Special Needs and Inclusive Library Services (SNAILS)

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...

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...

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...

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...

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!

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...

It's that time of year when members of the Illinois Library Association convene to network with colleagues, discover innovative strategies to apply to librarianship, and learn about new resources on the exhibit floor! For those of you traveling to Rosemont for the 2016 ILA Annual Conference , you might be interested in the following meetings and sessions focused on topics of accessibility and serving people with disabilities in libraries.  For more information about other programs and sessions at this conference, consult the Conference Schedule available here . Becoming a Dementia-Friendly Library: Serving Patrons with Dementia Tuesday, October 18 at 10:45 am Libraries can be a vital part of the Dementia Friendly America initiative that is sweeping the nation. Find out how Illinois libraries are already engaging people with dementia. Our presentation will include a brief overview on dementia, presented by the Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter.  It will also ...

This guest blog post is written by Carli Spina, Head Librarian for Assessment and Outreach at Boston College Libraries . She has extensive experience working on web design and technology projects as well as serving as a coordinator for services to patrons with disabilities. She has taught classes and workshops for librarians, academic staff, and students on a range of topics, including accessibility and web design. Visit Carli's website at http://carlispina.com . Last month, I had the opportunity to talk to the SNAILS Group about Universal Design and how it can be applied to library spaces, programs, and services. Universal Design , a term coined by Ronald Mace , refers to design processes that take into account the needs of all potential users, including those with disabilities, elderly people, individuals who do not speak the dominant local language, and more. It goes beyond typical approaches to accessibility because it is not focused on minimum legal standards or se...

Instructor: Carli Spina Dates: September 5-30, 2016 Credits: 1.5 CEUs Price: $175 Register for this course Approximately 15% of the population worldwide live with some type of disability, making individuals with disabilities an important and often underserved constituency for libraries. Despite this, many libraries overlook simple and affordable measures that could improve their accessibility. In this course, you will learn concrete techniques for improving your library’s accessibility for individuals with a wide range of disabilities. You will learn the meaning of accessibility and universal design and how these apply in a library setting through a combination of readings, hands-on exercises, online discussions, and demonstration videos. Students who complete the assignments will have concrete ideas for integrating accessibility and universal design principles into library workflows. This four-week course will cover techniques and tools for testing webs...

Hosted by ASCLA (Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies) Instructor: Kate Todd Dates: August 1 through August 28, 2016 Cost: $100 for student and retired members; $130 for ASCLA members; $175 for ALA members; $210 for non-ALA members Click here to register   Who should attend? Library staff in schools, public, college or special libraries would benefit from this course.  Staff at all levels, including librarians, support staff and IT staff would be able to apply their learning to work assignments.  Why Closed Captioning? By Kate Todd Library staff have found short instructional videos to be an effective way to help readers use resources, even when the library is closed. However, patrons who are deaf or those with hearing loss cannot get the full benefit unless the videos have captions. Unfortunately, technology has not provided a flawless solution. Speech recognition is still an imperfect tool. Planning and attention to ...

If you are headed to Orlando this month and are interested in learning about accessibility, inclusion, and serving people with disabilities, check out the list of ALA Conference programs below! ASCLA 101 Saturday, June 25 at 10:30 am Rosen Centre, Room Salon 01/02 ASCLA is a small but mighty division! With more than 800 members national and worldwide, ASCLA is home to library consultants, and those that work in state, public, government, prison, and special libraries and cooperatives. Come meet some of our members and hear what they have to say about ASCLA and our diverse Interest Groups and volunteer opportunities. Universal Accessibility Interest Group Meeting Saturday, June 25 at 1 pm Orange County Convention Center, Room W309 Joint ACRL / ASCLA / LITA working group where members work together on projects related to making all kinds of libraries and library services accessible for users with disabilities. We Need Diverse Books and More: Multiple Diversities Cap...

The Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired  Free Demonstration Day Admission Cost: FREE! Date: Tuesday, May 17 Time: 10 am - 3 pm Location: Chicago Lighthouse North 222 Waukegan Road Glenview, IL 60025 The Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired is hosting a free demonstration day!  Don't miss this chance to see innovative products and enjoy a hands-on experience with the latest in adaptive devices.  You will get a chance to see and interact with a variety of technologies, including: New CCTV Reading Machines Portable Magnifiers Talking Clocks and Watches New Sunwear Independent Living Aids Kitchen Products...and much more! Their technology specialists will even be there to answer questions and work one-on-one to determine the best products for you or your organization.  Click here to get a preview of the products that will be at this event.  The Chicago Lighthouse is a world-renowned s...

This looks like a promising webinar, even if it's geared towards educators/clinicians. Registrants are sent a link to the archive, so if you can't view it live be sure to register! Autism in the Community: A Desensitization Approach Wednesday, May 18 at 10 a.m. Central Time Hosted by edWeb.net Many children with autism have atypical sensory behaviors, which may negatively impact their participation in the community. Research indicates that using a desensitization approach, which emphasizes the child's needs while creating a positive and structured experience, can significantly improve community participation. Join this webinar and learn how to: Identify challenges encountered by families of children with autism, when participating in common community experiences Identify the child's sensory needs Explore ways to help the child desensitize to community experiences Teach caregivers how to assess the environment using a sensory approach Create and u...

One of the best things about working in libraries are the many avenues for feeding our need to learn and improve our services. In addition to our quarterly SNAILS meeting on May 11 at Mount Prospect Library, there are a number of upcoming learning opportunities on the topic of serving people with disabilities this spring. CONFERENCES If you're attending the inaugural  Illinois Youth Services Institute   (IYSI) in Normal, Illinois  April 1-2 , you may want to check out the following programs: Enhancing Stories with Sensory Experiences  presented by our friends at Lekotek All Are Welcome: Practicing Inclusion and Accessibility  presented on Saturday afternoon by yours truly, Renee Grassi and Holly Jin. Renee and I are pretty pumped about our session, as this is our first hands-on workshop! You may also want to consider attending  Tactile Tech: Adventures in Making Technology Accessible to Children and Families  since new technologie...

Last December, Renee and I had the pleasure of presenting the final webinar in a five-part series celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disability Act for Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS). We opened with some statistics about the prevalence of disabilities and then briefly talked about models of service and inclusive technologies that create a welcoming library environment for young patrons. Our favorite part of the presentation was the time spent showcasing the amazing targeted and inclusive programs our SNAILS member libraries are offering children, teens, and young adults. We're so proud of you! We invite you to view the presentation and share it widely. An archive of the webinar, including handouts, is posted on the  RAILS website .

Opening the Doors: Serving Special Populations Friday, February 26, 2016 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Workshop Fee: LACONI Member: $30; Non-Member: $40 Register here! "Opening the Doors:  Serving Special Populations" is an upcoming LACONI YSS professional development opportunity for librarians and library staff looking to learn more about serving special populations at their libraries.  This full-day workshop will feature guest speakers from the Northwest Special Recreation Association (NSWRA) and JJ's List .  There will also be a two-hour discussion about serving the homeless . This workshop is open to anyone that works with the public. Location Hinsdale Public Library 20 East Maple Street Hinsdale, IL 60521 Workshop Agenda 9:00 - 9:50 a.m. Registration & Continental Breakfast 9:50 - 10:00 a.m. Business Meeting 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. “Empathy” presented by the Northwest Special Recreation Association 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. “Serving Differently-abled Pat...