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Objective: The disabled like others, need information and information acquisition skills to play a positive role in society. By providing a variety of resources and information services, the public library has an important role in providing services to the community, including the disabled, and can provide the background and opportunity for the presence of the disabled in society. The purpose of this study is to identify the requirements and characteristics of a disability-friendly public library. Methodology: The study was a descriptive applied study using a content analysis method and systematic search, to identify the requirements of public libraries to provide services to the disabled, in Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, and PubMed. From the search in 4 databases, 738 documents were retrieved. Initially, all bibliographic information of articles and sources found from four databases were examined, extracted, and entered into EndNote X7 software, and duplicates were removed. In the next step, the titles of the remaining articles were examined. After reading the abstract of the remaining articles, if the article was deemed appropriate, their full text was studied. Finally, 40 documents were examined. Findings: The indicators and requirements used in public libraries in providing services to the disabled were divided into seven categories. In the category of policy and budget, the existence of appropriate policies and guidelines in the library to provide services to the disabled, in the category of advertising and development of services, the use of various methods of informing library services, in the category of accessibility and physical condition of the library, Existence of appropriate signs and boards to guide different sections of the library, in the category of services and programs, placing the safe desk in a suitable place and its availability for all groups, in the category of human resources and training, the presence of trained staff in The field of providing services to the disabled, in the category of collections, the existence of books in various formats and the category of equipment and information technology, the existence of assistive technologies (CCTV, Braille printers, screen magnification, etc.) have had the highest frequency. Conclusion: Identifying the services needed by the disabled and the characteristics of a library for the disabled can help in making informed decisions to provide appropriate services in libraries, especially public libraries. Public libraries must provide facilities and features for people with disabilities to use the services and access the information they need. Libraries should, in addition to assessing the needs of different groups of people with disabilities and the organizations and associations that support them, have the necessary planning and budget by providing the appropriate collection, accessible building, various services and programs, and the existence of various equipment and technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory, demyelinating, and neurodegenerative disorder of the Central Nervous System (CNS) and it is also the most common cause of non-traumatic neurological disability in young adults. MS in women, especially young women, is about 1.5 to 3 times more common than men all over the world. About 2.5 million people worldwide are suffering from MS. The destruction of myelin in certain areas exhibits certain signs and symptoms. Balance disorders are particularly problematic because they are associated with difficulty in moving from one position to another, sustaining an upright posture, and performing functional activities such as walking and turning, all of which predisposes people with MS to the loss of equilibrium and falls. Isfahan City in Iran suffers from a high prevalence of MS that put it amongst the regions with the highest prevalence of MS in Asia and Oceania. This study aimed to use the holistic approaches of occupational therapy to investigate the physical and cognitive factors (attention, cognition and muscle strength of lower extremities) that affect the gait of MS patients in the city of Isfahan, Iran. Materials & Methods The present study was a descriptive-correlational one and convenience sampling method was used to recruit the samples. The study population consisted of all patients with MS in Isfahan City in August 2017. A group of 70 patients (24 males and 46 females with the Mean±SD age of 32.20±7.55 y) met the inclusion-exclusion criteria and were enrolled in the study. To be eligible for the study, the patients had to meet the following inclusion criteria: having a neurologist-confirmed diagnosis of MS with MRI scan, being able to read and write, and walk at least 100 m independently. We excluded patients with cognitive impairments that might hinder understanding of the tasks to be accomplished, those with any comorbid neurologic condition other than MS, and those who are unwilling to collaborate with the research process. After providing sufficient information about the research process and getting informed consent of the patients, the ques- tionnaires and tests were provided to the participants to be completed. The study tools were the Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE), 10 m Walking Test (10 MWT), Timed Up and Go test (TUG), Sit to Stand test, and Stroop test. For data analysis, the Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis were performed in SPSS version 16. Results In this study, 70 patients suffering from MS participated. The results showed a significant nega- tive correlation between the scores of walking speed test (10 m walking) and the scores of the functional strength of the lower extremities muscles (P<0.001) and attention (P=0.01). There is also a significant correlation between muscle strength of lower extremity and balance (P=0.01). Regression analysis shows that the muscle strength of lower extremities has the highest contributions in predicting the speed of walking in patients with MS. Conclusion According to the study findings, among the physical and cognitive factors affecting gait and balance such as muscle strength of lower extremity or cognition and attention, the muscle strength of lower extremity is the most important factor affecting the balance and speed of walking in patients with MS that still can walk. In the process of rehabilitation, especially in occupational therapy, special attention must be paid to a muscle strengthening program for the lower extremities of patients suffering from MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]