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
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