Introduction

Now that you have learned about what autism is, its signs and symptoms, and some interventions, we'll show you some ways to best assist people with autism become more comfortable with using your library. We will also show you how make others in your community more comfortable with people with autism. Information services, being one of the primary missions of most libraries, can be tailored to the needs of your library community to:

• promote autism awareness (which leads to respect and sensitivity)
• provide materials of interest to users on the spectrum
• offer tools and information to help library users with autism to develop much needed skills, and
• ensure that everyone enjoys a useful and positive library experience.

Learning Objectives

After completing this module, learners will be able to make their library "autism-friendly" by

• Identifying elements that are important to include in a library orientation for patrons;
• Identifying supports libraries can make available to help people with autism prepare for a library visit;
• Identifying ways to modify the library's physical environment to make it more comfortable for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities;
• Modifying the library environment to meet the sensory needs of library users with autism and other developmental disabilities;
• Interacting with library users who have disabilities in a way that is appropriate to their specific communication needs;
• Providing services and programming, resources, and assistive technologies to library users that take into account their particular needs;
• Accommodating the learning needs of library program participants who have autism;
• Selecting strategies to develop autism awareness in library staff and users; and
• Promoting the library's autism friendliness to the community.