Special Needs and Inclusive Library Services (SNAILS)

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 ...

Our very own SNAILS group members Renee Grassi from Glen Ellyn Public Library and Sue Parsons from Plainfield Public Library presented an engaging program at the 2016 Reaching Forward Conference . This annual conference, hosted by Illinois Library Association, is a premier day of learning designed for library support staff. An audience of 40+ attentively learned a combination of theory and practice. Click here to download Sue's Sensory Storytime Favorites handout, which includes themes, books, songs, albums, and activities she has used in her program.  And don't miss this extremely useful resource list of articles, books, and websites on the topic of serving children with disabilities. If you're as captivated by Sue's approach as we are, don't miss her demo of Sensory Storytime from one of our previous SNAILS meetings.  You can find the video here ! What are some of your favorite resources for Sensory Storytime? Share them below in the comments!!

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...