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Autism Resources for Librarians and Families
Information and Education about Autism
Autism Internet Modules: Linking Research to Real Life. Sponsored by several autism organizations . Requires sign-up, but free to use. Includes modules about a whole variety of issues. Modules are created by ASD experts, and they all contain some imbedded video, some case studies, and background information. This would be useful for librarians seeking background, parents, teachers, other professionals. Include modules on five major sections: Recognizing Autism, Autism and Home, Autism in the Classroom, Autism in the Workplace and Autism in the Community.
Raising Awareness
Good Friend, Inc. is a company started by two mothers of kids on the spectrum to help develop awareness and understanding of autism for neurotypical peers (elementary and middle school is their current focus). These folks are available for school assemblies, teacher inservices, etc., and they also have a short film they have developed for use in middle schools.
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.
Support for Parents
Parent to Parent of Wisconsin: Giving parents and caregivers the chance to connect one-to-one with a parent of a child with similar special needs. Parents talk to parents about health care, childcare, parenting ideas, finding resources, school transitions, celebrating milestones, facing challenges and barriers—whatever needed. P2P makes the match, parents communicate through phone calls, etc. There are support parents (people who volunteer for this) and people are paired with them.
Wrightslaw, help for parents negotiating legal and educational advocacy
Autism Society of Wisconsin has information about support groups, state resources for autism across the lifespan (very early to adult), information about conferences and special events, and more.
Autism Speaks is the website of a very active national support and advocacy group. There is a wealth of information and resources about diagnosis and treatment, and many links to other websites. Also has free downloads of First Days kits, designed for when a parent with a newly diagnosed child asks for information:
Autism Society of America is the parent organization of ASW, it includes background information, a searchable database of local resources, guides for living with autism, research, and more.
Autism Support Network includes information designed to assist families with initial diagnosis, day-to-day living, relationship and therapeutic strategies and the latest information. Includes forums and a free support community, and also some advertising.
Waisman Center: Located at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Waisman Center is one of 15 of its kind in the United States. The Center conducts research on biomedical, behavior, brain development and other developmental issues; and provides services to individuals and families affected by disabilities, including early intervention and outreach. They have collected together resources for families: https://www.waisman.wisc.edu/connections/ed_services.php
AblePlayis a toy rating system and website that provides a wealth of information on toys for children with special needs. It was created so that parents and professionals alike could make informed decisions about purchasing produces for children with disabilities.
iPad App Spreadsheet is a spreadsheet of applications for the iPad, compiled by a parent, an adult with autism, and a speech and language pathologist.
Wrongplanet.net is an international online resource and community for people with Autism and Aspergers, and includes forums, discussion groups, and other resources. Users must create a login.
Ideas/Information/Resources Specific to Libraries
http://www.theredkiteproject.org/faq.html#01
This link is really great for libraries wanting to advertise a sensory story time the "right" way, but the entire project is very excellent! This site/project does a great job of demonstrating that "sensitivity" we want to show families coming to the library. The theater in the Red Kite Project does a social story that can be given to each family before attending, etc. and is a great model for welcoming groups on the Autism Spectrum unfamiliar with the library!
Libraries and Autism: We're Connected, a project of the Scotch Plains and the Fanwood Memorial Public Libraries in New Jersey. This site is regularly updated with useful links, videos, book suggestions, and information specific to libraries.
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has put together some webinars and other resources that are designed for schools, but are very relevant for libraries!
Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning is funded by the Office of Head Start and the Child Care Bureau to promote evidenced based practices to help teachers and parents with social emotional development of children through age five. Look here for training modules, a book nook with book extension activities and more.
Storytime/Libraries:
Handouts from an ALA session on Sensory Storytimes
Video example of sensory storytime in North Carolina
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