Autism and disability sessions at state conferences for school librarians

Abstract

With 1 in 44 children in the United States meeting the criteria for an autism diagnosis , it is likely that most, if not all, school librarians will have some contact with a student with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). One potential avenue for such education is through professional development opportunities such as state library conferences, in which school librarians share information with one another in forums such as breakout and poster sessions, while also attending keynote and sponsored presentations. To expand upon previous research related to training of school librarians in the area of ASD, this content analysis examines state library conference programs to determine if information is being shared through such conferences about autism and disability. Conferences from nine states, over a 5-year period, were analyzed for key terms related to autism and disability. Findings reveal few opportunities for school librarians to learn about autism and disability through sessions presented at state conferences, despite a previously established interest and need.

On making libraries and museums more accessible for autistic people

“…Asking questions around what ASD is and figuring out which students display symptoms and how to reach out to those students is a step in helping autistic students to succeed academically, as well as working out how to tailor instruction to individual students and the strategies and techniques to help them learn most effectively (Cho, 2018: 337). Spending more time sharing information about autism and the knowledge gained in the process can help librarians acquire a better understanding and learn how to support autistic library users (Anderson and Layden, 2023: 9), in turn creating a better library experience for the autistic user and librarians themselves (Anderson, 2018: 655).…”

“…Anderson (2018: 646) explains how, as ASD diagnoses increase, so does the number of diagnosed ASD students, and that despite their barriers, they also ‘display many strengths in the higher education environment’. Anderson and Layden (2023: 2) also point out how librarians can help those working with autistic students by ‘providing accommodations and supports’ for students on the spectrum.…”