This is an exceprt from a LIS News posting today [http://liswire.com/node/255] that can be helpful to all librarians and library service advocates:
The Scotch Plains Public Library (NJ) and the Fanwood Memorial Library (NJ) produced a customer service training video to help library staff serve individuals with autism and their families more effectively. The video focuses on what you need to know about autism spectrum disorder and empowers the viewer with specific techniques to offer more inclusive and comprehensive customer service when interacting with this growing and underserved population. Nationally, autism affects one in every 150 individuals, and in New Jersey, as many as one in ninety-four…
As the project evolved, it became clear a website would be the best way to share and disseminate the depth and variety of valuable information and tools that were created. Libraries and other organizations are encouraged to explore the site (www.thejointlibrary.org/autism), watch the video and make free use of the support resources. The video was posted to YouTube and has already begun to generate national and international attention from both libraries and individuals in the autism community. As one parent who responded to the online survey said, ‘It was about time that the community got involved in such an important topic. We need the support. I took my son to the library a couple times when he was 3, right before his diagnosis, since then I never took him back because people used to stare at us when he was acting up. My son is now 8 and after I found out about your web site, I took him back last week. Thank you for the great info and support!’…
For more information about this project and to receive a free “Libraries and Autism: We’re Connected” decal for your library, please contact the libraries at autism@thejointlibrary.org.”
Press Contact:
Meg Kolaya, Director, Scotch Plains Public Library
mkolaya@scotlib.org
908.322.5007 x202
autism@thejointlibrary.org
Dan Weiss, Director, Fanwood Memorial Library
dweiss@fanwoodlibrary.org
908.322.6400
