Special Needs and Inclusive Library Services (SNAILS)

There are many opportunities for learning about serving special population children at ALA!  So, as you make your final schedule for 2015 ALA Annual in San Francisco, the ALSC Library Services to Special Population Children and Their Caregivers Committee encourages you to add the programs below. Library Services for the Incarcerated and Detained | Saturday, 06/27/2015 – 08:30am – 10:00am | Marriott Marquis San Francisco – Yerba Buena Salon 04 Hearing on Guidelines for Library Services to Persons with Dementia | Saturday, 06/27/2015 – 10:30am – 11:30am | Moscone Convention Center – 133 (N) Next Chapter Book Club: A Community-based Model for Engaging People with Disabilities | Saturday, 06/27/2015 – 10:30am – 11:30am | Moscone Convention Center – 2000 (W) AIDS in the End Zone: Working with Incarcerated Youth to Create a Graphic Novel on HIV/AIDS Prevention | Saturday, 06/27/2015 – 01:00pm – 02:30pm | Moscone Convention Center – 122 (N) Conversation Start...

Check it out! Dominican University Graduate School of Library & Information Science is offering a new course this fall... LIS 806.01 Special Topics:  Serving Children with Disabilities 1.5 credit hours. Wednesdays, 10/21-11/18/15 and 12/2-12/9/15; 9am-12pm According to recent U.S. Department of Education statistics, 6.4 million children and youth ages 3-21 received special education services in 2011-2012 due to an identified disability. In a six-week course taught by assistant professor Sujin Huggins, students will become familiar with the characteristics of physical, medical, psychological, and learning disabilities. They'll also learn ways in which librarians can work with other community organizations to serve patrons with a wide range of needs. As alumni, Renee and I couldn't be more proud of Dominican University for developing a course that helps prepare future librarians to serve children with special needs. If you are pursuing an MLS be sure to register for t...

In case you've missed the billboard ads don't miss the Chicago Abilities Expo ! This FREE, three-day event is being held June 12-15, 2015 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center. Register now and plan to spend at least a day at this enormous event. Browse the exhibit floor to discover helpful products and services for your patrons including assistive technology. Catch inspiring demonstrations of adaptive dance and sports. Learn about the benefit of service animals. Purchase an original piece of work from the Artist Market. The event I'm most excited about is the 25th Anniversary celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act presented by the  ADA National Network and The Legacy Project . Their Friday morning workshop, ADA: a Civil Rights Legacy will tell the story of the fight for civil rights in housing, employment, and education and address future challenges and opportunities. Right after the workshop, I plan to check out the ADA Legacy Tour , a trave...

The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus is conducting a survey as part of ADA 25 Chicago to identify best practices in community inclusion for persons with disabilities. RAILS libraries are encouraged to participate. The information will be used to formulate and share best practices for accessibility. Responses are due by Friday, June 5 .  Direct questions to Jeffrey Walter or 312.201.4508 .

Team SPECTRA, one of the ILEAD USA 2015 teams, is focusing their project on technologies that will make libraries welcoming and useful to people with autism spectrum disorder. In an effort to gauge current knowledge and programs and learn what tools would be helpful, the team has created a short survey. Staff from all types of libraries are encouraged to participate. For a link to the survey, click here:  www.surveymonkey.com/s/MZKY56K . The deadline for survey submissions is Monday, June 1.   For any questions, please contact Natalie DeJonghe .

How does your library prepare staff for inclusive customer service?  Before you plan or implement any targeted programs for people with disabilities, it's important to provide staff with the tools they need to welcome library patrons equitably and respectfully. This month, staff at the Glen Ellyn Public Library will spend part of their in-service day participating in a disability awareness training hosted by JJ's List and the Disability Awareness Players.  This will be an opportunity for library staff at all levels to learn about disability-friendly customer service strategies led by trained professionals and self-advocates.   In addition to the all-staff training, Youth staff will focus their afternoon on learning specifically about autism spectrum disorder.  In recognition of April as Autism Awareness Month , our Youth Department will learn what we can do to be more welcoming children with ASD.  In order to prepare for this discussion, staff fille...

Looking for some professional development about serving underserved populations in libraries?  Check out this upcoming LACONI program hosted at the Indian Prairie Public Library in Darien, Illinois.   Opening the Doors, Reaching the Underserved  Friday, April 24, 9:30 am to 3:00 pm Indian Prairie Public Library , Darien IL Brief Agenda 10:00 am: The Northwest Special Recreation Association gives their Empathy Presentation. 11:00 am: The Disability Players from JJ's List present a skit about serving differently-abled patrons. 1:00 pm: Journeys: The Road Home discusses serving the homeless. 2:00 pm: PFLAG  (Parents, families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays)  discusses how to make the library more welcoming to LGBTQ families and teens. Purchase Tickets Here