Of course, most librarians are savvy enough to be polite and courteous and welcoming to every single person who walks into their library, attempting to make sure they are treated equally. If not, you may want to change professions or become a cataloger (inside librarian joke). Sometimes it's hard to realize what others are going through, however, or understand their situations so we need to grab at books, movies, and anything or anyone who can help us figure out a way to better our own interactions, others, both inside and outside of the library.
I have found that people close to the subject really make the best resources. Carly Fleischmann is a teen on the autism spectrum and who cannot speak, but has discovered ways of expressing herself by writing with computers and tablets. She has become a great advocate for autism awareness, helping others understand how she experiences the world, such as the scene below.
A short film, but packed with new perspectives.
In less than two minutes, I learned a little bit more! I encounter patrons at the library with similar restrictions quite often; just because they can't tell me what they need doesn't mean they don't need something. I am often lucky enough to have someone help me understand their method of communication, such as a parent or another caretaker, so I can interact on a more personal level and for that I am always grateful. I'm willing to admit I'm always learning!
If you're interested in more resources for glimpses into a living life with autism, Goodreads has a great list on their shelves for this. Really, this has just been a public service announcement, but what's a blog without a little social commentary and inspiration?
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