Course Information
| Session |
|---|
| Credits | 1.5 CEUs or 15 PDHs |
|---|---|
| Registration dates | We accept registrations through the first week of classes, unless enrollment is full, and unless the class was canceled before it started due to low enrollment. |
Library Resources and Services for Patrons on the Autism Spectrum
$250.00
Dates: February 2 - March 1August 3 - August 30
Credits: 1.5 CEUs or 15 PDHs
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1 in 36 children have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). ASD impacts all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups and is a pervasive developmental disorder which is present across the lifespan. As such, a notable portion of patrons served by school, public, and academic libraries presents with ASD or is otherwise “on the spectrum”. Individuals with ASD may have different accessibility and communication challenges than their neurotypical peers. This course will provide librarians with a better understanding of ASD, effective means of communicating individuals with ASD, strategies for designing inviting and accessible library environments and programming, and suggestions for building relationships with community partners to better serve the needs of patrons with ASD.
The instructor has a unique background in being a second career librarian after having worked as a Licensed Psychological Associate for over 20 years and having extensive experiencing in performing psychological evaluations for ASD.
By the end of the course, students will:
Develop a better understanding of ASD as it presents in children, adolescents, and adults. Improve communication skills with individuals with ASD including nonverbal communication and de-escalating/redirecting challenging behaviors and interactions.
Design an autism friendly library environment which is welcoming, accessible, and in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Work with community partners to develop potential referral sources, training opportunities, mental health programming, and services to benefit patrons with ASD.
Course Description
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1 in 36 children have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). ASD impacts all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups and is a pervasive developmental disorder which is present across the lifespan. As such, a notable portion of patrons served by school, public, and academic libraries presents with ASD or is otherwise “on the spectrum”. Individuals with ASD may have different accessibility and communication challenges than their neurotypical peers. This course will provide librarians with a better understanding of ASD, effective means of communicating individuals with ASD, strategies for designing inviting and accessible library environments and programming, and suggestions for building relationships with community partners to better serve the needs of patrons with ASD.
The instructor has a unique background in being a second career librarian after having worked as a Licensed Psychological Associate for over 20 years and having extensive experiencing in performing psychological evaluations for ASD.
By the end of the course, students will:
- Develop a better understanding of ASD as it presents in children, adolescents, and adults. Improve communication skills with individuals with ASD including nonverbal communication and de-escalating/redirecting challenging behaviors and interactions.
- Design an autism friendly library environment which is welcoming, accessible, and in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- Work with community partners to develop potential referral sources, training opportunities, mental health programming, and services to benefit patrons with ASD.
Dawn Behrend
Dawn Behrend is the Associate Dean of Administrative Services at the Thomas G. Carpenter Library at the University of North Florida. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master’s degree in clinical psychology, a Master of Business Administration, and a master’s in library science. With extensive expertise in organizational management, project management, and staff development, Dawn brings an interdisciplinary approach to library leadership and operations. She previously worked in the mental health profession and continues to provide workshops, courses, and invited talks on mental health, neurodiversity in libraries, and self-care for librarians. Dawn is a past president of the North Carolina Library Association and is active with the Association of College and Research Libraries, where she has served on several committees and sections.Connect with Dawn on LinkedIn or view her online portfolio.
How to Register
To enroll yourself or other participants in a class, use the “Register” button that follows the description of each course. If the “Register” button does not show up, try loading the page in a different web browser. Contact us if you have technical difficulties using our shopping cart system or would like to pay for an enrollment using another method. On the payment page in the shopping cart system, there is a place to add notes, such as the names and email addresses of participants you wish to enroll. We will contact you to request this information in response to your processed payment if you do not include it in the “notes” field. Prior to the start of the workshop, we will send participants their login instructions.Payment Info
Our shopping cart system allows you to pay with a credit card or with PayPal.Alternatively, if it is an institutional payment, we can arrange to invoice you. Contact us by email, and we can make arrangements to suit your institution's business processes.
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