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Autism Works in Libraries : A New Discussion List
In an effort to address one of the many needs among adults with autism, Autism Works in Libraries provides a private forum through a closed email listserve to discuss matters relating to:
- Professionally trained librarians or library paraprofessionals with an autism diagnosis who are having trouble finding or maintaining library employment
- Employed librarians or paraprofessionals with autism who would be willing to show support for job seekers
- Librarians, library students or library staff members with autism who are interested in networking with others like themselves
- Professional librarians or library administrators who are willing to be advocates for those individuals with autism who are looking for library employment
- Autism advocates with professional career experience who can offer advice, tips and job interview or social skills coaching.
This discussion list provides an interactive venue for sharing stories, challenges or frustrations experienced by anyone on the autism spectrum who is having difficulty finding or keeping a library job, as well as, providing a platform for discussion among library professionals and paraprofessionals. In addition to networking with each other, autism advocates are able to present opportunities for mentoring, offer advice, support, provide access to social skills interview/employment coaching as well as links to available jobs in libraries. Our intent is to build a large infrastructure to support library job seekers on the autism spectrum, nationwide, even globally.
We hope that you will take advantage of this free resource! To subscribe, email sschriar@ilsos.net or visit http://bit.ly/Autism-Works.
The Autism Works in Libraries discussion list is part of the Targeting Autism initiative, which is supported by grant funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
Mary Pelich joins the Targeting Autism Training Team at the Illinois State Library!
I am delighted to announce that beginning September 1st Mary Pelich will be joining the Targeting Autism Team as Autism Consultant and Trainer for Illinois librarians. This position is funded through an IMLS Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian grant to support a second phase of the Targeting Autism initiative. In this new phase, the Illinois State Library is partnering with Dominican University and Syracuse University to develop and implement a comprehensive autism training and education program for librarians.
Mary will be available to provide on-demand library visits to consult and educate public service librarians and administrators on ways to better engage the autism communities with libraries. Among some of the topics that Mary will address, include 1) adapting physical spaces in libraries to accommodate diverse sensory needs; 2) engaging community autism stakeholders with local librarians; 3) developing innovative library services and programs to attract the autism community; and 4) understanding the wide range of characteristics of autism spectrum disorder. Mary will also provide follow-up library site visits and ongoing consultation to 50 Illinois libraries that will be invited to attend a two-day train-the-trainer intensive autism education course at Dominican University.
Mary’s professional background includes working with non-profit organizations and most recently was the Senior Coordinator for The Autism Program of Illinois (TAP)/The Hope Institute. Mary serves on the board of the Autism Society of America, Central IL Chapter and is a most passionate autism advocate as well as the mother of an adolescent son on the spectrum.
Mary will be an outstanding addition to Targeting Autism! Don’t hesitate to contact Mary Pelich to welcome her to the team, to ask her any questions or to make arrangements for a site visit.
Targeting Autism: A Comprehensive Training and Education Program for Libraries is a 2-year project funded by a 2016 IMLS Laura Bush 21st Century Grant.
The Illinois State Library was selected to receive the 2016 Demco Innovation Award for Targeting Autism!
Press Release from The Illinois Library Association
The Illinois State Library is the recipient of the 2016 Illinois Library Association’s Demco Library Innovative Award. This award recognizes a library’s achievement in planning and implementing an innovative or creative program or service, which has had a measurable impact on its users. The award is sponsored by Demco, Inc.
Targeting Autism: A National Forum on Serving Library Patrons on the Spectrum is the product of a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The Grant was earmarked to fund two sessions that would bring together librarians from around the state and experts on library service to people with autism (ASD) with the aim of developing strategies that would improve the ability of all types of libraries to support patrons and families impacted by ASD.
The first forum session held in March, 2015 had over 80 participants. Over a two-day period, presenters informed attendees about the needs of people with ASD and introduced some existing programs and resources. Attendees left the first session armed with information, including two key books on the subjects, and were energized and inspired to go into their own communities, assess needs and begin to offer programs and services locally.
The Forum reconvened in March 2016. Speakers provided more information about ASD and several of the groups presented their findings, which included an identified need for more services for people with ASD transitioning from school to the workforce or adult services. An assistive technology “petting zoo” was offered by students who had collected a wide range of items that would be made available to libraries from around the state. Winners of a newly created grant, Autism Welcome Here: Library Programs Services and More, received their awards and presented their grant-winning projects to those in attendance.
In addition to the Autism Welcome Here Grants, the work of the Forum identified the need for training of librarians. To meet this need, the Illinois State Library applied and was awarded the IMLS Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Grant. These funds will allow the state library to administer a training program for librarians that will result in improved library service and programs for the ASD community.
The targeting Autism Forum was a first-of-its-kind in the nation. The project addresses a key issue faced by all libraries (with the incidence of ASD now at one in 68, every library is now encountering patrons with this disability) and its potential impact is enormous and far-reaching. The Forum helped create standard of training and service for the state of Illinois that can and most likely will be replicated in other states.
The Demco Library Innovative Award will be presented at the Awards Luncheon held on Tuesday, October 18th during the 2016 ILA Annual Conference in Rosemont.
Private email list/support group for librarians and library paraprofessionals on the spectrum seeking employment
Those of us involved in the Targeting Autism initiative regularly receive emails and phone calls from librarians on the autism spectrum who currently have or have had difficulty finding employment. These individuals include non-degreed as well as those with masters degrees from accredited library schools, who are clearly qualified for professional library employment. Many have received some job interview coaching, but are still unsuccessful at finding a job that exploits their training, knowledge and skills.
If you or someone you know has experienced difficulty finding a job or having a successful job interview due to their autism spectrum disorder and would like to join a private email discussion and support group, I would like to hear from you.
If you are a librarian with autism, your willingness to mentor incoming librarians or paraprofessional library workers is greatly needed.
Finally, if you are not on the autism spectrum, but are an advocate for libraries and librarians with autism, your support is also needed.
For all of you who are willing to contribute to a closed/private online discussion and support group, please send a separate email to Suzanne Schriar to let me know of your interest.
Please consider adding your support to this important and much needed effort.
Thank you!
targetingautismlibs.com 