Online Webinar

Libraries for All: Accessible Library Services for Children with Disabilities and Their Families
Presenter: Renee Grassi
Tuesday, October 19, 2021
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm EST

Description: According to the CDC, 1 in 6 children have a disability. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, children with disabilities and their families are disconnected from their communities now more than ever before. How can libraries connect with these families and deliver more inclusive and accessible experiences to support disabled children and their families? In this webinar, Renee Grassi will share tips for inclusive customer service, ideas for accessible library programs, and strategies for community engagement to support welcoming library experiences for all.

Learning Outcomes:

• Participants will acquire at least 5 accessibility tools or strategies to support disabled children and their families at the library.

• Participants will learn at least 5 strategies for adapting existing library programs to be more inclusive to children with disabilities and their families.

• Participants will increase their awareness of the value of accessibility and inclusion in libraries.

Presenter:  Renee Grassi

Author, blogger, speaker, and trainer Renee Grassi is a recognized library leader and advocate for equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in libraries. In 2012, she was named a Library Journal Mover & Shaker for creating new programs for individuals with disabilities at the Deerfield Public Library. A graduate from Dominican University's Library and Information Science Program and Illinois librarian for nearly ten years, Renee relocated to Minnesota in 2016 where she now resides with her husband and feline family. She currently works at Dakota County Library, where she is Youth Services Manager and Chair of her library's Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee.