Dawn Bish

LIS 650

Ideals Vision Paper

Ideals Vision Paper Dawn Bish LIS 650 Fall 2010

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Dawn Bish

LIS 650

Ideals Vision Paper

Hogwartss Library, an Ideal Vision of a Library Serving People with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Introduction I have worked with people with developmental disabilities for most of my adult life. I believe that it is very important that the library system of any institution, be it public, academic or school library system, embrace and serve all those in its community including those with developmental disabilities. I especially would like to address those people with Autism Spectrum Disorders for two reasons. The first reason being that there has been an increase in the numbers of children being diagnosed with ASD and the second reason is that despite the ever growing population of those diagnosed with ASD, the disability is often overlooked or ignored. Autism is a devastating disability that affects each person differently. There is a saying in the world of Autism that when you met one person with Autism, you have met one person with Autism. In other words, just saying that a person has Autism does not provide enough information to accurately access the needs and capabilities of the person. However, it does provide one with a general guideline to what to expect.

Mission Statement The mission of the Hogwartss Library is to work collaboratively with providers, caregivers and those with ASD in order to provide free and equal access to all information, knowledge sharing and the fostering of lifelong learning in order to meet the current and future needs of those with ASD. The HL will provide guidance, assistance and a safe and nurturing environment to all library users regardless of disability or functioning level. It is the policy of HL that all those with ASD will feel comfortable using the services of the HL and that the HL serves as a community resource not only for those with ASD but those providing care to those with ASD.

What is Autism?

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Dawn Bish

LIS 650

Ideals Vision Paper

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a pervasive developmental disorder that affects a persons communication, social skills, behavior and sensory system. Children and adults with ASD may exhibit a wide range of symptoms from mild to severe. There is no definitive diagnostic tool for ASD, such as blood test or genetic testing. The diagnosis is made by observing the individual and questioning the caregivers. According to the Center for Disease Control, the prevalence of ASD is one in 110 children (Autism Spectrum Disorders). Communication deficits may include but are not limited to lack of functional speech, inability to convey simple ideas, inability to express wants or needs or inability to understand jokes or sarcasm. Social skills deficits may include inability to pretend play or parallel play, inability to participate in group activities, turn taking and role playing games and lack of eye contact. Behavior deficits may include self-injurious behaviors, flapping of hands, self-stimulatory behavior and aggression towards others. These deficits all contribute to the difficulty a person with ASD will have while in the community.

Why is serving people with Autism important? The library has always been the bastion of community togetherness. It is important for the library to serve all people that make up a community. As stated above, the CDC estimates the prevalence of ASD is one in 110 people. If one thinks about this statistic, if the library serves 110 people per day, the librarian will come into contact with at least one person with ASD. That is a significant number of patrons with ASD. As a library and as a librarian, one is charged with serving all people in the community. People with ASD make up a significant portion of those patrons in the library. The Hogwartss Library will provide a variety of services and programs aimed at those with ASD.

The Perfect Library for those with ASD Due to the nature of the disability those with ASD tend to have a difficult time navigating the community due to communication, social and sensory issues. To address these areas, the HL will provide the following supports and guidelines: Training Staff training needs to be the primary focus of the HL. It is important that all staff that will be interacting with the ASD patron have the knowledge and understanding of what ASD is and the materials needed in order to interact effectively with the ASD patron. This training will include but not be limited to: what is ASD, the best way to communicate with the person with ASD, how to increase social skills and decrease 3|Page

Dawn Bish

LIS 650

Ideals Vision Paper

behaviors and what to expect when working with those with ASD. Training will take place prior to working in HL as well as ongoing throughout the tenure of the employee. This training will also include weekly sessions to address staff needs and questions. It is important that staff feel that they have a venue to express needs, concerns and contribute ideas. Communication To assist the patron with ASD, the HL will have in place a variety of supports and services to address the communication needs of the person with ASD. Each area of the library will be labeled with a picture symbol to inform the patron as to what area they are in. There will also be made available, picture how to cards to assist the patron in learning how to complete a variety of library skills including checking out a book to asking for a computer. The website Libraries and Autism: Were Connected is an excellent resource for pictures and even a customizable booklet on developing an introductory book to your library. The website for this excellent site is: http://www.thejointlibrary.org/autism/index.htm.

main desk circulation computer station return

Examples of Symbols taken from Libraries and Autism website

Social Skills and Sensory Issues The layout of the library is important for those with ASD. Due to the problems with social skills and sensory issues, it is important to set up the library for success. The best practice for setting up the library area is to divide the larger area into smaller areas with natural divisions (chairs, cubbies or bookshelves). Ideally, the library should be divided into the following areas: group work, quiet area, sensory area, reading area, computer area and work area. Each section should be neat and 4|Page

Dawn Bish

LIS 650

Ideals Vision Paper

clean with a minimal amount of stimulating signage and colors. Colors and lighting can be distracting to the person with ASD. The group area will consist of a large table with individual chairs and an area where a group could sit on the floor if they want. The quiet area should be placed away from the group area and the sensory area and have places that a person can be alone. This can be accomplished by setting up tents with pillows inside or confined areas with pillows. The area should be free of noise and distraction so that the person with ASD can use the area as a calming down center or a way to escape from too much distraction or stimulation. The sensory area should have activities that a person with ASD would find calming such as a trampoline, bean bags and activities that will stimulate the persons sensory perception. This is a great way to enable the person with ASD to feel calm when in the community and participate effectively. A section with individual desks that are separated from each other would be perfect for the person with ASD to read, work on new skills and use the computer. Engagement Ideally, the library would be engaging to the individual with ASD. This will encompass more than the traditional library would have. The HL will have a variety of computer programs focused on skills acquisition and attainment. These computers will come equipped with touch screens for ease of use. The HL will also be equipped with NookColor ereaders which will provide the ASD patron with a portable system to interact with and for reading. An area with puzzles, writing material and art supplies will complete the area. And of course, there will be lots and lots of books.

Raving Fans The premise of Raving Fans includes the edicts: decide what you want, discover what your customers want and deliver the vision plus 1 percent. The following is an outline of how Hogwartss Library will meet those criteria. Decide What You Want Outlined above is my idea for the ideal library for persons with ASD. This library will be a part of a bigger library system in a public, school or academic library system. It is important that the library be part of a bigger library system to ensure that the person with

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Dawn Bish

LIS 650

Ideals Vision Paper

ASD is part of the community at large and not segregated. This is probably the most important idea for my library. Discover What Your Customers Want The customer includes the internal customers which will be the library staff and the external customer consisting of people with ASD and the caregiver or provider. It is important for the library to assess the customers needs on a regular basis. This will be done through surveys and approaching the individual or provider and asking what might be needed. It is important to poll the individual as what may be a need for one person may not be for another. It is also important for employees to feel invested in the program. The staff will meet on a regular basis to discuss issues and concerns and to talk about what is working and what isnt. Deliver Plus One Percent This is possibly one of the most important criteria of Raving Fans and probably the most difficult to achieve with the type of library I am proposing. I believe that in order to be successful, a library of this type must start off slowly and build upon each system in order to be successful. It may be impossible to implement all the above in my perfect library but by starting small and increasing services and supports on a regular basis, the library will see success and deliver plus 1.

First Break All the Rules As the administrator of the library, I would ensure that all twelve questions outlined in FBAR would be answered positively. The following is an outline of how this will be completed. Do I know what is expected of me? Each employee will be hired with the understanding that there primary emphasis will be in dealing with the developmentally disabled population. This will include vigorous training initial and continued training regularly. Do I have the materials and equipment I need to do my work right? [BASE CAMP what do I get?] Including training, each employee will be given the opportunity to express their needs, questions and suggestions on a regular basis. This includes asking for (and receiving) all needed materials to complete their job. At work, do I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day? 6|Page

Dawn Bish

LIS 650

Ideals Vision Paper

There will be plenty of opportunity for employees to do what they do best every day. This is difficult to define as each employee will have unique strengths and talents. This will be met on an individual basis taking into account those strengths and talents. In the last seven days, have I received recognition or praise for doing good work? I believe that recognition and praise does not necessarily need to come from your supervisor but can come from your co-workers and the patrons you serve. I will institute a Caught Being Good program where co-workers and patrons will have the opportunity to acknowledge and praise each other for doing a good job and going above and beyond what is necessary. This program will also include an incentive program where when the employee receives 10 Caught Being Good cards, they will receive a gift certificate to a store of their choice. Does my supervisor, or someone at work, seem to care about me as a person? As the administrator of the program, I would be accessible to all employees as needed and have an open door policy. I would also make it a priority that I work all shifts in the library and work with all staff. It is important that as a supervisor, one be accessible and available when needed to get to know the employee. This way, the employee will be able to say, yes, to this question. Is there someone at work who encourages my development? [Camp 1 What do I give? As stated above, it is important for the administrator knows each employee and recognizes their strengths and talents. With this knowledge, one will be able to encourage the development of the employees. At work, do my opinions seem to count? Due to having weekly staff meetings wherein the employees will be able to provide input and express ideas, this should address this question. Does the mission/purpose of my company make me feel my job is important? I would hope that I would be able to express how integral an employee to this type of library endeavor. This cannot come to pass without dedicated employees. 7|Page

Dawn Bish

LIS 650

Ideals Vision Paper

Are my co-workers committed to doing quality work? Since the program will be run as a group project, it is important that all involved are committed to doing quality work (including me). It will be essential that as an administrator, I select for the talent to function well in a group. Do I have a best friend at work? [CAMP 2 - Do I belong here?) I do understand the idea that if you have a best friend at work that it promotes the feeling that you belong there, but I still do not understand how as an administrator I would ensure that this can be answered yes. In the last six months, has someone at work talked to me about my progress? I will meet with each staff on an individual basis at least once every six months or more frequently where needed. At this meeting, we will discuss progress and review opportunities that the employee might have to develop as a member and to grow. I would ensure that all opportunities for growth would be met with a positive attitude and that the employees feel encouraged to grow. This last year, have I had opportunities at work to learn and grow? [CAMP 3 How can we all grow?] See above

Budget example for the first year

The following is an outline of the initial budget for the library. The supplies budget will decrease in subsequent years as supplies will not need to be purchased.
Staffing Full Time Librarian Full Time Librarian Part Time Librarian Part Time Librarian Salary Benefits Total $60,000. 00 30% $78,000.00 $60,000. 00 30% $78,000.00 $30,000. 00 $30,000.00 $30,000. 00 $30,000.00

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Dawn Bish

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Ideals Vision Paper

Total Staffing Amou nt 10 15 1 2

$216,000. 00

Supplies Computers Nooks Furniture Trampoline Tents Puzzles Writing materials Other materials Software Maintenance of Tech

Cost Total $800.00 $8,000.00 $300.00 $4,500.00 $3,000.00 $3,000.00 $300.00 $300.00 $50.00 $100.00 $200.00 $200.00 $300.00 $1,000.00 $2,500.00 $1,000.00 Total Supplies Total Staffing Budget Total $300.00 $1,000.00 $25,000.00 $1,000.00 $43,400.0 0 $216,000. 00 $259,400. 00

Needs Assessment and Evaluation Evaluations of programs and services will be done initially on a monthly basis. This will ensure that we are meeting the deliver plus one. This is an important step in ensuring that the program in begun correctly and maintains the essence of the mission statement in the long run. After the first six months, biannual needs assessments will be completed. These needs assessment will collect data from employees and patrons to ensure quality of programs.

Four Keys to Outstanding Managers Selecting the right person for the job is essential. This does not necessarily mean that the perfect librarian or assistant will have experience working with people with ASD but that they have the talent to understand the needs of this unique patron and to successfully implement trainings and activities developed for the person with ASD. As the leader of the library, it will be my job to ensure that each employee demonstrates those strengths 9|Page

Dawn Bish

LIS 650

Ideals Vision Paper

needed to thrive in this environment. I will make sure that all employees know what the outcome of the program is (see mission statement) and are given the opportunity to use their talents to achieve those outcomes.

Leader but not Necessarily Manager If I learned anything in this class it is that a leader motivates and encourages those around him to be the best they can be and to meet the mission and outcomes of the project. This does not mean that the leader is necessarily the manager but that anyone can lead and be a leader. It is important that one is a team player who motivates those around them and to nurture talent and strengths of others.

Conclusion It is important that as an administrator as well as a leader that one must always be open to new ideas and be flexible. Being flexible can be difficult for most people (me included) but one needs to work on this in order to be a leader and part of a team. I enjoyed the opportunity to develop my ideal library as I do believe in the concept of a library belonging to all in the community. I look forward to the opportunity to carry out this type of program in a library where I work.

Autism Spectrum Disorders. (n.d.). Retrieved November 9, 2010, from Center for Disease Ccontrol: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/index.html

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