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  Wednesday, November 11, 2015  9:30 AM to 11:00 AM (CST) Cost: FREE! Schaumburg Township District Library 130 South Roselle Road Schaumburg, IL According to the CDC, one in 68 children has autism, and numbers are rising. As these kids turn 21, all of the supports and services they have been receiving under the federal Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) will no longer be available to them.  Programming through Partnership for Adults with High-Functioning Autism and Asperger's Syndrome will showcase a dynamic panel discussion fea turing Kate Niehoff, Program & Outreach Coordinator fr om Schaumburg Township District Library (STDL) and Targeting Autism Forum participant . This panel will f ocus on a series of programs at STDL targeted on its adult patrons with ASD.  Representatives from STDL’s community partners, including the local school district, community college, autism resource center, and an involved parent of an adult so...

 Sharing an invitation to a wonderful event! Institute for Therapy Through the Arts (ITA) Open House Thursday, October 29, 2015, 2:00-7:00pm ITA 1702 Sherman Ave Evanston, IL 60201 We would like to invite our colleagues in the educational, mental health, and medical communities to join us for an open house at our facility in downtown Evanston. We've planned an enjoyable and informative event providing you with many opportunities to learn about creative arts therapy and ITA. Come and take part in several interactive demonstrations of music, art, dance/movement, and drama therapies.  We will also be offering continuing education workshops throughout the day for school psychologists, marriage and family therapists, social workers and counselors.  Please sign up for which you would like to attend. There is a one time $15 fee if you wish to earn continuing education credit for these. Join us at this excellent networking event, whether you stay for 20 minutes or 2 hours! Refres...

Come to the joint NWYS/CLASS meeting on Monday, November 9 and learn from librarian and certified ASL interpreter Kathy MacMillan as she provides tips on serving hearing impaired patrons in our libraries and basic conversational signs for a library setting. Kathy MacMillan is co-author of Little Hands & Big Hands: Children and Adults Signing Together , a professional resource for librarians, teachers, and educators that provides strategies for serving deaf and hard of hearing children combining American Sign Language and early literacy activities. 9:30 am—10:15 am NWYS & CLASS Business Meeting (NWYS and CLASS members) 10:15 am—10:30 am Break 10:45 am—11:45 am Serving Hearing Impaired Patrons 12:00 pm—1:00 pm Lunch* 1:00 pm—1:30 pm Tour of LaGrange Public Library Program Cost: Free for NWYS/CLASS Members and $10 for non-members *Lunch: $10; box lunch choices are: (specify selection in RSVP): Chicken Pesto, Tomato Mozzarella (vegetarian), Turkey swiss, Ham or Turkey on Pretze...

Hot off the press! The latest edition of the Toys "R" Us Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids  has just been published online, and Toys "R" Us is currently taking orders for the print edition. This guide is developed in collaboration with  Lekotek play specialists who evaluate and recommend toys according to their developmental benefits. While the information focuses on the needs of kids with disabilities, the toys are not adapted in any way so the guide is helpful for parents of children of all abilities! I've ordered a box of 250 guides to share between us at our October meeting in Glenview. While I don't find the print version to be very popular with my sensory storytime families, you are welcome to place an order for a full box to share with your community partners and patrons.

  The " Autism Welcome Here: Library Programs, Services and More " grant is sponsored by Libraries and Autism: We're Connected. This grant honors the groundbreaking work of Libraries and Autism co-founder Meg Kolaya for her contributions in promoting inclusion, connecting libraries and the autism community, and bringing awareness of the needs of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families to the library community. * Apply Online Here Grant Description Each year, a total of $5,000.00 will be awarded. Depending on the applications received, one grant for the full amount or multiple grants for smaller amounts totaling $5,000.00 may be awarded. Any type of library can apply and the proposal can fund projects and services for any age group. Applicants may propose to initiate a new, creative program or service, bring an already-existing, successful program or service to their library for the first time, or enhance a program or service they alr...

Looking to learn about outreach and serving patrons inclusively and accessibly at this year's state library conference?  Join other public, school, academic, and special libraries at this year's conference " A Library State of Mind " where we will connect, network and learn together about serving ALL of our community members. Getting Started with Outreach In Your Community  Thursday, October 22 at 10:45 am This interactive class will provide a background in cultural competence and outreach skills as librarians make outreach efforts to underserved and minority populations in their communities. The goal of this course is to offer concrete ideas to enable librarians to initiate outreach programs with minority communities. Topics to be covered include resources for locating community demographics, the importance of developing relationships, the basics of building and developing community-based partnerships, recognition and acceptance of cultural differences, and t...

 More than 1 out of 10 people in Illinois have a disability.   In recognition of the anniversary of ADA25 , the RAILS library system as partnered with ADA25Chicago to offer professional development and learning opportunities to librarians and library staff about serving people with disabilities.  Here is a snapshot of what is available for you and your staff from now until the end of the year. Webinar: “Beyond Assistive Technology: Improving Library Services to People with Disabilities” Thursday, August 20 from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. More info: http://www.librarylearning.info/events/?eventID=20212 Webinar: “Autism 101 for Libraries: What is Autism Spectrum Disorder and How Can We Help Students and Families at the Library?” Thursday, September 17, 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. More info: http://www.librarylearning.info/events/?eventID=20211 In-Person Training: “Mental Health Awareness Training for Library Staff” Wednesday, October 7, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Location: Skokie Public Library Mor...