Programming into Adulthood
Programming into Adulthood
Topic 4: Programming into Adulthood
You may have programs already in place for adults at your library that can be adapted or altered to provide a more inclusive setting.
For example, let's look at book discussions. Most libraries have one, if not many, book discussions per month, but the social aspect of these discussions can be daunting and unapproachable to adults with ASD who may otherwise want to engage. A "Next Chapter" Book Club can be a solution by providing your staff with tools to facilitate a discussion for book lovers of all abilities. The Next Chapter Book Club website explains, that they "offer community-based book clubs for adolescents and adults with Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy and other intellectual and developmental disabilities."
For more information on the Next Chapter Book Club, visit their site. In addition, Libraries and Autism: We're Connected provides many useful strategies for programming people of all ages in their "Programming Strategies that Work."
In addition to Next Chapter Book Clubs, libraries could create or host a young adult book club similar to the adult new reader book clubs adapted for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities: http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/library/literacy/home.html.
References
Fanwood (NJ) Memorial Library & Libraries and Autism (2016). Programming strategies that work. Retrieved from http://librariesandautism.org/strategies.htm.
Next Chapter Book Club (n.d.). Next chapter book club. Retrieved from https://nextchapterbookclub.org/.