Special Needs and Inclusive Library Services (SNAILS)

Special Needs Director Jaimie Valentini describes the Buddy Break respite program at Chapelstreet Church, as well as how to manage a large volunteer program and strategies for supporting kids and young adults with disabilities. This presentation was made at Glen Ellyn Public Library on April 10, 2019 at a Special Needs and Inclusive Library Services (SNAILS) meeting.

Who was able to attend Targeting Autism in May? It was a great two days, crammed full of wonderful presentations. Most of the presenters were autistic, sharing their experiences and stories. If you missed it, they were able to film most of the presentations and have uploaded most of them onto their webpage. Targeting Autism 2019 video presentations The statement that summarized the whole forum for me came from Lei Wiley-Mydske:  When schools, communities, etc are not inclusive and/or accessible, it says it’s okay to exclude certain people. Our society excludes people every day, and we as librarians need to actively work against this. A few things came up in almost every presentation by autistic presenters: **AVOID FUNCTIONAL LABELS. “Low functioning” means strengths are minimized and “high functioning” means needs and weaknesses aren’t prioritized. High functioning labels are used to deny support, and low labels are used to deny agency. Labels don’t effectively des...

SNAILS members met at the Oak Park Public Library for a wonderful hands on presentation on Physical/Occupational Therapy and Storytime Yoga with Kristy England, OT, from   Therapy Yoga Gymnastic Rocks . Curious about how to integrate more intentional movement that can be either calming or alerting, as needed? Watch her excellent presentation and learn how to put together a yoga story. Kristy's video , on YouTube (55 min) Oak Park Public Library's Shelley Harris also presented on their new expanded Supported programming classes for kids with disabilities, including why she rebranded as Supported instead of Sensory, plus book representation, autistic communities, #ownvoices , and neurodivergent narwhals . Shelley's video , on YouTube (51 min)  

SNAILS members gathered at the beautiful, newly remodeled Algonquin Area Public Library on November 29, 2018 for our fall meeting. In August, members shared their desire to bring more discussion to our meetings, so we began by talking about a couple of picture books. Discussion Benny Doesn't Like to be Hugged by Zetta Elliott This new paperback title addresses the sensory sensitivity of a little boy as told by his friend. It includes what Benny likes to eat, play, and wear, as well as the sounds he avoids and how his social interactions sometimes differ from others. The book is filled with diverse characters and short, rhyming sentences with a repetitive refrain. It's a solid introduction to unique differences and the importance of accepting friends just as they are. Isaac and His Amazing Asperger Superpowers! by Melanie Walsh We discussed use of the word 'Asperger' in this title when the DSM-5 no longer includes a specific diagnosis of Asperger's b...

Chicago-area locals Mike Berkson and Tim Wambach have been friends for 17 years, and for the last eight they've been touring the nation presenting Handicap This! , an inspirational comedy that challenges stereotypes, breaks down barriers, and sends a message of inclusion where judgement is not allowed. Mike was born with cerebral palsy and is an organizer of the Keep on Keeping On Foundation to assist people with physical disabilities. When Tim was in his twenties, he was hired to be Mike's one-on-one aide, and they immediately hit it off. On stage, the pair shares an authentic snippets of their friendship and of what it's like to live with a disability. It is fitting that the final farewell performance will be at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, which is where is all started eight years ago. Help Mike and Tim achieve their big dream of performing to a full house on Friday, November 9 at 8:00pm .  Get tickets to the final performance, and save ...

There's going to be a whole lot of learning going on this week at at the 2018 Illinois Library Association Conference  in Peoria, Illinois, and this year's theme "Libraries: All Inclusive" includes many programs of interest to our SNAILS community. There is so much to explore from the Diversity and Special Populations conference track in relation to serving patrons with disabilities: from assistive technology to accessible catalogs, databases to employment, programs to physical space, and ideas for volunteerism. With many other inclusive sessions offered concurrently, it's going to be challenging to decide which programs to attend! Here's a little preview in hopes it may help you prioritize in advance... Tuesday, October 9 Sensory Friendly: Including Patrons with Autism Spectrum Disorder into the Library One in 68 children are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). How do you make sure these patrons, including ASD adults are welcome in your l...

A note from our friends... Applications are being accepted for the  Autism Welcome Here: Library Programs, Services and More grant now through December 1, 2018.  This grant honors the groundbreaking work of Libraries and Autism: We're Connected co-founder, Meg Kolaya , for her contributions in promoting inclusion, connecting libraries with the autism community, and bringing awareness of the needs of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families to the library community. For the fourth year, this grant will award a total of $5,000, with all of the funds either going to one proposal or the amount divided among several applicants, depending on the applications received. All types of libraries, either in the United States or Canada, are encouraged to apply, and proposals will be eligble  that fund projects and/or services directed at any age group. Applicants may propose to initiate a new, creative program or service,  or enhance a program o...

Infiniteach , the developer of accessibility apps for Chicago Children's Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and the Field Museum, has announced the (soft) launch of SensoryCPL, the Thomas Hughes Children’s Library app to support individuals with autism and their families! Co-founder and CEO  Katie Hench  said the goal in launching this free app ( iTunes | Play ) is to help families feel welcomed and supported anytime they visit the library. The app includes text and video social narratives, a customizable visual schedule, an emotions chart, and more. It can be used as a pre-visit planning tool or as a resource to help during a visit. If you have a few minutes, Katie would love to hear your feedback and ideas for the app as it continues to grow and change. Which features do you think are most helpful for families? What other features could we add to support families? What else do you offer at your library that individuals with autism really enjoy / appreciate? ...

The school year is right around the corner, so it's a great time to sign up for class! This fall, S. Bryce Kozla will be teaching a six-week online course called "The Disability Community in the Library: Education, Access, and Advocacy" for the University of Wisconsin-Madison iSchool Continuing Education program. Different from most courses that focus on how-to's, Bryce's lesson is about recognizing internal bias and and becoming an advocate for the disability community. According to the course description: Public libraries have taken great strides to become “the great equalizer,” yet our discussions about equity often leave out or misrepresent one of the largest vulnerable populations in the world—the disability community. This course will introduce participants to the abled/neurotypical narrative, challenge our misconceptions about the disability community, and explore ways to make your library a more accessible place to visit and work. The course runs from ...

Our friends at Bloomfield (MI) Public Library are doing amazing work for children with disabilities, and we're all invited to attend their biennial  Adaptive Umbrella workshop . This day-long workshop is geared towards librarians, educators, and caregivers working with youth who have special needs (including some great ideas and resources for inclusion of teens and adults with disabilities). Date: April 25, 2018, 9am-3:30pm Place: Bloomfield Township Public Library, 1099 Lone Pine Road, Bloomfield Township, MI 48302 Price: $25 including lunch Register online by April 16. Program Highlights: Dr. Clayton Copeland (Faculty & Director of the Laboratory for Leadership in Equity and Diversity, University of South Carolina) will present on making your library services, collections, and programming more accessible for people of all ages. Child development specialist and award-winning children’s musician, Jim Gill, will show us how to add music to our programs...

Registration for the 2018 Targeting Autism Forum is now open!  This fourth and final two-day intensive will take place in Springfield, Illinois on Thursday, May 17 and Friday, May 18, 2018.  Suzanne Schriar and Russ Bonanno will kick off the two-day forum and introduce the keynote speakers: Susan Senator Journey Into Autism Adulthood: Creative Insights & Strategies for a Fulfilling Life Gyasi Burks-Abbott, Stephanie Diorio, Erin Miller, Charlie Remy and Mitch Silverman Librarians on the Spectrum: On Helping Make Libraries Inclusive Morénike Giwa Onaiwu At the Intersection of Being Black, Female and Autistic Amanda Marti Building Community Engagement Samuel Senyo Dogoe Autism & Libraries in Ghana Kerry Magro Journey to Adulthood on the Spectrum Nancy Bolt Advocating That All Be Served: the U.N., IFLA, A Survey and Library Service to People with Disabilities Sujin Huggins Autism & Libraries in Trinidad Kathy Claybough, Cathy Hoffman,...

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...