Autism Welcoming Library Certification Project

The NLM Family Foundation has awarded a three-year grant to Advocates/Autism Alliance of MetroWest for the Autism Welcoming Library Certification Project.  Founded in 2019 by the Autism Alliance, the Autism Welcoming initiative trains businesses and nonprofits to be more welcoming to individuals with autism. The Library Certification Project was initiated by the Foundation to extend this work into public libraries, with a special focus on autistic adults and aging autistic adults.

Designed to address the chronic social isolation of autistic adults, the Library Certification Project takes advantage of the decentralized, local proliferation of libraries as free public spaces already dedicated to serving as many people in their communities as well as possible. The project will assist libraries in learning how to become more welcoming and accessible and less overstimulating for autistic individuals, by adapting environments, staff training, and program offerings. Libraries that complete the training process successfully will be awarded formal certifications and included in the Autism Welcoming business directory.

Specific grant activities include: developing criteria to select the libraries most likely to succeed meeting the project’s goals; developing a rubric to assess the effectiveness of training and program activities; working with each participating library to develop a robust communications plan targeting their local communities; working with state and national library associations to spread best practices for full inclusion; building a network of participating libraries for peer learning; and encouraging volunteers in the Advocates’ Friendship Project to accompany participants to inclusive activities at participating libraries.