Old Dominion University

Old Dominion University seeks to discover approaches to support more inclusive and equitable maker programs and makerspaces within public libraries. Although the maker movement has grown and become a learning experience environment, there has been little research into the barriers and inequitable practices that individuals who have disabilities experience in the process. The team will conduct five focus groups to collect data from disability self-advocates and stakeholders in the makerspace movement. The goals of this project are to better understand how libraries can improve current making practices and makerspace design; to engage diverse participant viewpoints and provide constructive feedback that can contribute to a more inclusive library; and to establish next steps for broadening disability visibility within public library makerspaces.