There is no “one size fits all” accessibility solution for youth with disabilities and their families. That said, there are some tips and strategies I invariably subscribe to when working in youth services and advocating for accessibility. Here are my 10 tips. What are yours? Number 10. When creating summer reading program promotional videos or other library videos on YouTube, add your own closed captions. Number 9. Communicate directly with the patron—rather than the parent, caregiver, interpreter, or support staff. Number 8. When providing behavioral expectations or guidelines, be direct, concrete, and use plain language. Number 7. Meet kids where they are. If they want to walk around the room or use a fidget during a program, let them. Number 6. Listen and provide wait time before repeating a question or statement. Not everyone processes information at the same rate. Number 5. If your library provides sign language interpretation…
Category: Blogger Renee Grassi
Full Supports for Full Inclusion
Just last week, Minnesota celebrated its annual Disability Day at the Capitol. Hosted by the Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, this day calls on individuals with and without disabilities to “rally, march and roll” to the Capitol building downtown St. Paul advocating for accessibility and inclusion. By the end of Disability Day, a flurry of photos from the event filled my Twitter and Facebook feeds. I was struck by one particular photo of someone’s poster that read “Full Supports for Full Inclusion.” Upon further research, I was reminded where I had seen this quote before. “Full supports for Full Inclusion” is the driving force of Minnesota’s Olmstead Plan—a plan that moves our state forward towards greater integration and inclusion for people with disabilities. The plan’s goal states “Minnesota will be a place where people with disabilities are living, learning, working and enjoying life in the most integrated setting possible.”…
Noise-Reducing Headphones: Assistive Technology in Youth Services
Assistive technologies are tools that help individuals with disabilities live independently. One type of assistive tech tool that is especially useful for youth and families to use in the context of libraries is noise-reducing headphones. There may be a variety of reasons why children are sensitive to sounds, including the fact that they may experience sensory processing or sensory integration disorder. When a child is sensitive to sounds and auditory information, you may notice a child covering his or her ears. Perhaps they are displaying signs of anxiety or discomfort, such as rocking, moaning, or stimming. If the sensitivity is severe, the family may choose to avoid the activity all together, so as to not put the child at risk. Noise-reducing headphones can help children with sensory processing disorder or sensory sensitivities by reducing the amount of auditory input that child receives. Eliminating a majority of the auditory information in an…
American Sign Language Celebration
Five years ago, I wrote an ALSC blog post about using American Sign Language in the Library. Revisiting the topic five years later, we see there are now more public libraries expanding services and programs for deaf individuals and those who speak ASL, such as Montgomery County Public Library and Columbus Metropolitan Library. It’s exciting to know that libraries are working towards enhancing services to all populations of library users, even those who may not have always felt welcome at the library before. Last month in honor of National Deaf Awareness Month, my library launched a monthly series called American Sign Language Celebration. Co-planned and co-sponsored by community partners from our Metro Deaf School, Minnesota Resource Libraries, and Minnesota State Academy of Deaf, the goal of this program was two-fold. We wanted to recognize and celebrate ASL and Deaf Culture at the Library by sharing information about American Sign Language. We also wanted to…
Lessons Learned: IFLA Satellite Conference in Singapore
Last month, I experienced the incredible honor of representing Dakota County Library and the United States of America at the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions Satellite Conference in Singapore. Hosted at Singapore’s National Library Board, this Satellite Conference brought together members of IFLA’s “Children and Young Adults” (CYA) and “Library Services to People with Special Needs” (LSN) Sections for a day of learning, cooperation, and collaboration. The focus of the conference was to discuss how to promote inclusive library services to children and young adults, leaving no one behind, in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. My article Stronger Together: Successful Community Partnerships Serving Youth with Special Needs in American Public Libraries was one of eight that were accepted and published by IFLA’s CYA and LSN and featured at this conference. And in Singapore, all of the authors were invited to present a summary of their articles to conference attendees….
Guidelines for Library Services to Individuals with Dyslexia
If I am helping a parent find books for their child who is beginning to read, I would take them to our library’s Easy Reader section. But for children with dyslexia, reading is anything but easy. What can libraries do, then, to help support these children in their literacy development? Librarians already have a road map to help them develop inclusive library services for individuals with dyslexia and other learning differences. The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) has published a revised and extended version of their Guidelines for Library Services to Persons with Dyslexia. IFLA’s guidelines are intended as a tool for both trained and less experienced library staff members who are responsible for serving those with reading and learning difficulties. Along with these guidelines, IFLA has published a best practices document featuring successful and replicable service models from libraries around the world. The intention is to provide a thorough and up-to-date…
Empathy and Inclusive Customer Service
I am often asked, “What does inclusive customer service mean?” To me, it’s about providing the same high level of service to everyone regardless of who that person is or what their abilities might be. And there’s one component that’s key in practicing inclusive customer service. Empathy. Empathy is not a switch you simply turn on when you need it. Empathy is something that needs to be developed, nurtured, and practiced. Empathy is the experience of understanding another person’s thoughts, feelings, and point of view. Empathy helps us communicate with one another and, as a result, helps us show compassion towards other people. Why is empathy important for librarians? Our library communities are becoming more diverse–not only racially or ethnically diverse, but more diverse in ability, gender expression, age, education level and background, and sexual orientation. With this diversity comes a richness in perspective and life experience. We librarians need…
Visual Schedules: Making Programs Accessible for All
I’ve been using visual schedules in my Sensory Storytime programming for years. It’s a tip I gathered by observing teachers working with special education students in their classrooms. During my classroom observation, I listened as the teacher directed the students through each activity on the large group schedule, using “First… Then…” language. Each student had their own individual group schedule, which replicated the large group schedule on the board. As the group completed each activity, the teacher would return to the large group schedule at the front of the room, remove the visual pertaining to the completed activity, and then direct the students to the next activity. Each student then replicated this on their own individual schedule. Working with those special education teachers, who mentored me in my very first Sensory Storytime, I learned how to create visuals and adapt my technique incorporating this practice into my storytime. I quickly…