And so a pressing conversation began at our recent meeting of the Accessibility Services Roundtable (ASR), a group of youth, teen, and adult services librarians in Michigan working with patrons who have disabilities. We all have different perspectives regarding library services for adults with developmental disabilities. So why can't we seem to find a perfect balance?
Three years ago, we were seeing an increase of adults with disabilities from nearby group homes visiting our library. They were coming to the library to eat lunch or a snack in the cafe and then visit the Youth Room, where they found emerging-level reading materials, games, coloring, and a space that is a little more forgiving of noise to be the most appealing. Wanting to engage these weekly visitors better, I collaborated with my colleague over in Adult Services, Ed Niemchak, to develop an age-respectful story time for teens and adults with disabilities. See our guest post on Bryce Kozla's blog here: http://brycekozlablog.blogspot.com/2018/09/sensory-story-time-for-adults.html .
Positive feedback and demand for more programming led Ed to add monthly sensory-friendly movie programs as well. When these programs are not being offered, we still see our adult group home friends in the Youth Room on almost a daily basis. Some caregivers are very engaged with their residents, helping them find materials, making sure they are set up at the one of the listening stations, coloring, or using one of the computer stations. Some might not be as engaged or just need some ideas/resources shared with them.
We had 34 librarians at our fall/winter ASR meeting, and almost all of them expressed an interest in what other libraries are doing for visiting group homes in the library, especially the Youth Room. Some libraries also offer sensory story times, craft programs, or fantastic volunteer programs for adults with developmental disabilities. But what about when we aren't in a program? What about the other days of the week or the rest of the month when we have adults visiting the same room as a young child with their caregiver? A young child who also wants to play at the early literacy stations but is intimidated by the physically larger person seated next to him playing the same game he wants to play? Can we welcome one and unknowingly turn away the other? If we are being inclusive of all ages and abilities, then shouldn't we welcome everyone in the library space where they feel the most comfortable regardless of their height or age?
As one librarian pointed out, we want to classify everything from materials to our patrons in the library. By doing this we can apply developmental stage expertise and best practices in our services for youth, teens, adults, and seniors. Unfortunately, we cannot classify everything and everyone as it turns out, and that is when we as librarians feel uncomfortable. Can we provide an intergenerational space that is welcoming to all ages and abilities?
Why should we be sending people to the Adult Room if they find the materials in the Youth Room more appealing and less intimidating? Should we be re-thinking Adult Services, incorporating quiet and "noisier" spaces to accommodate visiting groups of people? Adults with cognitive or intellectual disabilities are still adults who should be receiving the same respect in services as any other adult in the library. If 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. are living with a disability, and an estimated 4.6 million Americans have an intellectual or developmental disability, we need to consider accessibility and equity services with the same care as youth, teen, or adult services if we aren't already.
While we may not have the answers to all of these questions yet, the one common denominator remains among librarians working in all departments (in libraries of all sizes): our actions and not just aspirations toward inclusion. Merriam-Webster defines inclusion simply as "the act of including." Are traditional public library spaces and services being inclusive of everyone? This conversation needs to continue and I look forward to hearing more about how other libraries are being inclusive of adults with disabilities.
I enjoy greeting our group home visitors, introducing myself and getting to know everybody, including the caregivers. Here are a few passive activity ideas that librarians in our group are offering adults with developmental disabilities visiting the youth room and adult room in between targeted and inclusive programs:
- coloring sheets with packs of colored pencils (preferred over crayons)
- puzzles
- board games
- activity sheets (simple search & finds or crossword puzzles)
- keeping a small stack of Hi-Lo fiction and age-respectful emerging reader non-fiction titles at the Youth or Adult Desk (and changing it weekly)
What service(s) or program(s) is your library providing for adults with developmental disabilities?
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