Presenters:Michele Gorman, Teen Services Coordinator, Charlotte Mecklenburg LibraryVikki C. Terrile, Coordinator of Young Adult Services, Queens LibraryMeg Kolaya, Director, Scotch Plains Public LibraryDan Weiss, Director, Fanwood Memorial Library

Serving TeensWith Disabilities

ALA AnnualNew Orleans, LA

June 25, 2011

• In 2009, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library unveiled a 3-year strategic plan that included a goal of more “accessible services and collections”, specifically “expanded services and technologies for residents with disabilities”.

• In 2010 we experienced massive budget cuts and staff lay-offs, which limited our ability to put pieces of our strategic plan into practice.

•Despite budget setbacks, we have developed budget neutral, unique,and developmentally appropriate programs and events for teens with disabilities by working with partners.

• We have also worked to develop budget neutral professional development opportunities for staff and events specifically created and implemented to educate the general community about young people with disabilities.

These are some of the lessons we learnedalong the way…1. If you wait until you are 100% comfortable to begin, there is a good chance you will never

begin.

2. Don’t let the language bog you down or keep you from getting started.

3. You are not the expert.

4. Don’t be afraid to try new things.

5. Continued adaptability is a necessity.

6. You are going to make mistakes.

7. This is an appreciative, flexible, and forgiving community.

8. There is always something new to learn.

9. Working with this population is not for everyone.

10. Community partnerships will allow you to join forces and strengthen your initiatives.

“When we started this initiative we were all fearful that we were going to do something wrong. We’ve learned that there is no “wrong” and that our fear is

what was standing between us and serving these kids.”-Pamela McCarter, Teen Specialist

PROGRAM GOAL:

Contribute to an existing community and start (or continue) a dialogue about the importance of an inclusive community for all who live in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.

“this was a wonderful event. thanks Linnea and everyone that contributed and shared!”

– Diana Arvanites (post on ImaginOn Facebook Wall)

“First Inclusion/Disabilities Event I have seen in Charlotte since I have been here! Really psyched about this.” –Judith E. Fitzberger (post on ImaginOn Facebook Wall)

What started off as a one-shot program about children’s book illustrators morphed into a bi-monthly workforce development program – all because of the participants’

creativity and passion!-Dot Siler, CMLibrary Outreach Programmer

“One of the biggest things I have learned is that most of these kids want to be normal, just like most kids we know. They want to fit in. They want to enjoy the same things their friends enjoy. Adapting to their needs and giving them the opportunity can help them feel like they belong, something they may

never have felt before.”– Emily Little, CMLibrary Programmer

PROGRAM GOAL:Partner with community organizations to develop and provide local youth with literacy-based activities, as part of an inclusion-based afterschool enrichment program.

Photo credit: Carolina on My Mind

“Inclusion is about a community where

everyone is recognized for their

differences and everyone is

recognized as belonging – not

only in our schools, but in our

communities.”

-Dr. Joseph Petner, Educator

ImaginOnTeenPoetry Slam

Serving Teens with Disabilities

YASLAALA Annual Conference

June 25, 2011

Welcoming people with all needs and all abilitieswithin the scope of our Library services.

Libraries as Community Inclusion Opportunities

• community crossroads• connections with people,

activities,and information

• offering services across the life span

“Being in the community is not the same as being part of the community.”

- Bill Gaventa & Sue Hapshaw

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.

• Approximately 1 out of 100 people in the U.S. population is currently diagnosed with autism. (for boys, it’s 1 in 70).*

• In New Jersey, prevalence of autism is 1 out of 94.

• Your town is not excluded from this statistic.

• While we may not think we have seen individuals with autism in our library, it does not mean that they aren’t already customers.

* October 2009 (Revised from the 2007 level of 1 in 150)

Demographics

Information

The ASDCommunity

Access to Technology

Programming

Community Resources

Keeping Current

Support Groups

YOURLOCAL

PUBLICLIBRARY

AutismNew Jersey

28th Annual ConferenceOctober 7, 2010

Inclusive Programming?

Next Chapter

Adapt Library Activities for People with ASD?

Putting it all into Practice

Show Respect

Value the Dignity of Each Individual

Strive for Inclusion

Provide Opportunities for Participation

Just Ask - Address the Moment

www.thejointlibrary.org/autismMegandDan@libraryconnections.n

et

Meg Kolaya

Dan Weiss

Serving Teens With Disabilities

Q & A

Special thanks to ALA, YALSA, and our individual library systems for their support

and commitment to serving all young people, including those who happen to

have disabilities or special needs.