Special Needs Library Services: Every Child Is Included

Special Needs Library Services: Every Child is Included Case Study
Parisa Samaie, Los Angeles Southwest College
Friday, November 4th - 11:15 - 12

Play is critical to child development and unfortunately children with special needs are often participating in storytime and playgroups because most library events are overwhelming for them.

Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center is one of 21 centers, she previously worked at one of these nonprofit libraries.

Fantastic session! Great info. about the amazing services these libraries offer and all the dirt on how they started their therapeutic toy collection - all the goods on cataloging, cleaning, and more!

If interested, read more below .....

Notes:

(photos of slides) - still working on how to get out of my phone.

No play inside the Library (did not want to be liable). Cleaning between each. Policies for all, liability.

Used categories instead of dewey. Looked for adaptive toys (can be hooked into a button - good for limited mobility).

Used "Music and Movement" program, certificate trademark program offered, use instruments, body, music, mind.

Larger "fine motor skills toys" - larger pieces to help develop muscles.

Social - example birthday cake toy

Language - sequencing farm soy - helps with language

Cause and effect - promotes language, example rolling ball toy (we have!), child follows the ball. Sharing facts about play and the toy itself what we / why we are using.

Emotions - Rina's emotion dolls! Medical set, scared of doctors, kits help children learn about situation coming up. Dentists, dr. optometrist.

Vehicles - all categories (fall under other categories area). Did not orignaly have a vehicle category. The families ask for vehicles (any). Boys and girls all love cars and trains and planes. Easy just for access. Over 100 offered.

Purchased about 100 toys. Cataloged marc record, no dewey, age of toy (toy for 2 plus as ex.), parents to see toys and choose.

Renewed grant, now purchased over 500 toys. More than could fit into cabinets. Moved into storage (individual boxes). Each box has a label (dramatic play or cause and effect). Rotate stock of what is out on floor.

Toys stored in plastic bag or box. Used tags (cd tags inside bag). Use a uv santizing wand. They also use dishwashers. Use lysol and paper towel. Options for cleaning.

Toys matched with program or playgroup. Have a play expert on staff. 6-8 week curriculum. Open free registration for clients. Color, shapes, storytime, etc.

Sensory Play Days at the Pasadena Public Library

Sensory Play Days at Pasadena Public Library (Sensory Play and Art)
Pasadena Library
Friday 11/4 - 10:15 am

This session was very similar to the program our children's team put on for staff with occupational therapist Robyn Chu where we covered common special needs, learning about the needs of these conditions, and how to create a storytime (and library environment) that was welcoming.

The goal was to educate about what some common special needs are, educate and take away the fear and stigma, you do not need to be a professional to offer storytimes, just have some awareness and sensitivity, and give some background and ideas on successful programs and how Pasadena Public Library put together their programs and what you can do.

Definition of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and discussing that it was a spectrum and common needs including - difficulty making eye contact, obsessing over particular subjects, difficulty regulating emotions (meltdowns).

Definition of Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) and discussing the controversy of this diagnoses, vestibular system issues (where body begins and end), and some of the sensory trigger issues for children.

Often children have both, but not always.

"Sensory Play Day" at Pasadena. 2015 Linda Vista Library - inclusive event - is a culminating event from she 6 week storytime event. They take over the Library with toys. The "Barks and Books" program gives children with learning disabilities and cognitive impairments the opportunity to interact and read. Dogs are specially trained to work with children with special needs.

6 weeks on and 6 weeks off is the time frame for workshops.

Showed sensory toys - sensory balls, magnatiles, "sensory shapes", parachutes, ball "pits" in small swimming pools. Parachutes are excellent for building gross motor skills (up ad down). Ball pits are anxiety reducing / color stimulate senses, balls against body helps children to understand where body begins / ends (proprioception). Way to play in an enclosed space, but feel less anxious, social skills improve and can even play together. Kodo ball run, (which is where we got our wind tunnel from!) geared towards younger children, STEM, properties of gravity - has a pattern for them to feel, able to push ball ($150). Reciprocal play is very important.

"Sensory Art Day" - Art therapy studies with autistic children - "art as an intervention tool with autism" - when a child is developing 0-3/4 neurotypical children develop synapses through emergent literacy, etc. The brain becomes more efficient it drops connections that don't serve it well. A child with Autism often has a larger brain because the synapses do not drop off, more matter. Art therapy helps to rewire over time. Simple, but very impactful. Do not need to be specialists or rewire the brain.

Session was offered outside in the park, can be inclusive does not need to be limited because more space (siblings welcome). Shared story of child starting and finishing something for the first time ever.

Art - foam paint (shake can), space sand (can use water with it), tempera paint, chalk, sensory bins - different textures, playdough (VERY popular) tubs of it, bright colors, some will have aversion to texture, water beads (cocoa pebbles) - cool to the touch (simple tt have and touch).

Story - nonverbal child so proud of his creation, he followed staffer until she took a picture of his work. Program took about and 1/2 hours.

Best part of program is it not being in a clinical setting and is free for children.

No specialized training needed. Just an idea of symptoms, open heart and mind, learn from parents about what is best for their child (biggest resources). Siblings and extended family also really need this program - often difficult to go out in public.

About experience and relationship (not the numbers) for these programs. These programs require smaller groups and slowly build because of the special needs families communication / relationships with each other.

Links - see picture

Shopping - lakeshore, discount, amazon

marie plug
mplug@cityofpasadena.net

deborah takahashi
dtakahasi@cityofpasadena.net