As many of you know, the MSR is just off the Reserve Book Room on the lower level of the Library. MSR and the resources contained within is a program of the Disability Resource Center (DRC) and is managed by Geoff Brown, Assistant Coordinator in the DRC. So in effect, the DRC is a tenant of the Library. MSR is a place for eligible students with disabilities to meet with their readers and/or use personal computers with specialized software and other equipment. These include screen reader programs, a Braille embosser, closed circuit televisions, and more recently, voice activated computing. Students eligible to access MSR include those whose disabilities impact accessing print, such as blindness or specific learning disabilities, and those whose disabilities impact manipulating a keyboard and mouse such as any of the disabilities known as Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTDs). CTDs include diagnoses such as Bursitis and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome resulting from repetitive stress injuries.
MSR was established in the 1970’s for blind students and students with various vision impairments to access print and meet with readers. In the early 1980’s students with specific learning disabilities were increasingly identified on college campuses. Many of these students required some of the same methods as the blind students for accessing print such as readers and computers with specialized computer software. Then in the 1990’s, a new population of students with CTD’s were increasingly identified. They required access to computers with voice activation software. In order to meet the needs of the changing population of students with disabilities on campus, this group of students requiring access are also being served in the MSR. The change in population has brought increased diversity to campus and new challenges for providing access, not the least of which is to provide access to necessary resources within a limited space such as the MSR.
MSR was named in honor of Maurice K. Schiffman (known to most as Maurie) in 1993. He was a long time volunteer and supporter of the DRC. He provided mobility training for blind students, and maintained the MSR. Maurie left the DRC in 1996 and died the following year. Among other vocations, Maurie was a former schoolteacher. His regard for academic rigor, commitment to students with disabilities, and loving nature are qualities we can all aspire to. He is remembered fondly. The change in name from the Print Handicapped Room also reflected the evolution of language used to refer to people with disabilities, and the change in students served by the DRC as mentioned above.
The policies listed below are to be followed when using the MSR in order to maintain a safe environment and maintain compliance with Library policy:
Some tutoring on the specialized equipment in the MSR is available. San Poisson and David Young are the DRC computer tutors. San also maintains the equipment in the MSR. Contact Geoff Brown in the DRC to request tutoring or to report any problems with the room or equipment at 415-338-2472 or 415-338-2377.
