2019 Joint Conference ILA/NLA/NSLA

Much is said about the need to increase diversity in librarianship, but very infrequently does that talk translate into action. It is one thing to be devoted to increasing diversity and another to actually know how to do it. This is especially true of hiring employees with communicative and developmental disabilities. Many employers have a certain anxiety about working with an employee with communicative disabilities like autism or hearing loss, because they are unsure if they will be able to effectively communicate about job duties with these individuals. Other employers are simply under misconceptions about the abilities of these individuals. It is important to bust these misconceptions and assuage these anxieties in order to turn from talk to action.

This session will focus on building an understanding of the strengths of individuals with special needs and strategies for integrating them in the library work environment. The discussion will start with the job description and interview process and progress through physical workplace design, employee training, and expectations/opportunities for rewards and promotion. These strategies are designed for individuals with special needs, but will benefit ALL employees.

This session is designed with all audiences in mind, but may be of particular interest to library administrators in public and academic libraries. The session will include a discussion of how this information aligns with and can be incorporated into the public librarian certifications in both Nebraska and Iowa.