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Making Sure Everyone gets a Piece of the Pie
Library Services to Adults with Developmental Disabilities
Who are adults with developmental disabilities?
They are people who have a condition that we used to call “mental retardation,” “mental impairment,” “intellectual disability,” or “low IQ.”
The preferred term today is “developmental disability.” People have this condition if their IQ is below 70 and they are in some way unable to function at age level in an ordinary environment. Developmental disability can occur alone or in conjunction with physical or emotional disabilities. Regular library materials and services do not always meet the needs of adults with developmental disabilities. For instance, many adults with developmental disabilities can read, but perhaps not at a “normal” adult level, so adult books might be too challenging. However, these patrons are not necessarily interested in children’s books, either. What can we offer them that is appropriate to their abilities and interests?
In this workshop, we heard from a variety of experts and learned ways to meet the unique needs of patrons who have developmental disabilities and how to do more outreach to serve these patrons in our libraries.
The Schedule:
Click links within schedule for handouts and notes of the presentation. 9:30 Registration and coffee10:00 Welcome and introductions
10:15 Keynote speaker: Dr. Connie Van Fleet, OU SLIS. “Why do we need unique library services for adults with developmental disabilities?”
10:45 Donna Spangler, Operations Director, Community Access Inc., and Ed Larsen, Community Living Director Stillwater Group Homes Inc. 11:15 Break
11:30 Panel discussion: Lizzie Wallace, Pam Brown, Cindy Buchanan, & Joan Wheatley. Adults with developmental disabilities and family members discuss library services they would like us to offer.
12:00 Stacy DeLano, Stillwater Public Library, and Fran Harbert, Metropolitan Library System. “Building a library collection for adults with developmental disabilities.” (Click for more handouts from these presentations)
12:30 Working lunch – small group work on scenarios and services
1:15 Group reports
1:45 Jean LeMonier, Developmental Disabilities Services Division of OK DHS: What state services are available for adults with developmental disabilities, and how can we help patrons navigate them?
2:15 Karen Antell, University of Oklahoma. Best Practices: What are other libraries doing to serve adults with developmental disabilities?
2:45 Wrap-up and evaluation
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Social Responsibilities Roundtable - 300 Hardy Drive Edmond, OK 73013
Latest Update May 2007