Do children with disabilities visit your library? Do they feel welcome? How would you like to provide library service for them?

A child with a disability may need an individual service plan. But many books or articles provide generalizations and all-encompassing descriptions.

This course will take another approach. By reading juvenile novels about children with disabilities, we will discover their individual needs. First, we will examine how schools handle students with disabilities. Then we will explore ways that the library might be able to assist each child. We will look at inclusive programming, assistive technologies, staff attitudes and legal considerations.

This is not intended to be a comprehensive course. Rather, we will collaboratively develop strategies for determining needs and identify resources that can be consulted when an actual child requires our help.

Four books will be used as the basis for the course: Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, Deaf Child Crossing, Reaching the Sun, and Rules.

• Teacher: Dan Bostrom
• Teacher: Kristen Figliulo