaccessible systems and instead ask: “What do you need?”
Exit
Are you sure you want to exit?
Exit
Return