Special Needs and Inclusive Library Services (SNAILS)

It's officially fall, and that means it's time for sharing and learning at the annual Illinois Library Association Conference ! If you are registered for  Rise Up! October 10-12 in Tinley Park, aim to attend these sessions focused on serving young people with disabilities. ILA Conference logo TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10 Assisting People with Disabilities, 1:30-2:30pm (JJ Pionke, UIUC) This session will highlight some of the work that has been going on at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in terms of reaching out to and assisting people with disabilities (physical, mental, sensory). This session will also include a practical discussion for empowering libraries to go beyond American with Disabilities Act compliance including walking your building, using User Experience techniques, and refining services. Be an Advocate: Create Volunteer Opportunities for Young Adults with Disabilities, 2:45-3:45pm (Dawn Wlezien, Skokie Public Library) Our message to people with ...

The 2017-2018 school year has officially begun, so let's get our learning on! Be sure to  register  for this free webinar as there are only 100 spaces available. Developing Inclusive Library Services to Teens with Disabilities Wednesday, September 20, 2017, 10:00-11:00am (CST) Presented by Renee Grassi Hosted by Minitex, An Information and Resource Sharing Program of the Minnesota Office of Higher Education and the University of Minnesota Libraries. Nathan Anderson photos Public libraries have a mission to serve and include all members of the community, including teens with disabilities. Librarian and advocate Renee Grassi will show how you can develop a comprehensive plan to welcome teens with disabilities at your library. In this workshop, attendees will learn about collections and technologies for teens with disabilities, innovative programs ideas, and suggestions for outreach and forging partnerships in the community. Participants will also learn how to dev...

Renee Grassi Renee Grassi, co-founder of SNAILS, friend, and mentor to many of our members, has been selected to receive the 2017 Alexander J. Skrzypek Award ! Presented by the Illinois Library Association and the Illinois State Library in honor of Alexander J. Skrzypek (1905-1976) -- the first librarian for the blind at the Chicago Public Library -- the award is given to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of library services for the blind or physically disabled in Illinois. We know first hand how Renee's work has impacted libraries and communities across the state of Illinois, so we nominated her for the award! Read  ILA's press release  to learn about Renee's award-winning efforts to make Illinois libraries more inclusive to children with disabilities. Renee's word cloud The Alexander J. Skrzypek Award Award will be presented to Renee at the Awards Luncheon held on Tuesday, October 10, during the 2017 Illinois Library ...

Our summer meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 30 at Deerfield Public Library . Please plan to arrive close to 9:00am for morning treats and networking. Our business will begin promptly at 9:30am. Robin Jones This month, we have the privilege of hearing from Robin Jones, the Director of the Great Lakes ADA Center . Robin will be giving an overview of the Americans with Disabilities Act as it relates to local government (i.e. public libraries). Her presentation is jam-packed with legal and practical information, so this is a great meeting for library staff at all service levels to attend. In order to the make the presentation as relevant as possible, Robin would like to know what type of scenarios you experience when serving (or not being equipped to serve) people with disabilities. If you ever wanted to ask an ADA expert a question about legal requirements, best practices, or "what to do if..." this is your chance! Even if you can't make it to the meetin...

The 14th Annual Disability Pride Parade is this weekend, on Saturday, July 22! The Parade kicks off at 11:00am from 401 S. Plymouth Court (beside the Harold Washington Library Center), and then travels up Dearborn Street to the Daley Center where post-parade festivities take place beginning at 12:30pm. According to the parade website , the overall mission of the Disability Pride Parade is: To change the way people think about and define “disability;” To break down and end the internalized shame among people with Disabilities; and To promote the belief in society that Disability is a natural and beautiful part of human diversity in which people living with Disabilities can take pride. Wouldn't it be great if a group of SNAILS members could meet downtown and cheer for the parade participants?? If you'd like to show support as a spectator use the Contact Us form on the right side of the blog, and I'll work out the logistics for meeting in one place. If you can'...

The Muppets of Sesame Street are getting a new friend for the first time in years! Julia, a red-headed four-year-old with big, green eyes, loves to sing and jump and happens to have autism. Julia was first introduced digitally in 2015 as an illustrated character in an online storybook entitled "We're Amazing, 1,2,3!" (which can be viewed on the  Sesame Street and Autism website or by downloading the app for  iOS , or  Android ). This year, during Autism Awareness Month, Julia will make her TV debut as a Muppet on Sesame Street! Tune into PBS Kids or HBO on Monday, April 10 to meet Julia and learn about autism. Muppeteer Stacey Gordon, who has a child with autism and used to work as therapist for kids on the spectrum, has the privilege of bringing Julia to life. Learn more about Julia, Stacey Gordon, and the Sesame Street: See Amazing in All Children initiative by viewing this report from the  Today Show . people.com

The Illinois State Library is currently accepting registrations for the third Targeting Autism Forum , to be held at the Illinois State Library, in Springfield, Illinois, on May 11-12, 2017 . The Illinois State Library was awarded two grants from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to help libraries better serve patrons and family members impacted by Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Phase I, Targeting Autism: A National Forum on Serving Library Patrons on the Spectrum received funding through an IMLS National Leadership Grant. Through two stakeholder forums, this phase of the project – was designed to explore how libraries can work with diverse community organizations and programs to increase their role in supporting patrons and family members impacted by ASD. Phase II of the project, now underway – Targeting Autism: A Comprehensive Training and Education Program for Librarians is funded through an IMLS Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program grant to de...

Great news, everybody! If you've been wanting to make visual schedules and other supports for your inclusive programs but haven't been able to afford Boardmaker  there is now a strong alternative. Picto-Selector is a free visual support program for Windows and Mac users. It has 28,000 images translated into English, Dutch, German, French, Danish, Spanish, and Italian. Like Boardmaker, there are plenty of images to choose from, and you can customize the placement of the titles, the thickness and edges of the borders, and the background color. I've just begun to play around with Picto-Selector, so I won't be presenting a full comparison and contrast, but, from a quick look, it does appear to have some advantages over Boardmaker. Boardmaker is very expensive. Picto-Selector is free thanks to ads and user donations. Multiple staff can simultaneously use Picto-Selector because a CD is not needed to run the program. In addition to templates, there is also a Wiz...

Yes, it is true that our fearless leader has left Illinois for Minnesota, but that doesn't mean she is out of reach. On the contrary... Renee Grassi will be presenting a free webinar called Creating Welcoming and Accessible Libraries for Children with Disabilities on Wednesday, April 12, 10:00-11:00am CST  for Minitex , an information and resource sharing program of the Minnesota Office of Higher Education and the University of Minnesota Libraries. Big or small, rural or urban--all public libraries serve children with disabilities in their communities. Librarian and advocate Renee Grassi will show how your library can develop an awareness and an enhanced spirit of inclusion to children with disabilities and their needs for library service. In this workshop, attendees will learn how to perform a community needs assessment and advocate for families, forge new partnerships with other agencies and organizations, and find new and innovative children’s programming and outreach i...

EveryLibrary  has announced a new partnership with the  American Association of People with Disabilities  (AAPD)  to bring National Disability Voter Registration Week  (NDVRW)   2017 to libraries across the country. NDVRW 2017 takes place July 17-21 and is AAPD's second annual program to make voter registration services for people with disabilities easier and more pervasive. Your library can sign on to to participate through programming, outreach, public education, and voter registration partnerships or on-site services this summer by  adding your library to this list  on the EveryLibrary Action site. All partner libraries that include their business address will receive a free digital resource kit to promote NDVRW 2017 in their communities. According to their website, "EveryLibrary is joining NDVRW 2017 to bring libraries across the country into this new partnership to reach all Americans who are eligible to vote. NDVRW supports voter en...

The American Library Association is offering a two-part workshop,  Serving Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder ,  on Wednesdays, March 15 and March 22, 2017. Each 90 minute session will begin at 1:30pm CST. Dr. Lesley Farmer will cover the basics of autism, including forms the condition takes and how diagnosed children can be unique. Topics include: Identifying/understanding youth with ASD and their developmental challenges Providing a comfortable library environment  for youth with ASD Strategies for successful one-on-one interaction Print and digital resources available to librarians Register online through the ALA Store.   Hope to see you February 8 for our next SNAILS gathering!

What if I told you that some of the most amazing people who visit our libraries are also the most underserved patrons? Warren-Newport Public Library is trying to change that by developing programs for children and adults with special needs. On October 19, 2016 Adult Services Librarian Amy Longwell and I presented a session entitled "Special Needs/Special Programming: Engaging Children & Adults with Special Needs" at the Illinois Library Association Annual Conference . Here are highlights of our presentation: Librarians at Warren-Newport Public Library have developed and presented programs for children and adults with special needs. Programs for children and their families include sensory storytimes, sensory playtimes and sensory movie matinees. These are welcoming and sensory inviting programs that engage children with music, stories, STEAM activities, crafts, movies and more. Special Mondays in the Library (SMILE) is for adults with intellectual/developmental dis...

Is one of your new year resolutions is to learn something new? Then here are some opportunities for you! Basic American Sign Language for Library Staff In this asynchronous, 6-week eCourse offered by the American Library Association beginning January 23, 2017 , librarian and ASL interpreter Kathy MacMillan will use readings, multimedia resources, and online discussion boards to introduce basic ASL vocabulary and grammar appropriate for use in a library setting. Ideal for those without previous experience. Visit the ALA Store to learn more about cost, content, and how to register. Creating Inclusive Storytimes for All Children ALA is also offering a 90-minute inclusive storytime workshop Thursday, February 23, 2017 at 1:30 pm CST. Child development expert Carol Morrone will tie child development into storytelling, offering insight on working with children with special needs, including children affected by Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Dis...