Reagan

Nashville Public Library Everyone Welcome Introduction

Patricia McKissick’s book //Goin’ Someplace Special// (Atheneum, 2001) describes the difficulty that one little girl had going alone, for the first time, to the one place in town where she knew that everyone was welcome: The Nashville Public Library. It said so over the building’s big front doors. The sign is no longer there and the building has long been replaced but the intention is still the same: the public library is where absolutely everyone is welcome. That’s why, when asked what we Children’s Specialists thought was a need, many said we did not see enough special needs children in the library, particularly children with autism. We knew we should follow up on that and determine if there was a need for special training. This lesson is the outcome of a survey that indicated nearly everyone needed and wanted to know how we could be more effective in serving children with autism.

** Pre-Assessment **  This pre-assessment will help each of us to determine how much we know about autism and whether what we know is fact or myth.   Is it a fact or a myth? Circle “fact” if you believe the statement to be fact and “myth” if you believe the statement is a myth.
 * Facts and Myths About Autism **


 * 1) Children with autism do not show physical affection. Fact/Myth
 * 2) Children with autism do not notice others. Fact/Myth
 * 3) Children with autism do not want friends. Fact/Myth
 * 4) Autism is an emotional disability. Fact/Myth
 * 5) Children with autism do not have an imagination. Fact/Myth
 * 6) Bad parenting causes autism. Fact/Myth
 * 7) Children who smile and make contact with you do not have autism. Fact/Myth
 * 8) Children who have autism are geniuses. Fact/Myth
 * 9) Children who have autism have behavior problems. Fact/Myth
 * 10) Children who have autism do not outgrow the disorder. Fact/Myth
 * 11) Autism is a rare disorder. Fact/Myth
 * 12) Autism appears more often in children of the poor and disadvantaged. Fact/Myth
 * 13) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Autism gets worse as children get older. Fact/Myth
 * 14) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Children with autism belong in special programs and should not be integrated into the normal library situation. Fact/Myth
 * 15) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Children with autism are not able to adjust to normal expectations of behavior. Fact/Myth

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16pt; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: center;">Standards/Goals

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Since this workshop is outside the realm of the classroom, there are no state curriculum standards that truly apply; however, participants will be gathering information, sharing information, identifying reliable resources, and selecting suitable resources to meet their needs and the needs of their customers. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> Instructional Objectives <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· Children’s Specialists will understand what autism is and isn’t. <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· Children’s Specialists will see and know that there are informational resources in the library collection which they can use to help patrons and themselves learn more. <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· Children’s Specialists will use the information from the lesson to create materials that can be used to help children with autism function in the story hour session. <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· Children’s Specialists will discover and plan to use the kinds of books that children with autism enjoy.

Materials, Media and Resources <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;"> 1. Computer for each person <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;"> 2. Computer projector and screen <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;"> 3. Printer <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;"> 4. Paper, pencils, note cards for each participant <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;"> 5. Card stock, laminate, scissors, glue sticks, colored markers for participants <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;"> 6. Pre-test and post-test copies for each participant <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;"> 7. Information handouts for each person outlining the presentation <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;"> 8. Pathfinder packets from the Kennedy Center (they will supply) <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;"> 9. Children’s book examples (Dr. Seuss, Bill Martin, Mother Goose) <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;"> 10. Autism Awareness ribbons for each participant and presenter

Set Induction (To the Children’s Specialists)

The Nashville Public Library has always been a place where everyone is welcome. We are happy that people from every walk of life are our customers but a few months ago some of us noticed that we haven’t seen many special needs children in our programs, particularly children with autism. Knowing the special problems that children with autism encounter, we determined to learn more about the disorder and how we can make our story hours a place where children with autism will feel welcome. During today’s workshop you will learn what autism is from the Kennedy Center staff who have dedicated their lives to helping children and adults who have autism, you will learn what materials on the topic are available at the Nashville Public Library, you will learn which materials are best and why and you will have the opportunity to create materials that will be helpful for all the children in your story hour. Instructional Sequence

<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;"> 1. MLIS presenter will invite participants to quickly list on a paper what they know about autism. <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;"> 2. Participants will share responses. <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;"> 3. MLIS presenter will introduce the Autism Awareness ribbon symbol and announce that “today we will discover the pieces of the puzzle that is autism.” <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;"> 4. Participants take pre-test and see immediate results, sharing if they like. <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;"> 5. MLIS will introduce the Kennedy Center speaker. <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;"> 6. Speaker will present the PowerPoint presentation from the Treatment and Research Institute of Autism Spectrum Disorders (power point contains two video clips: a pre-school class story time situation and an interview with a teen with autism who is learning about small talk). <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;"> 7. Participants will be divided into six groups of 3 and 4 people. <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;"> a.  Group one will use the computer catalog to find six books for parents of children with autism and prepare to say why they chose those books. <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;"> b.  Group two will use the computer catalog to find six books for students seeking information on autism and prepare to say why they chose them. <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;"> c.  Group three will use the computer catalog to find six books for professionals seeking information about autism and prepare to say why they chose those books. <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;"> d.  Group four will use the computer catalog to find six books that are first person accounts written by adults who have autism. <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;"> e.  Group five will use the computer to find six reliable websites about autism and prepare to share them with the group. <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;"> f.  Group six will use the computer catalog to find six story hour books that would work with children who have autism and prepare to say why they chose those books. <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;"> 8. Each group spokesperson will present their findings to the whole gathering. <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;"> 9. The participants will create either behavior expectation signs or schedule signs for use in their story hour rooms; both if they have time. <span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;"> 10. The participants will take the post test and discover how much they have learned about autism. Closure Today we have learned that autism is a pervasive developmental disorder that profoundly affects the way individuals relate to others and to their environment. We have learned that the library has a large number of resources to help parents, teachers, professionals and Children’s Specialists understand and work with children who have autism. We have learned that children and adults who have autism are not so different from those of us who are neuro-typical: they think and know, they long to be understood, they have the same feelings and the same desires. Through understanding, acceptance and knowledge of the collection and the needs of our patrons with autism, we can make them welcome.

Adaptations and Extensions This session can be presented to teens and college students who want to know about autism and may be volunteering to be a research buddy with a student who has autism, teacher librarians in a school environment, and school teachers as well as to Sunday School personnel (with some modification), church youth leaders, PTA groups, and others who want to be informed.

The program could be extended to a three or four hour workshop in which Children’s Specialists and others could create plans and materials for up to four story hours. There would also be time for role play and practice using the materials created for classroom schedules and behavior management.

**Assessment** <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Autism Post Test <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Circle the number of the statement if it is true and make an “x” on the number of the statement if it is false.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msofareastfontfamily: Arial; msolist: Ignore;">1. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Children with autism can be as affectionate as any other child. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msofareastfontfamily: Arial; msolist: Ignore;">2. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Children with autism notice others but may not know how to relate. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msofareastfontfamily: Arial; msolist: Ignore;">3. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Children with autism are “loners” who do not want or need friends. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msofareastfontfamily: Arial; msolist: Ignore;">4. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Children with autism are emotionally unstable. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msofareastfontfamily: Arial; msolist: Ignore;">5. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Children with autism can be very creative individuals. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msofareastfontfamily: Arial; msolist: Ignore;">6. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Mothers of children with autism are no better and not worse than any other. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msofareastfontfamily: Arial; msolist: Ignore;">7. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Children who are loving, affectionate and happy may have autism. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msofareastfontfamily: Arial; msolist: Ignore;">8. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Children who have behavior problems may or may not have autism. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msofareastfontfamily: Arial; msolist: Ignore;">9. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Every child who has autism is a brilliant savant. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msofareastfontfamily: Arial; msolist: Ignore;">10. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Autism is not longer a rare developmental disorder. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msofareastfontfamily: Arial; msolist: Ignore;">11. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Autism can come to any family, rich or poor. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msofareastfontfamily: Arial; msolist: Ignore;">12. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Children who have autism continue to grow developmentally throughout their lives, just like neuro-typical people. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msofareastfontfamily: Arial; msolist: Ignore;">13. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Autism can be cured. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msofareastfontfamily: Arial; msolist: Ignore;">14. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">People with autism are welcome in my library. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; msofareastfontfamily: Arial; msolist: Ignore;">15. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Even as adults, people with autism often have difficulties adjusting to the normal expectations of social behavior. Reflection Although this workshop has yet to be presented, my thoughts go to other workshops in other places and other times that I have attended: as a member of the Autism Society of Middle Tennessee, as a media representative and as the parent of a child with autism. They have been presented with varying degrees of success and all of us have come away with tons of information that do little but inform. I hope that this workshop will do more than inform; I hope it will also prepare each Children’s Specialist to serve the underserved in our communities. I hope that Children’s Specialists will feel comfortable knowing that they can handle a story time in which a child with autism is present. I hope that workshops like this can be presented regularly to Sunday School teachers and church workers so that they will be empowered and prepared so that no child will ever be denied inclusion.