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Previous Autism Welcome Here Grant Winners Include:
2019-2020 (Fourth Cycle) Winners:
** Oceanside Public Library (Oceanside, CA)
Autism-Friendly Lending Library Collection * $4,000
The collection that will support children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), their parents, caregivers, and
educators. The circulating collection will include books and resources relating to ASD, therapeutic toys, assistive
technology, and speech and language card sets. The Library will also host and create autism-friendly events,
assistive technology workshops, outreach to local elementary school special education classrooms, and biweekly
sensory storytimes designed to be inclusive of children with autism based on best practices learned in staff
workshops.
** Evelyn Hanshaw Middle School Library (Modesto, CA)
Team Titans Club * $1,000
The inclusive Team Titans Club is for students with and without ASD will meet during lunch periods every other
week for a program led by the teacher librarian and special education teacher. Students will form teams and keep
track of their scores, which will be displayed on the large television monitor in the Library. Student teams will play
non-technology games such as Keva Planks, 3D puzzles, and Minute to Win It. The program's primary goal is to
provide students with ASD an opportunity to work on their social skills and build new relationships.
2018-2019 (Third Cycle) Winners:
** Half Hollow Hills Community Library (Dix Hills, NY)
Library Cafe * $2,500
This multi-session, scaffolded program is being developed in partnership with SOAR (Support our Autism
Rainbow, a community group founded by local ASD parents) and special education professionals. The
program focuses on introducing and/or reinforcing ADL (Activities for Daily Living) skills, especially
through topics related to nutrition and food preparation for youth patrons on the Autism Spectrum while
strengthening their relationship with the public library.
The members of the grant committee were impressed with this plan to serve school age children with
ASD and the focus on ADLs.
** Autism BC Lending Library (Richmond, Canada)
Reading with your Grandchild on the Spectrum * $2,000
Reading with your Grandchild on the Spectrum is a six-session pilot workshop series for grandparents of children
on the autism spectrum. Participants will leave with introductory knowledge about ASD, a toolkit of early literacy
activities they can utilize with their grandchildren, and a network of other grandparents in their community they can
turn to for supporting their own wellbeing
The members of the grant committee were impressed with this plan that targets grandparents, focuses on
diverse populations, and brings this program to public libraries across the province.
** Oscoda County Library (Mio, MI)
SENSEational Story Time * $500
This monthly storytime program includes a story, an activity and/or craft, snacks and information and support for
the families. All elements will be sensory focused. The library plans to give each participating child
a copy of each book read (5-6 total)to keep. The goal of this program is to help children with socialization.
The members of the grant committee were impressed with this plan to bring a targeted library
service to children with ASD in a small community, creating the only such program
in their geographic area. The involvement of parents and professionals in the program also helped make
this proposal a winner.
2017-2018 (Second Cycle) Winner:
** The Albert Wisner Public Library (Warwick, NY)
Improve your Social Life: Social Skills and Having Fun for Tweens and Teens
Living with Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities * $5,000
Improve Your Social Life provides a series of workshops designed to support the development of social skills for
teens and tweens with ASD. In this series, participants had the opportunity to learn about the library, form a
book group, enhance their social media etiquette, express themselves through art projects, play board games, take
part in a group dance, and more. The program had three primary goals: introduce and encourage social skills that
teens and tweens can apply in the library and beyond; provide those on the spectrum and their families a safe and
familiar place in the community; demonstrate respect for neurodiversity and inclusion.
Game Night at the Albert Wisner Public Library Fall, 2017
End of Year Report
The 2016-2017 (First Cycle) Winners:
** Simsbury (CT) Public Library; and Judith J. Carrier
Everybody Plays * $2,500
Everybody Plays is an inclusive playgroup developed in collaboration with Creative Interventions, LLC.
It provides a welcoming and accessible play experience for children of all abilities from birth to age five.
Children and caregivers are invited to come and participate in sensory play, fine and gross motor activities
and collaborative play. Everybody Plays allows families and children to make connections with their community,
share experiences and resources, and learn to appreciate the wonderful differences and gifts of each person.
It also provides an opportunity for children with special needs and their typical peers to learn to play together
and enjoy each other's company.
Everybody Plays Online Slideshow
Everybody Plays Session Outline
Everybody Plays End of Year Report
Everybody Plays materials
** Library at the Tarrant County (TX) College Southeast Campus
Autism Spectrum College Information Talks (ASCIT) Project * $2,500
The ASCIT Project's goal was to raise awareness, and increase knowledge of the needs of students with autism
who are transitioning from K-12 to postsecondary education. Towards that end, they produced video presentations
on a number of related topics. These videos, and other resources can be accessed through the links below.
Resources for the ASCIT project - including:
Videos about ASD programs in library and higher education,
a Bibliography of books about Autism,
and a list of Local and national organizations with information and outreach programs
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