Award winning authors to appear at the March Targeting Autism Forum!
John Donvan, a multiple Emmy Award-winning correspondent for ABC and the moderator of the Intelligence Squared U.S. debate series, and Caren Zucker, a Peabody award winning television news producer and co-writer of the six-part PBS series “Autism Now,” will make an appearance at the State Library’s Targeting Autism Forum on Friday, March 11, to talk about their new landmark book, “In a Different Key: The Story of Autism.” The book has received countless accolades. The Washington Post calls “In a Different Key,” “Remarkable, a riveting tale about how a seemingly rare childhood disorder became a salient fixture in our cultural landscape.” Temple Grandin says, “It is essential reading for anyone who is interested in how society treats those who are different”
This book talk will take place on Friday, March 11 at 10 a.m. and will be open to the public. If you will not be attending the entire forum, but would like to come for the book talk, please arrive between 9:45-10 a.m. There will be a Q & A following the talk. No books will be sold at the event, however, there will be a book signing, so feel free to bring your own copy to be signed.
The Targeting Autism Forum project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Please contact Suzanne Schriar with any questions.
Learn How to Start a Next Chapter Book Club in Your Library
Next Chapter Book Club (NCBC) is a community-based literacy program for people with developmental disabilities. NCBC groups meet all over the US in coffee shops, bookstores, and community centers, but very few meet in libraries.
Elmhurst Public Library and Skokie Public Library, in an effort to expand NCBC groups throughout libraries, have arranged to receive affiliate training in the next few weeks. There are a few openings for staff from other libraries to attend.
Take advantage of this opportunity. Starting an NCBC group is is a great way for your library to offer programming that engages young adults with developmental disabilities.
Training will be offered at:
Elmhurst Public Library on February 1, 9:00am-1:00pm
Contact Kristin Sanderson at kristin.sanderson@elmhurst.org
Skokie Public Library March 18, 9:00am-1:00pm
Contact Holly Jin at hjin@skokielibrary.info or 847.324.3117
You can send 1-2 staff members to the training which would make your library an affiliate site. You could then train your own staff. If you are working with a partner, someone from that community organization should also attend the training. Elmhurst and Skokie are covering the cost of the training ($550), but in order to get a NCBC going you would want to purchase start up materials cost for $200 (manual, tote bags, and a set of starter books).
If your library is unable to pay for start-up materials, you can still participate in the training with the understanding that you will not receive start-up materials. (You would still get a training folder/packet.) In this case:
a. You library may still become a Next Chapter Book Clubs affiliate if you complete and submit the Affiliate Agreement Form. Signing and submitting this Form means the organization understands the NCBC model and agrees to operate its book clubs by our Standards of Practice,
OR
b. You may choose to start book clubs without signing the agreement, but you cannot use the Next Chapter Book Club name.
If you aren’t yet sure who is going to be the coordinator for your club, you can take the Form and Standards back to your agency/library and return the Agreement form when you are ready. In the latter case, you would receive a Resource CD after Agreement Form is received by NCBC.
There is Still Time to Register for the Targeting Autism Forum!
The Illinois budget impasse has impacted registration for the Targeting Autism forum, March 10-11, 2016, leaving a small number of vacancies to be filled. The forum will include two days of stimulating talks and opportunities to learn from examples of strong community collaborations among libraries and ASD stakeholders in Illinois. A few of the speakers and topics presented at the forum will include:
- Marty Murphy – A nationally known speaker and ASD self advocate. Marty will share her insights about the emotional influence of living with autism along with the many facets of how and why things affect her. A compelling speaker, Marty shares her energy, knowledge and humor to address the many challenges that parents and educators face in helping children with autism.
- Ann Ford – Executive Director of the Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living since 1999. Ann has received several awards for her leadership and passionate involvement in the area of disabilities advocacy. She was active in the efforts to develop the Americans with Disabilities Act and get it passed, and remains active in efforts to assure full implementation. Ann will talk about the importance of community relationships and working in partnership with service providers and advocacy groups to utilize all tools available to enhance services.
- Sarah Weaver, Ph.D – Executive Director of the Office of Disability Services for the University of Illinois at Springfield. Dr. Weaver will address the topic of ADA as it applies to “hidden” disabilities.
- Debra Vines – Executive Director of The Answer Inc. – Autism Awareness and Support Agency. Debra will address the challenges and opportunities for supporting the African-American ASD community.
- José Ovalle – is the executive director of Grupo SALTO (Latino Autism Society Working with Optimism) and the Former Regional Coordinator and Parent Liaison for TAP. José will address the challenges and opportunities for supporting the Spanish speaking families of children with ASD.
This is just a small sample of what promises to be a very stimulating forum. A complete agenda is forthcoming.
If you would like to attend, please contact Suzanne Schriar. Priority will given to anyone who attended the first forum, but has not registered yet for the upcoming forum, school librarians and educators. CPDUs will be provided. Lodging for two nights and meals will be provided.
57 Grants Received for “Autism Welcome Here” Program!!
*Autism Welcome Here: Library Programs, Services and More is a grant program that was conceived by Barbara Klipper, librarian and author, at the session at the March 2015 Targeting Autism Forum in Springfield, IL. According to Barbara, “…It was during a breakout session, when attendees met in groups based on geographic proximity. I was assisting the organizers, moving from group to group and facilitating discussions about what local libraries could do to bring stakeholders together and begin to serve people with ASD. As I circulated I heard the same refrain from several participants. It went something like this: ‘I’d love to do something, but my library is so small (underfunded, understaffed) that we just don’t have the resources to take this on’…”
Autism Welcome Here: Library Programs, Services and More will fund $5000 a year for 5 years. Barbara Klipper’s generosity and commitment to this important cause has been hugely successful, but the need for more funding is evident.
An overwhelming 57 grant applications were received from multitype libraries from many states across the U.S., including: Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin. Successful applicant(s) will be selected by committee over the next couple of months.
For me, the most gratifying part of the Targeting Autism project has been this amazing network of people, like Barbara and so many others, who each day, work hard to make a difference in the lives of all those who are affected by ASD.
*Autism Welcome Here: Library Programs, Services and More honors Meg Kolaya, a pioneer in the area of library service to people with autism and co-founder of Libraries and Autism: We’re Connected.
Illinois State Library is in the running for a 2016 IMLS autism education grant!!
From IMLS:
“…It gives me great pleasure to notify you that the proposal submitted by Illinois State Library, “Targeting Autism: A Comprehensive Training and Education Program for Librarians,” has been selected to advance to the second phase of review for the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian (LB21) Program. As you know, LB21 supports professional development, graduate education and continuing education to help libraries and archives develop the human capital capacity they need to meet the changing learning and information needs of the American public….”
The second phase of this process is a full proposal to be submitted January 15, 2016.
There will be a project proposal update as part of the next Targeting Autism Forum on March 10-11, 2016.
targetingautismlibs.com 