VLA Presentation Open Door Special Needs Storytime

1. Virginia Library Association Annual Conference
October 2012
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2.  HeatherKetron
Head of Youth Services
Ashburn Library
Loudoun County Public Library
 Christine
Leary
Youth Services Librarian
Cascades Library
Loudoun County Public Library
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3. LOUDOUN COUNTY
• 7 branches (will be 8 branches early 2013)
• Population – 328, 533 (2012 estimate)
• Public Schools – 80 (2011 – 2012)
• School enrollment – 65, 668 (Sept. 30, 2011)
• According to the US Census Bureau, Loudoun has
continued to be one of the fastest growing counties in 3
the United States.

4. PRESENTATION PREVIEW
 Background Information
 Program Resources
 Keys to Success
 Sample Storytime & Activities
 Incorporating sensory activities into regular
storytimes
 Questions
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5. BACKGROUND
 Autism Spectrum Disorder is estimated to
affect more than 2 million individuals in the
U.S. and tens of millions worldwide.
 Loudoun County Public Schools – 742
students are identified as autistic.
 In response, Loudoun County Public
Library developed a storytime program
designed for children who have
developmental disorders on the autism
spectrum.
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6. BACKGROUND (2)
 Autism is also known as ASD, Autism Spectrum
Disorder.
“A child may not have the same symptoms and may
seem very different from another child with the
same diagnosis. It is sometimes said, that if
you know one person with autism; you know
one person with autism.”
Source: Autism Speaks
www.autismspeaks.org/whatisit/symptoms.php
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7. BACKGROUND (3)
 These are sensory storytimes vs. “regular”
storytimes.
 Includes sensory activities but this is not
therapy.
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8. BACKGROUND (4)
 What do we mean when we say “sensory?”
 External
 Tactile
 Auditory
 Visual
 Taste & Smell
 Internal
 Proprioception – muscles & joints
 Vestibular – movement, balance, & coordination
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9. BACKGROUND (5)
 Sensory storytimes are good for all children, not
just special needs children
 Open Door Storytime = Provides families with a
storytime where they can relax, with others who
are familiar with autistic behaviors
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10. PURPOSE
 In accordance with Loudoun County Public
Library policy and Early Literacy Guidelines,
the Open Door Special Needs Storytime
programs shall exist to:
 Share and model the importance of early literacy
activities with parents and children;
 Provide sensory integration experiences ;
 Create and sustain an accepting and welcoming
library environment for special needs children and
their families.
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11. OBJECTIVES
 Through participation in the Open Door Special
Needs Storytime program, children ages 3-5 will
share early literacy experiences. Specifically,
participants will:
 Participate in a variety of early literacy
activities
 Engage in sensory activities
 Develop positive relationships with
participants and library staff
 Become aware of library resources
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12. FUNDING
 Funding for Open Door Special Needs Storytime
comes from the Loudoun County Public Library
operating budget.
 100 Women Strong grant = $3000
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13. PARTICIPATION
 From June 2011 – August 2012
 22 Open Door programs were presented in 2 LCPL
branches
 Average attendance was 16 participants
 Saturday Afternoons
 Thursday Evenings – was changed to Sat afternoons
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14. PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
 Open Door program plans were developed
 through library staff collaboration
 utilizing popular storytimes themes
 to take advantage of existing library resources
 to promote sensory engagement with books and
themes
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15. PROGRAM RESOURCES
 Library collection (books and CD’s)
 Local organizations & agencies
 Staff!
 Websites
 Vendors/Suppliers
 Boardmaker software
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16. ROLE OF LIBRARY STAFF
 We are supplementing, enriching , and
extending children’s literacy development
 We complement school instruction, we do not
provide instruction, remediation, or therapy.
 Our role is to facilitate and support children’s
learning.
 Our role is also to create a setting where
children have a positive, life-enhancing
experience in the library.
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17. SOME KEYS TO SUCCESS
 Positive, Supportive, Encouraging
 Predictable and Structured (for the children)
 Flexibility (for the staff)
 FOCUS =Children vs. “teaching”
 Community partnerships
 The parents
 Having a reasonably sized group
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18. OPEN DOOR COMPONENTS
 Books!
 Visual Schedule
 Use the same opening and closing routines
 Weighted lap snakes, carpet squares
 Big Mack switch
 Flannel board
 Props
 Music & Rhymes
 Movement
 Unison Reading – “read along”
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 Social Time

19. SAMPLE STORYTIME
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20. VISUAL SCHEDULE
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21. • We sing the same song each
storytime.
• Children say their names
while seeing their reflection
in the unbreakable mirror.
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22. • Parents help pass the
switch.
• Use a book with a
repeating phrase or
word.
“Not by the skin of
my finny fin fin!” 22

23. Rain
From Head to Toe
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24. 24

25. Props – puppets; beanie babies; inflatable
animals; etc.
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26. 26

27. Sung to : “Skip to My Lou”
Fish, fish, swim up high,
Fish, fish, swim down low,
Fish, fish, swim so fast,
Fish, fish, swim so slow.
Using a song on a CD:
Walking, Walking
Walking, walking, walking, walking
Hop, hop, hop. Hop, hop, hop
Running, running, running.
Running, running, running.
Now let’s stop. Now let’s stop! 27

28. Two little black birds
Sitting on a hill.
One named Jack,
One named Jill.
Fly away Jack,
Fly away Jill.
Come back Jack, Gray squirrel, gray squirrel,
Come back Jill. Swish your fluffy tail.
Gray squirrel, gray squirrel,
Swish your fluffy tail.
Wrinkle up your little nose
Hold a nut between your toes.
Gray squirrel, gray squirrel,
Swish your fluffy tail. 28

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30. Large Motor Movement:
Simple Yoga poses
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31. This is a nice way to share a story. Especially for the
kids who have visual impairments. They can have the 31
book close to them so they can see the illustrations.

32. • Utilizing instruments provides
a way to reinforce the musical
experience and help make it
lots of fun!
• A wonderful way to express
themselves non-verbally.
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33. Our ending routine includes a “goodbye
song”, a with a walk on the sensory beam
and some bubble popping.
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34. Toys, painting, coloring, books, blocks,
balls, etc.
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35. INCORPORATING SENSORY ELEMENTS
INTO ANY STORYTIME
Make specific items/elements a regular part of every storytime.
• Use the BIGmack switch in your opening/closing song.
• Reread a book in unison
• Repeat a book as a flannel
• Seating - Use carpet squares; rug; or Educubes
• Use adapted books
• Tactile items – cotton balls; sandpaper
• Add a visual schedule
• Use the sensory beam at the end of every storytime as
your closing activity.
If time allows, have “play time” at the end of your storytimes. 35
Bring out the toys, puzzles, soft balls, etc.

36. PROGRAM FEEDBACK
“I’m so glad the library is doing
this for our special kids.”
“What a wonderful, much needed
service for our area!”
“It is nice to have a place where
people don’t look at us funny for
the odd way my daughter behaves.”
“We really enjoy coming to the
library!” 36

37. Thank you for coming!
 Handouts and presentation are posted on
the Conference website, www.vla.org
 Your Questions
 Contact Us:
Heather.Ketron@loudoun.gov
Christine.Leary@loudoun.gov
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