Apps for Autism Program in Eau Claire

Thanks to Dayna Lovell from the L.E.Phillips Memorial Public Library for this guest post!

This fall, Jessi Peterson and Dayna Lovell of Youth Services at the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library in Eau Claire offered an “Apps for Autism” program for adults.  The program was a great way to use one of our library's unique resources (iPads) to fulfill requirements of participating in an LSTA grant about serving families affected by autism.  We reserved 10 of the library's iPads, and started researching and promoting the program.

We promoted this program through the school district’s special education teachers, autism contacts provided by our library system, the Family Resource Center and other Youth Services contacts.  We used several resources in the selection of apps presented (see list below). Categories from the book, Apps for Autism:  a Must-Have Resource for the Special Needs Community by Jean Lois Brady were used to provide a structure for organizing and presenting the apps. Some of these categories include; Text-to-Speech, Articulation, Vocabulary, Concept Development and Social Skills.

It took several weeks to prepare, researching and testing the apps to come up with our recommended list. This list included the name, cost and a description of each app, and also whether or not the app was universal (able to be utilized on an iPhone as well as iPad).  We downloaded and copied all the apps onto the ten iPads, and were ready to go.

In addition to the iPads, we used a laptop and projector. Some of the apps had YouTube videos to explain and demonstrate them, which we used (judiciously) as part of the presentation.  As apps were presented, their uses were described.  Participants were able to peruse each app as they were presented and welcome to stay after to further explore the apps or ask questions. We also demonstrated how to search for autism/ASD resources on our online catalog. 

This program was well attended and well received, with positive feedback and a request to run similar programs in future. Youth Services will have 6 iPads available in the room for use by parents and children. We anticipate that the list created for this program will be available in whole or in part as part of the menu of apps provided on these iPads.

Resources Used:

Brady, Lois Jean, M.A., CCC-SLP.  Apps for Autism:  a must-have resource for the special needs community. 2011.

Autism Speaks: Autism Apps

http://www.autismspeaks.org/autism-apps

Apps for Children with Special Needs

http://a4cwsn.com/

Autism and the iPad Blog

http://autismandtheipad.blogspot.com/2011/03/about-us.html

Deals for Autism

http://autismdeals.blogspot.com/2011/07/free-emotions-app.html

Lincoln Movie Tie-Ins

Thanks to Beth, for sending over this cool information to post on a slow day (Boxing Day should certainly qualify):

The movie is based on Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin.  The book is not a children's book, but there are undoubtedly teens who will be looking for it after seeing the film.  Here's an interview with Goodwin, Steven Spielberg and Tony Kushner (screenwriter) about making the film from the Smithsonian.

Steven Spielberg commissioned a book for children as a tie-in to the movie:

Lincoln: How Abraham Lincoln Ended Slavery in America: A Companion Book for Young Readers to the Steven Spielberg Film by Harold Holzer.

The book was discussed recently on NPR, so there might be some interest.

There's a great website with classroom ideas, more information, etc.

The movie is getting really good Oscar Buzz, so it may be something people want to talk up a bit.

 

Play and Learn

Over the past year, the children's room in the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library in Eau Claire has undergone a glorious transformation.  Their recent long range planning process recommitted them to promoting and supporting emerging literacy, and one great way they are doing this is their fabulous Play and Learn area.  I chatted with Shelly Collins Fuerbringer, Youth Services Manager, about the way this is working for them.

Play and Learn area

Using a combination of large pieces (a wooden kitchen set, a store front), smaller toys, and home-made, interactive displays, the youth services staff make sure that there is always something interesting to do.  They are using broad themes, and changing things out every three months or so to keep it fresh.  This time, the theme is community.  Along with a cafe,  farmer's market, school,  and community-helpers dress-up, they made a post office, post cards to deliver, and mail boxes for storybook characters (using high-tech cereal and cracker boxes):

Storybook Apartment Mailboxes

Response has been wonderful.  Families stay longer, and interactions between adults and children are much more high quality—instead of parents “talking at” their children, they are having fun, playing, listening, and communicating in a much more meaningful way. 

A grandmother and child enjoy being mail carriers, and having a conversation about what those red flags are for

 

As the project is new, it is quite time-consuming.  Staff is learning what works best--they are watching for what kids are responding to and figuring out ways to repeat those, while keeping the area fresh.  Shelly says sometimes she'll put something out that she thinks won't last very long before it gets broken, but then it withstands heavy use.  Unfortunately, the converse is also true:  sometimes they'll purchase something that looks extra-sturdy and it breaks right away.  These learning curves, plus developing broad, easy-to-repeat themes, are taking extra time for the next few years.

 There aren’t many instructions in the Play and Learn area—the children’s staff strongly feels that families need to feel free to do what they want to, and shouldn’t be constrained by lists of things to do or instructions.  Attractive, literacy-rich displays and signs and interactive items make this library feel very welcoming!  Families are staying longer, and I can certainly see why.

A map of Eau Claire, with photos of important community locations

Collaboration Pep Talk

 Thanks to Becky Arenivar, Program Specialist at the Prescott Public Library, for thinking up the idea (and doing most of the work) for this blog post!



Leah:  How’d you like to collaborate on a blog post with me?

Becky:  Sure!  How about a blog post about collaboration?

Leah: You mean, collaborate on a blog post about collaboration?

Becky:  I think we’re having a Yogi Berra moment here.  Why not?  The idea of collaboration can be kind of overwhelming - maybe we can make it seem more friendly and feasible .  I know that my first thought when someone says libraries should do more collaboration is, “yeah, and I SO have time for that.”

Leah:  Sure, I know it can take time, but there are so many benefits!

• It’s a great way to find out more about the needs of people who don’t usually use the library, and spread the word to non-users about the library’s resources
• It spreads the work and expenses around
• It gives you opportunities to connect with other people in your community who share some of the energy and enthusiasm that you do about youth (sometimes in a library where you are the only youth services person, this can be a life-line!)
• Partners bring their own audiences and members with them to programs
• It makes it possible to think big now and then

Becky:  What a great list!  Still:

• It’s hard to find the time to search for partners/activities/opportunities

• Collaboration usually entails longer planning timespan--you can’t be so nimble when you have everyone’s schedule and input to consider
• Collaboration means giving up control over some aspects of my programs and services--and sometimes partners impose restrictions or requirements that cramp my style

Leah: So, what’s a librarian who wants to collaborate, but has precious little time for it, to do?  I know collaboration tends to be on our to-do lists, but keeps getting pushed down as more urgent items get added to the top.

Becky:  Let’s think of examples of collaborations that illustrate how library staff can become collaborative without a huge amount of extra work.  The first one I think of is my SLP Storytime collaboration with a local daycare center.  I take 5 storytimes to their 3-4 year olds and they bring their elementary-age children to our weekly SLP events.  It’ doesn’t take a lot of extra time or planning and it’s a win-win for both of us.  Not only does it increase our event attendance, but daycare kids go home and tell their families how great the library is.

Leah:  I know about several libraries who cooperate with a local clinic’s Reach Out and Read program, simply by providing the clinic staff with information about the library to include with the free book they give out.

Becky:  Do you do an annual firefighter storytime and have a fire truck come to the library for the kids to see?  That’s collaboration!

Leah:  And if you are going to do an outreach project, like trying to better serve kids on the autism spectrum, you are going to save yourself time by getting in touch with the school district, support groups, birth to three, or others in order to get a better idea about what the kids in your community need.  I know some librarians who have pulled together some terrific things to serve families affected by autism by simply starting conversations with caregivers and providers.  

Becky:  Don’t forget the collaboration we naturally do when we chat with parents and other library users, find out what their needs and desires are, then use their input to help us create or improve programs, not to mention the collaboration librarians do by sharing information and ideas.  I don’t know what I’d do without all those creative and enthusiastic librarians on PUBYAC, ya-yaac and Pinterest!

Leah:  Yes, there are lots of ways that everyone is already collaborating, so give yourselves a pat on the back for that.  It doesn’t always have to be hard, and remember that even when it takes time, more often than not it yields lots of dividends!

What Comes After Preschool Storytime?

Thanks to Jodi Bird of the Menomonie Public Library for another terrific guest post!

We all do story time for babies and preschoolers, but what happens when these kids start school and their parents say, “Now what?”  That’s when we began our After School Adventures story time.   Designed for 5-8 year olds, After School Adventures is a story time for older kids.  We read stories, play games and sometimes do a craft.  There are so many great picture books that are too long to read during preschool story time but are perfect for older children.  The only thing we don’t do at this story time is sing songs.  For whatever reason this particular group looked at me like I had two heads when I tried to sing songs with them!

After School Adventurers play balloon volleyball with balloons, paper plates and popsicle sticks...

After a while we knew the time was getting close for some of these kids to move on from After School Adventures.  Parents were again asking, “Now what?”  We had developed a faithful following and we wanted them to continue using the library.  Book Stew was developed for children ages 8-11 years old.  When we discussed with the kids how they wanted Book Stew run they said they didn’t want it to be like a regular book club where everyone reads the same book and then comes together to discuss it.  They wanted to be read to.  Yes, that’s right, read to.  They didn’t want to have to do anything but sit and listen.  Maybe this was the only down time they would have that day, maybe they weren’t being read to at home any more, but whatever the reason we thought,  "we can do that!"  Over the years this group has made a few changes.  Each new session the kids plug a book choice and then vote on what the upcoming book will be.  There are some days where the kids take turns reading or an audio version of the book is used and during our last session we purchased the e-book and the kids were able to use our Kindles.

The parents have appreciated our willingness to create programs to keep their children interested in the library and in the end we feel like we have gained lifelong library users.