Comfortable Interaction
Comfortable Interaction
Topic 3: Comfortable Interaction
Watch this clip from Libraries and Autism: We're Connected Video (1 min, 40 sec) to learn more about interacting with our library patrons with autism.
Click here for the complete script to the video.
In order to assist interaction between library staff and your visitors who have autism, libraries should accommodate the communication needs of all members of the library community. This can include:
- communication boards or symbol charts consisting of images and basic words that represent anticipated needs so that the patron can communicate by pointing to the pictures.
- Example: A communication board from Libraries and Autism: We're Connected
- Boardmaker® software can assist librarians in creating various communication boards
- PECS®: Picture Exchange Communication System
- American Sign Language
- GoTalk Devices: "Battery powered augmentative/alternative communication (AAC) devices used by people who cannot communicate well by speaking" (Spectronics, 2017)
- Proloquo2Go: A "symbol-supported communication app" (AssistiveWare, 2017)
When communicating, library staff will also need to consider the individual needs of their users with autism to ensure that messages are understood.
Do an image search of the Internet with the terms "Boardmaker®" or "PECS® and autism." You will get an idea of what Boardmaker® software can create as well as ideas for how it may be used for children with autism. Based on what you have seen, what are some other ideas you might use to support children with autism with these visual images?