Farmer, L.S.J. (2013). Library Services for Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Chicago, IL: American Library Association.
Autism is now the second most commonly diagnosed serious
developmental disability, and the number of children identified as
autistic continues to grow. Introducing what autism spectrum disorders
are, and identifying the great need to build and manage programs for
different youth with these disorders, Farmer offers librarians in or
outside a school environment all the information they need to build a
library literacy program geared towards these children. Designed to both
awaken sensitivities of library staff and address the questions of
those who are already aware of the issue, this book
- Shows how children with this diagnosis are increasingly mainstreamed into traditional library and school programs and identifies the special needs and issues they face in a library setting
- Equips readers to meet the needs of young library users who are autistic with practical tools for training library staff, teachers, and volunteers
- Explains hyperlexia, the main barrier to the development of literacy among these children, and how programs using sensory experiences can strengthen both literacy skills and socialization
- Proposes strategies for using library design to ensure that materials and resources are accessible to all patrons
