This presentation is part of BC Summer Reading Club’s ongoing commitment to accessibility. We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, and their ongoing support for professional development opportunities for public library workers.

Approximately 1 in 30 children in BC has an autism diagnosis. As librarians and library workers, we want our libraries to be accessible and welcoming to autistic children and their families. Too often though, we struggle to make changes due to budget constraints, staffing challenges, lack of information, or simply fear of “getting it wrong.”

In this presentation, Julia and Allison will provide insight into what it means to be autistic and how libraries can create safe and engaging environments for autistic young people. You will leave with free resources and actionable ideas for staff training, policies, and programs for libraries of all sizes and budgets.

Fore more information about AIDE Canada to share with your community, please try this printable brochure and poster.

Presenter Bios:

Allison Hill, MLIS is a special librarian with an interest in autism information needs and services. She has managed the Autism and/or Intellectual Disability Knowledge Exchange Network (AIDE Canada) Library since its inception in 2020.

Julia Kate Mitchell is an Autistic self-advocate and the Education and Employment Specialist at the Pacific Autism Family Network. Her advocacy work includes speaking engagements on behalf of AIDE Canada as well as social media advocacy through her Instagram account @juliakatemitchell.

Questions and Answers

These questions were submitted to our presenters Allison Hill (AIDE Canada) and Julia Kate Mitchell (Pacific Autism Family Network).  

 

Is the Autism and Intellectual Disabilities in the Library course available in French? 

What are some resources that you recommend that I can share with leadership in my organization on disability first language? 

I would love to design programs or resources with a community partner, how would you recommend finding a community partner? 

  • If you’re in BC, contact the AutismBC resource team – they are parents and self-advocates with connections in their local communities  
    • Lindy Chau (Information Officer – Richmond-based)  
    • Regional coordinators: Sarah Taylor (Vancouver Island), Anne Honeycutt (Lower Mainland), Amanda Sopel (Northern BC), Shayna Kershaw (Fraser Valley) 
  • When searching by city/keyword, make sure you select a province/territory from the dropdown or the search won’t work 

Does AIDE Canada have a business-card style resource that includes links that can be handed out to patrons? 

  • Prefer that libraries print these out as it can become quite costly to supply to every library, but if you have a smaller library, please connect with Allison and she can arrange for some to be sent out 

As a parent, my child is on the spectrum and having a challenging time finding books that’s interested in. What are some recommendations to encourage my child to read more at home? 

  • Julia recommends audiobooks as a great way to help seek out and discover reading interests and try other library collections such as non-fiction

Question about creating social stories on your library’s website: if you do your due diligence and research best practices, etc., would it still be recommended to run the story by AIDE Canada or a similar organization? We want to be conscious about inadvertently causing harm to autistic individuals by not asking for professional input. 

  • If you do have stories, please feel free to send them to Allison ([email protected]) as she is happy to answer questions 
  • Be mindful that everyone’s community has different needs and so be open to adaptations when it makes sense  
  • Some examples can be found by: 
    • There are also good examples from museums like the MET and MoMA 

 

Are there any resources for autism-friendly physical space audits?  

  • Some books/general resources on making autism friendly spaces: 
  • When searching autism-friendly physical space audits, resources for schools and classrooms come up and these can potentially be adapted to one’s space 
  • And don’t be afraid to include the community with questions! Autistic people are very open to talking about their needs and want there to be more inclusive spaces 
    • Nothing about us without us 
    • Be clear with how you advertise your space – use language that clearly indicates that it’s for autistic people 

When advertising a program like a specifically designed storytime for autism accessibility, what terminology would be best to use? 

  • If it’s specific to autism, make it clear vs using generic wording– Autism-friendly Storytime vs “Inclusive Storytime” 
  • Sensory Storytime is starting to fall out of favour, but can be used when it is specifically designed for meeting sensory needs 

Is it possible to visit the library and physically browse the collection? 

  • Yes, we are located in Richmond, BC at: The Pacific Autism Family Network (3688 Cessna Drive, Richmond BC, V7B 1C7) 
  • Library hours are Monday-Thursday 9:30-5:00, closed daily from 12-1 for lunch. We’re open to the public, but it’s best to call in advance to arrange a visit: 604-207-1980 ext. 2006 

Do you have any suggestions about what age group to start with when creating autism-friendly spaces and resources for our library system? I’m hearing a lot of focus on children’s programs and resources, but I am wondering if we should wait until we have resources for all ages of autistic people before we release anything publicly? 

  • It is important to acknowledge and roll out resources for all ages 
  • There tends to be a focus on children, but autistic adults also have needs and may require accommodations, even if they tend to be more high masking and less overt about their needs 
  • Short answer: Don’t stop and start with kids, offer something and show that you’re committed to more  
  • It can also be as simple as creating displays and more representation in your library for example: seeing books used by other autistic advocates – seeing representation is hugely empowering