Autism Advocacy and the Library

A recent ALSC blog post by Samantha Kretschmer of ALSC's Public Awareness and Advocacy committee addressed the ways we can become more attuned to the needs to our patrons who are affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Samantha writes: " Recently I’ve had several adult friends seeking autism diagnoses for themselves and/or their children. As a neurotypical, it’s been enlightening discovering how the autistic experience is different from my own and how empowering the simple knowledge and diagnosis can be for them.  One of the biggest things I’ve learned is how important it is to have people that understand and advocate for autistics. As children’s librarians, we are in a great position to be those advocates for autistic children and their families in our library and our communities.

According to the CDC, today 1 in 36 children in the United States are affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and, while it’s much easier to diagnose children today, there are many, especially girls, that are “missed” or “hiding in plain sight” so those numbers could be even higher.  ASD is a developmental disability that can affect how autistic people behave, communicate, interact, learn, and perceive the world around them."

Stop here to read the insightful suggestions from Samantha and the committee. [ Autism Advcacy in the Library. Kretschmer, Samantha. ALSC blog. November 23, 2023.]