NJLA 2016 PRE-CONFERENCE Make Your Library a Welcoming Place

1. NJLA 2016 PRE-CONFERENCE Make Your Library a Welcoming Place Open to All: ADA Compliance and Beyond at your Library May 16, 2016

2. Librarians

3. Welcoming people with all needs and all abilities within the scope of our Library services.

5. Autism... ... is a developmental disability, which appears in a child’s life before the age of 3, characterized by deficits or impairments in language, social interactions and communication, and by difficulties with behavior.

6. Autism Autism was initially misdiagnosed and treated as a mental disease or a psychological disorder, mistakenly thought be to be brought upon by “cold” parenting style, parental neglect or abuse. Autism is a broad spectrum neurological disorder.

8. Demographics • About 1 out of 68 children in the U.S. is now diagnosed with autism.* • In New Jersey, the prevalence rate of autism is 1 in 41. In South Carolina it’s 1 in 81. * • Recently released results from a 2014 parent survey, conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics, puts the national rate at 1 in 45. • Your town is not excluded from this statistic. • While we may not think we’ve seen individuals with autism in our library, it does not mean they aren't already customers. * March 31, 2016 - CDC's Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network.

9. Libraries as Community Inclusion Opportunities “Being in the community is not the same as being part of the community.” - Bill Gaventa & Sue Hapshaw • community crossroads • connections with people, activities,and information • offering services across the life span

11. What Don’t You Like? Not being treated fairly or with respect Getting shuffled off to someone else Not being heard Waiting Feeling like an outsider Being told No! You Can’t! Don’tdo that! Being uninformed, out-of-the-loop Dealing with rules that don’t seem to make sense

12. Can you provide this level of service?

13. Programming for Kids on the Spectrum • “Welcoming children of any age • who have trouble sitting still” • Separate or Inclusive • Include a pictorial schedule • Carpet squares to establish boundaries. • Engage as many senses as you can. • Use music, pictures, beanbags, ribbons, etc. • Emphasize the visual and tactile. • Incorporate double visuals for each story, • i.e. read the book and ‘tell’ it on a flannel board. • Sensory elements like Educubes, therabands, • sensory balance beam, manipulative toys, etc.

14. Beyond Sensory Storytimes • Sensory toys to explore • Sensory Friendly Films • Designated Play Spaces

15. Inclusive Programming?

16. Adapt Library Activities for People with ASD?

17. The Right Frame of Mind • Raise all staff awareness & ‘buy-in’ • Model Inclusion • Empathy & understanding • www.disabilityisnatural.com • Person-first language • Neurodiversity • “Nothing about us without us”

18. Other Considerations Collection Resources But how about this…. Physical Modifications or this… Volunteers & Employment BOOKS for DESSERT Focus on Adults

19. GRANT OPPORTUNITY www.librariesandautism.org/grant

20. Putting it all into Practice Show Respect Value the Dignity of Each Individual Strive for Inclusion Provide Opportunities for Participation Just Ask – Be Proactive & Address the Moment

21. Dan Weiss www.librariesandautism.org dan@librariesandautism.org