Come On In!
...the library is a special place for children with disabilities
An ongoing goal of the Youth Services Department is to make the public library a meaningful and popular place for all children. In partnership with Niles Township District for Special Education (NTDSE), the Youth Services Staff has been trained to better understand and serve children with disabilities.
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The Come On In! project offers specialized services, programs, and resources for families and for educators who care for children of varying abilities. The Youth Services staff invites and encourages children with special needs to Come On In! and enjoy the library.
Come On In! began in 2004 with a grant from the Illinois State Library. The program has since been supported by local community members and a 2006 National Organization on Disability Award from the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies.
News and media...
Interface Web Companion
to the Newsletter of the Association for Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies: Come On In! - Volume 28, Number 3, Fall 2006
More news...
Programs and services...
Activity bins
Stop at the Youth Services Desk to borrow an activity bin for in-Library use. Available toys, switches, and manipulatives will rotate monthly.
Adapted computer
IntelliKeys® and BigKeys™ keyboards, switches, and a trackball have been installed on a dedicated computer to allow children with disabilities the opportunity to enjoy a variety of entertaining games and activities during their visit to the Library. Choose from popular titles such as Old MacDonald's Farm Deluxe, Shop 'til You Drop, Switch It! games, Talking Nouns and Talking Verbs, and Writing with Symbols. Boardmaker™ is available for parents and teachers' personal use, and a switch interface allows a child's personal switch to be connected to the computer. Headsets are available for purchase at the Youth Services Desk, and print cards may be purchased at the Copy Center.
Adapted computer training is available the first Thursday and second Friday of every month from 6:00 to 8:00pm and on the third Saturday of every month from 10:00am to 12:00noon. Appointments for training at other times may be made by special arrangement with Holly Jin at 847.324.3117 or by . When training is not in session, families of children with special needs may ask a Youth Services staff member to turn on the computer for their use.
Class visits
Skokie Public Library welcomes regular, independent teacher-led field trips for all students. Please contact Holly Jin at 847.324.3117 or by if you would like to bring your special education class to the Library as an independent group. Independent visits do not include a program presentation.
If you are interested in bringing your special education class to the Library for an interactive, one-time, librarian-led program with stories, crafts, and activities, please contact School Services Liaison Susan Heist Carlton at 847.324.3144 or by to schedule a visit. Please allow at least two weeks advance notice to allow staff to prepare for your visit.
Programs
A desire of the Youth Services Department is to see more children with disabilities enjoying Library activities in inclusive settings. Children of all abilities are invited to attend programs listed on the kids' calendar as well as programs that are planned especially for children with special needs.
Past programs...
- Braille Buddies
- Come On In! Community Special Education Night
- Kids Just Want to Have Fun
- Musical performances by Jim Gill
- Preschool and Child Care Fair
- Stage performance by the ICODA Story 'n' Sign traveling theater
- A visit with author Terry Truman
Visit the kids' calendar and What's Going On? section of the Library website for more information about these and other programs and activities for children and families.
Special education books and videos
The Youth Services collection includes several types of disability-related library materials available for checkout:
- Resource books on topics such as Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, behavior, individualized education plans (IEPs), learning styles, legal rights, sensory integration, and social situations
- Videos and DVDs on learning disabilities, inclusion, individualized education plans (IEPs, Autism, and Asperger's Syndrome
- Children's disability awareness books and DVDs
- Boardmaker™ adapted picture books
- High-interest/easy reading level and Start-to-Finish books
- Abridged classics, graphic novel classics, and read-along versions of Shakespeare plays
- Braille and Large Type books
- TumbleBook™ Library, an online collection of animated, talking picture
books, puzzles, and quizzes adapted from existing picture books.
Available in-Library and from home for Skokie Public Library cardholders
See our Come On In! bibliography for a list of over 150 titles organized by topic (requires Adobe Reader).
For more information about Come On In! at Skokie Public Library, please contact Holly Jin at 847.324.3117 or Jan Watkins at 847.324.3151.
