Objective: The goal of this project is to assess the health information requirements of individuals with disabilities and to address these needs by presenting reliable online health information resources to them through a variety of methods.
Methods: The Health Sciences Libraries, University of Michigan, with a consumer health subcontract through the National Library of Medicine, National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Greater Midwest Region, have established an outreach effort to the population with disabilities in Washtenaw County. Following three successful focus groups, the library staff designed small group instructional sessions, as well as online tutorials, with an emphasis on ease of use, incorporating design features for accessibility for various types of disabilities. Working in conjunction with the Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living and other community partners that serve the local population with disabilities, our instructional focus has been on MedlinePlus, emphasizing Go Local, Clinical Trials, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) NIHSeniorHealth.