So, you’ve bought some new materials, you’ve put together a booklist and/or webpage, you’ve planned a sensory storytime… Now how do you spread the word to your community? Here are some ideas:
- Local newspaper(s) – print and online (Patch)
- Library website, newsletter, etc.
- Local Early Intervention office
- Integrated Preschool in your city/town (send over enough flyers for them to put one in every child’s backpack)
- SEPAC (special education parent advisory council) – every city/town that has special education in its public schools has a SEPAC
- Local autism resource center – see MA list here
- Local public access channel
- PTAs, public school newsletters
What other ways could we market the materials and services we have for families affected by autism? Please leave a comment with your ideas!
November 10th, 2011
Ashley Waring
I finally offered my first sensory storytime this morning. It was wonderful! Only 3 families came, but check out this fabulous email our library received this afternoon:
Just wanted to send a big thank you for the sensory storytime
this morning! It was terrific! I will be sure to let other preschool parents [know] to come to the next one. My four-year old LOVED it and I think I’m even more excited than he is as the event stirred up a lot of great ideas for activities I can do with my kids at home! Thank you thank you!!!
Obviously even though it wasn’t a huge crowd, it made a huge impact. Just goes to show that families want these services and will be very appreciative if you offer them. The parents were so enthusiastic and participated fully, much more so than at a “regular” storytime.
This was my schedule:
- Hello song
- Shirt song
- Fingerplay
- Five Little Pumpkins book (with feltboard)
- Scarves and music
- Sticky bubblegum song with Therabands
- Dog’s Colorful Day book (with feltboard)
- Goodbye song
- Bubbles and music
I used carpet squares on the floor to help kids with boundaries, I used a visual schedule, and I had a table display near the door with books, DVDs, and other materials for families to take home. After the storytime, the families went into our picture book room and the kids played with toys while the moms talked. If I have a larger group next time, I’ll bring toys into the storytime room so families can stay and socialize in there when the program is finished.
November 4th, 2011
Ashley Waring
I started doing sensory story times in January 2011. This story time, which is opened to all children ages 2-5, is especially geared to children with sensory integration issues. It is also for those children who may have difficulty sitting through regular story times. I hold this story time one day every other month. I have been holding this story time during the week, usually in the morning, but starting in January 2012 I will hold this story time on Saturday mornings. I have noticed that story times during the week don’t always work well for families that have children with sensory issues and I don’t want this to just turn into a regular story time. I am hoping that Saturday mornings will work better with people’s schedules.
I struggled with being able to only do this story time once every other month. I originally wanted to do it on a more regular basis, but I just didn’t have the time in my schedule. However, I feel that the children will benefit from and enjoy the story time, even if I am only able to offer it on a limited basis.
For each story time I pick a theme, such as colors or the farm, and read books related to that theme. We always start and end with the same songs. We also do fingerplays/rhymes, three stories (at least one story is an interactive story that the children can help me with), and often an activity with scarves (usually moving the scarves to soft music). After we sing our goodbye song I blow some bubbles and then the children have the opportunity to color a picture related to the theme, while parents can visit with one another. I also put out stuffed animals and fidget balls for the children to use during the story time and a picture schedule of the activities is on the wall behind me during the program.
I advertise this story time at local preschools, in our monthly e-newsletter, in brochures/advertisements within the library, in the local newspaper, on our website, and I am now sending letters and flyers to local organizations that offer head start, early intervention, and therapy for children with autism.
October 7th, 2011
Gina Lipkin
I was looking up sensory storytime info on the interwebs tonight, and one click led to another… I ended up finding a lot of great things at ALA and ALSC for those of us interested in serving special needs populations.
1) ALSC has a Serving Children with Autism community on ALA Connect. There aren’t a ton of posts right now, but there ARE all the slides from the Sensory Storytime presentation that was done at ALA’s annual conference. Very helpful stuff.
2) Through this community I learned about the “Light the Way” grant for services to underserved populations. The application is available now. Find out more here.
3) For those of you that are ALA members, you can also get involved in the ALSC Library Services to Special Population Children and their Caregivers Committee (who oversees the above mentioned grant).
If you know of any other ALA resources, communities, or committees that might be of interest, please use the comments to let us know!
September 21st, 2011
Ashley Waring
ALA’s Remarkable Reads recently featured a few autism titles. Check it out!
September 17th, 2011
Ashley Waring
ALA is offering an online webinar training on how to do a sensory storytime. Check out the details here. The course is taught by Barbara Klipper of the Ferguson Library in Stamford, CT. There are 4 available sessions in October and November. I’ll be at the Oct. 24th session!
September 17th, 2011
Ashley Waring
Here are a few lists, in case parents ask! Check out the comments on both pages, they are full of even more apps and ideas.
List from BookRoom Reviews
List from Moms with Apps
September 6th, 2011
Ashley Waring
I’ve been surfing the Internet doing research for some Autism Awareness activities and came across this site. It’s called “Autism Games” and was created by a speech pathologist. I haven’t had a chance to look at it in depth but it appears there are various levels. http://sites.google.com/site/autismgames/home/games-pages
March 23rd, 2011
Molly Hancock
I was just forwarded an e-mail about this Autism Technology Resource Fair that is happening on April 6th at Tufts Medical Center. I have more details on my library’s Autism Resources Blog – http://pmlautismguide.blogspot.com.
March 22nd, 2011
Molly Hancock
A Lenten half-day retreat will be offered for mothers of children with physical, developmental and/or emotional challenges on Saturday, March 26th, 8:30 AM to noon at the Sisters of St. Joseph, 637 Cambridge St., Brighton, MA 02135. For more information or to register call 617-747-2056 or e-mail Maryritaweschler@csjboston.org.
March 22nd, 2011
Molly Hancock
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