Early Intervention and Public Libraries Working Together to

Early Intervention and Public Libraries Working Together to Support Infants & Toddlers with Special Needs Carmela Balacco, M. Ed, Regional Director of Family Support Shakira Linzey, MPH, Regional Manager of Family Support Introduction Goals: Libraries play a highly influential role in empowering and enriching the lives of children (Subramaniam, Oxley, Kodama, 2013). In addition to providing a safe and trusted environment for all children (Kaeding, 2014), libraries can enrich the lives of young children with special needs by creating opportunities for increased social connections. Often times, caregivers of young children with special needs often feel "inclusion is about the spirit, not the space. " Renee Grassi Goals & Objectives Successes • Afford children with special needs an equal opportunity to participate in programs at their public library. Collaboration between Early Intervention and Libraries yielded: • Increase public awareness that children with disabilities need social connections in their communities. • An increase in the number of Early Intervention sponsored events held at local public libraries • Increase knowledge that children are diverse learners who process information &develop relationships differently. • An Increase in libraries requesting regional Family Support teams to provide presentations, resources, • Understand that children with special needs can be successful when provided appropriate supports. and collaborations Objectives: • An increase in awareness that children with special needs must be invited and included in library events • Public libraries provide early childhood programs that include the youngest, diverse learners. Early Intervention (EI) has developed thriving partnerships with community libraries. EI’s mission “to • Some libraries now have a wider selection of books on disability for both parents and children • Provide materials that are accessible to children with disabilities. enhance the capacity of families of children with special needs and focusing on early literacy, . In • Librarians have increased awareness of the needs of children with disabilities and their families • Provide a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for all children. • EI Family Support teams have donated over 270 books to over 30 public libraries misunderstood and disenfranchised deterring them from fully engaging in community programs. cultivating this relationship, both organizations remain committed to promoting and protecting diversity Early Intervention Outcomes and inclusion by addressing barriers to library services. By eliminating these hindrances, children with special needs and their families become empowered in navigating an environment once deemed uninviting. Background Purpose of the Survey: A survey was disseminated to local public libraries to learn more about programs, resources, and services available to children with disabilities and their families. In response to the survey, it is our • • • Increase awareness of community libraries & events to children with special needs and their families. Emphasize the importance of early literacy and the joy of becoming a life-long reader. Co-host Pajama Parties / Story Times for children receiving EI and other children in the community. Provide informational presentations on topics relevant to the special needs populations. Encourage libraries to display Early Intervention materials in visible areas. Provide EI services to the child & family in EI at the public library. Provide a list of books on disability-related topics that can be found at their public library. Connect families to leisure book clubs/discussions at their local libraries i. e. the “Next Chapter Clubs”. Create a “ Get/Activate Your Library Card” campaign with families. Donate books to libraries focusing on special needs/disabilities/equity/inclusion. Recommendations Collaboration between Early Intervention and Libraries will: • Provide opportunities for parents to come together • Develop and nurture the love of reading • Create an environment that supports child development and social/emotional growth • Expand opportunities for children with and without disabilities to be together and promote inclusion • Equalize the playing field for children with disabilities hope that we can provide information to support the local public libraries to most effectively meet the needs of children with disabilities and their families and to promote their full inclusion in library Library Outcomes programs and activities. Do young children with special needs/disabilities currently participate in your programs, i. e. story time? Yes No Provide a welcoming & assessable environment for children with special needs, their siblings & families. • Invite children with disabilities, their siblings & families to participate in library activities & events. Yes • Include children with disabilities in library displays & catalogs. No • Encourage families to become members of the library by obtaining a library card. • Adapt or tailor programs/ activities for children with special needs (big books with large, bright pictures & Elizabeth Public Library ∞ Fair Lawn Public Library ∞ Ferry Avenue Branch ∞ textures, board / pop-up books, puppets, repetitious songs & movement, shorter books to allow time for Franklin Township Public Library ∞ Galloway Township Library ∞ Kenilworth Public Library ∞ Maplewood Public 37. 5% 62. 5% Acknowledgments • Do you hold workshops of educational presentations or lectures for parents of children with special needs/disabilities? breaks, eye level presentations, use carpet squares / character mats). 62. 3% • Be flexible & patient; be open to making accommodations based on the needs of a child. Allan Vogelson Library Atlantic City Library ∞ Berkeley Heights Library ∞ Bloomfield Public Library ∞ Bridgewater Free Public Library ∞ Camden City Library ∞ Cape May Court House ∞ Cherry Hill Public Library ∞ Clifton Public Library ∞ Cumberland County Library ∞ New Brunswick Free Public Library ∞ Newark Public Libraries ∞ North Plainfield Public Library ∞ North Bergen Public Library ∞ Northeast Branch Library ∞ Ocean County Library Systems ∞Perth Amboy Free Public Library∞ Ridgewood Public Library ∞ Verona Public Library ∞ Washington Public Library ∞ West Milford Public Library ∞ West Orange Public Library MJC REIC, Library Survey, 2014 Woodbury Public Library ∞ Woodbridge Public Library Parents Perspective When asked, if they felt comfortable taking their child with special needs to the library, half of the parents responded “no. ” Reasons included: • • • “He is not always very quiet in the library. ” “She likes to run, which is not looked at favorably. She is also loud, which is distracting to others. ” “No; she will pull books off the shelves. ” “No. They don’t understand his reaction when he is excited. ” “I only feel comfortable for brief visits. I’m not altogether sure why. ” North Suburban Special Education District (NSSED) Library Network Parent Survey , conducted by NSSED on May 17, 2012 Family Outcomes • Take advantage of the various programs that the public library has to offer • Understand the library can be a place where all children can play, learn & have fun with their peers • Learn that libraries are a natural transition into their community • Discover that their local library is the Community Hub for all families & a place of acceptance • Know that their libraries are accessible and safe • Obtain library cards for each member of the family for borrowing privileges • Libraries are a chock-full of information and technology • Great foundation for learning and development References • ALSC – Programming for children with special needs http: //www. alsc. ala. org/blog/2009/06/programming-for-children-withspecial-needs-part-one/ • ALSC – Sensory story time: a brief how-to guide http: //www. alsc. ala. org/blog/2012/03/sensory-storytime-a-brief-how-to-guide/ • Feinberg, S. Including families of children with special needs: a how- to–do-it manual for librarians. - ALA, 1999. ISBN 978 -155570 -791 -0 • Lopez, M. E. , Caspe. , Mc. Williams, L. (2016). Public libraries: a vital space for family engagement. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Family Research Project • NJEIS Regional Early Intervention Collaraboratives, Family Support Teams • Public libraries: the hub of our communities. . (2009). The Free Library. Retrieved July 25, 2017 from https: //www. thefreelibrary. com/Public+libraries%3 a+the+hub+of+our+communities. -a 0208214192 • Story time underground - Ask a story time ninja: special needs programs https: //storytimeunderground. wordpress. com/2014/01/28/ask-a-storytime-ninja-special-needs-programs/ • The building bridges project-library services to youth with disabilities. (2007). Library Services to Children with Special Needs. Retrieved July, 25, 2017 from https: //inclusivelibrariesforchildren. files. wordpress. com/2013/01/5 n 3_wemett. pdf • The Inclusion Campaign, http: //www. inclusioncampaign. org/