April is Autism Awareness Month. Last week, the Centers for Disease Control released new statistics: 1 in 88 children are diagnosed with autism (1 in 54 boys)--a significant rise in incidence since the last estimate of 1 in 110 children. Librarians across Wisconsin have been doing some great work in educating themselves and adapting programs and services to be more welcoming to kids and families affected by autism.
This year, twenty libraries in the Indianhead Federated Library System have joined in an effort to catch up by participating in an LSTA grant. I* have learned so much about Autism Spectrum Disorder and sensory processing issues, and I know it is just a drop in the bucket. I wanted to share a few excellent resources that I think all librarians would benefit from using.
Make Friends with Autism is a project of the Children's Specialized Hospital in New Jersey with the goal of increasing inclusion, understanding, support and appreciation of children and families with autism. There are some excellent videos discussing the challenges of going out in public, and ways for public places to make it easier, along with fact sheets, communication tools, and more.
- First 100 Days Kit: Critical information for families in the first 100 days after an autism diagnosis
- Could it be Austism? A parent's guide to the first signs and next steps
Finally (for now!), our own Department of Public Instruction has put together some webinars and other resources that are designed for schools, but are very relevant for libraries!
*Your blogger for April--Leah Langby from the Indianhead Federated Library System
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