Special needs
The reference interview provides the opportunity to establish any special needs of the client.
Some of the most common examples are:
Learning difficulty
For clients with learning difficulties you might have to look for material of a simpler nature, perhaps with more visual or audio content
English as a second language
These clients may prefer material which is not in English. This might mean having the enquirer at your side while you carry out the search so that they can provide assistance with vocabulary. Alternatively, you may be able to pass the enquiry over to a colleague with language skills. (See earlier guidance on language)
Physical impairment
Any material found must be accessible to the client eg: websites must be accessible to a visually impaired client. (See Outcome 4 for more details of this.)
We've now reached the end of this section, which is also the end of Outcome 1. You can go back to any topic by using the menu at the left-hand side of the screen, or return to the ICTL home page by clicking on the ICTL logo at the top left of the screen.
If you wish to find out more about the skills and knowledge required for this outcome, the following websites may prove helpful.
http://support.gale.com/al/12/1/article.asp?aid=1624&tab=opt3&bt=4n&r=0.269786
http://www.hals.lib.tx.us/ref123/2interview.htm
