Opening Public Libraries to People with Autism

If there's one community organization that should be open to all, it's the public library. But libraries traditionally pose all kinds of challenges to families living with autism. People with autism are often loud. They may feel the need to touch, pull out or even mouth books. They may have a hard time if a book or video they want to borrow is out on loan.

Perhaps more significantly, librarians in general have no training in helping patrons with developmental challenges. As a result, they often respond negatively to disruptive behavior, even if it is unintentional. In most libraries, there are few or no supports available for people with autism and similar disorders.

The Scotch Plains, N.J. library and several partners came to gather just a few years ago to address this issue through on-site training programs and an online resource called Libraries and Autism: We're Connected. The website is crammed with resources for local libraries and librarians, offering (among other things):

• A two-part training video
• A template for creating a local social story to prepare people with autism for a library visit
• A PowerPoint to be used for presentations at local libraries to acquaint librarians and volunteers with autism

Dan Weiss and Meg Kolaya are two of the founders of We're Connected. Their message to librarians, volunteers, parents and adults on the spectrum is very simple: communicate!

Every library we visit tells us the same story of increasing numbers of families dealing with ASD who are turning to their public library for resources, programs and a community center where they are welcome. Our own work locally has been gratifying and mutually beneficial to our libraries and to the community.

We have just recently begun to focus our scope on transitioning teens and young adults - acknowledging that the need to serve that expanding group is becoming all the more important. Another area of our interest is the adoption and effective use of technology by people with disabilities, particularly cognitive impairments. This is a recent development where libraries can be an effective partner. We've been noting to our workshop attendees the increase in available apps for those on the spectrum as well as the effectiveness of the web and blogs in helping people to express themselves and to communicate directly to the world.

If we have one word of advice to librarians and families, it is to communicate. Just speak with the library staff about your needs and concerns. Over and over, we hear parents say to us, "If only somebody would ask us what we need", and librarians wonder, "What can we do to help". Small accommodations can usually be made to make a library visit or participation in a program run smoothly. Maybe it is checking out the pile of books while the parent is getting the child ready to leave rather than waiting in a line at the main desk. Maybe it is running one story time that is "quieter" or "noisier", depending on the needs. For sure, it is having really good, trustworthy, up-to-date information available, not just for families with individuals on the spectrum but also for teachers, grandparents and neighbors.