Special Needs and Inclusive Library Services (SNAILS)

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...

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 .

There is no shortage of professional development opportunities on the topic of youth with disabilities this season, and I'm especially thankful for the gift of free learning opportunities! Here's one that I'm really looking forward to viewing... Sensory Integration: Recognizing and Responding to Young Children with Sensory Issues Thursday, December 10, 2015, 1:00-2:00pm CST Hosted by  edWeb,net , a free professional learning network, and sponsored by  Kaplan Early Learning Company . www.gryphonhouse.com This relevant webinar will be presented by Christy Isbell, pediatric therapist, professor, and author of  Sensory Integration: a Guide for Preschool Teachers  (which we have listed on our  Resources  page). Tune in to learn what sensory integration is and how it impacts young children's learning and behavior. Christy will focus on three areas that should be helpful for all librarians working with children ages 3-8: What is sensory int...

When: Thursday, November 12, 2015 from 1:30 - 3:00 PM CST Registration Information : Click here to register through L2 calendar Webinar Cost: FREE! The majority of library visitors are comfortable navigating their way through the library, approaching staff with questions and using available resources. But for some, these basic library experiences can be intimidating.  Presented by Noelle Burch and Gina Worsham, librarians from Contra Costa County Library System in California, t his webinar will provide participants with the tools to make basic, yet effective changes to their programming in order to create an inclusive library atmosphere for adults with developmental disabilities. The information presented in this webinar will guide library professionals on how best to create and implement a program at their library, as well as helping to identify community partners, perform community outreach and how to effectively create inclusive programming.  For fi...

 More than 1 out of 10 people in Illinois have a disability.   In recognition of the anniversary of ADA25 , the RAILS library system as partnered with ADA25Chicago to offer professional development and learning opportunities to librarians and library staff about serving people with disabilities.  Here is a snapshot of what is available for you and your staff from now until the end of the year. Webinar: “Beyond Assistive Technology: Improving Library Services to People with Disabilities” Thursday, August 20 from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. More info: http://www.librarylearning.info/events/?eventID=20212 Webinar: “Autism 101 for Libraries: What is Autism Spectrum Disorder and How Can We Help Students and Families at the Library?” Thursday, September 17, 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. More info: http://www.librarylearning.info/events/?eventID=20211 In-Person Training: “Mental Health Awareness Training for Library Staff” Wednesday, October 7, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Loca...