A permanent Depression for the blind, with 70 percent unemployment

At a 2002 gathering of the American Library Association, David Faucheux offered specifics for improving the profession's less-than-exemplary treatment of disabled librarians and prospective librarians. Also see Is There a Place for Us?, an article he wrote for the ALA's Interface Magazine. Forget about decency if you must. Just in cold terms of saving tax money--as witnessed by the 70 percent unemployment figure for the blind and the necessity of supporting them--it would seem that libraries should show more sensitivity toward the needs of the job-seeking disabled. Who better to know blind people's information requirements than other blind people working closely with sighted peers in keeping with the cooperative nature of librarianship? Meanwhile, for more on blind unemployment, check out Blind hope employers can see through misconceptions. This CNN story is four years old but unfortunately still essentially up to date. - David Rothman.