Research Participation

Share your library accessibility experiences with us: Calling all postsecondary students and researchers who are blind, deafblind, low vision or who have other print-reading disabilities

Photo of a person reading a braille book at a library table, with a folded white cane beside the book and bookshelves behind them

We are a team of blind and sighted researchers from the Université de Montréal and we are inviting individuals who are blind, deafblind, low vision or who have other print reading disabilities (like dyslexia) to participate in an online survey that explores the accessibility of academic library services. This research aims to explore enablers and barriers encountered by both students and researchers with print disabilities who access library services within postsecondary institutions. Results will inform future research to co-develop tools and resources that enhance library accessibility.

To participate, you must:

  • Be 18 years or older;

  • Have a print disability (visual, physical, learning, etc.) that makes it difficult or impossible for you to hold, manipulate, or read a traditional print book; and

  • Be, either currently or sometime in the past 10 years, a postsecondary student, post-doctoral fellow, or researcher located in Canada or the United States.

Participation involves the completion of a confidential, online survey that should take no more than 30–45 minutes at most.

The Comité d’éthique de la recherche clinique (CERC) at the Université de Montréal has approved this project.

If you would like to take part, you can participate in the survey by visiting: take the library accessibility survey

Please note that you will be asked to validate your e-mail address at the start of the survey for verification purposes only. Your identity will not be associated with your survey responses.

You can also complete the survey verbally with a member of our team reading the questions aloud to you. If you prefer this option, simply contact us (info below) and we’ll set up a time to meet with you on Zoom.

If you have any questions about your participation or about this project, please contact:

Natalina Martiniello, Ph.D., CVRT
Université de Montréal, École d’optométrie
natalina.martiniello@umontreal.ca

Research team:

  • Natalina Martiniello, Ph.D., CVRT (Principal Investigator) – Université de Montréal, École d’optométrie

  • Elizabeth Mohler, Ph.D. (Co-Investigator) – Université de Montréal, École d’optométrie

  • Mahboubeh Esmati, M.Sc. (Research Assistant) – Université de Montréal, École d’optométrie

  • Razan Eltayeb, MS.Ed (Collaborator) – Université de Montréal, École d’optométrie

  • Anthony Tibbs (Research Assistant) – Université de Montréal, École d’optométrie

  • Mark Weiler, Ph.D. (Collaborator) – Wilfrid Laurier University

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