Tiurkedzhy N. Assistive Technologies in the LAM (Libraries, Archives, and Museums): A Service Approach

The dissertation is dedicated to the current problem of creating an accessible information environment and developing a barrier-free space for people with disabilities. The study is aimed at developing recommendations for the development, implementation and use of assistive technologies in document and information institutions in order to improve the quality of service to the target audience of users with various disabilities of physical, sensory, intellectual and mental development, in particular, the development of theoretical foundations and a conceptual model of implementation assistive technologies in libraries, archives and museums. Scientific research includes an analysis of the scientific foundations, a study of the regulatory framework, the scope of practical implementation of the implementation of assistive technologies, the identification of their varieties, the development of a classification and strategies and methods for their implementation with an assessment of the effectiveness of ensuring accessibility, inclusivity and quality of information services for people with disabilities. The lack of an established concept for the introduction of assistive technologies in Ukraine gives rise to complex systemic organizational, financial, regulatory, legal and technical-technological problems, which significantly slow down the processes of ensuring accessibility and inclusivity in document and information organizations and make it difficult to resolve issues of social inclusion of people with physical, socioeconomic disabilities, sociocultural, sociocommunication levels. The significant gap between scientific understanding and practical implementation of assistive technology programs enhances the relevance of the study and is characterized by substantial differences in user needs and opportunities to meet them. During the content analysis of foreign and Ukrainian scientific works six main groups were identified: 1) providing a general theoretical and methodological basis for understanding the transformation of activity in the service aspect of document and information structures; 2) legislative and regulatory documents; 3) presenting practical experience in the implementation of assistive technologies; 4) revealing the features of creating an inclusive space in document and information structures; 5) explore individual aspects and processes of introducing assistive technologies; 6) describing achievements and problems in the field of web-resources availability.