The Massachusetts Library System is pleased to announce that we have contracted with ALA to provide our members with access to their live webinars.  These webinars are free to MLS members who register through our calendar.  Please do not register directly with ALA. Members who register directly with ALA are responsible for paying their registration fee. 

Please help us keep MLS sponsored training free for all members. If you are unable to attend the live webinar, please cancel your registration. A cancellation link can be found in your confirmation email, or you may contact Sarah Donnelly at sdonnelly@masslibsystem.org to cancel. 

Description

Embark on a journey into the world of autism through the eyes of Jon Davis, an information services assistant at the Spartanburg County Public Library in South Carolina. Jon is an autistic person living in a neurotypical world, and he is pleased to have the opportunity to guide you. In this webinar, you’ll explore the history of autism—including various misapplied theories about its origin—learn appropriate terminology, gain insight into the facets of diagnosis and the diagnostic process, and examine both common and lesser-known characteristics. The webinar will also address the harmful effects of misinformation, as well as some of the challenges and joys experienced by members of the autistic community. You’ll discover elements of autistic culture and explore unique touchstones, including the impact of autistic creators and artists on the wider world, to better understand the realities of being autistic in a predominantly neurotypical society.

Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Better understand autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including what it entails, how it is “gotten,” and how it can manifest in a myriad of ways;
• Identify misapplied theories about the origin of ASD and the harmful effects of misinformation about this neurotype; and
• Discover some of the ways that autistic people have navigated throughout the world, including masking and camouflaging, along with cultural impacts made by autistic creators and artists.

Who Should Attend

This webinar has information that needs to be seen by all members of a library staff, from those who face the public every day to those who work behind the scenes or in administration.

Presenter

Jon B. Davis (he/him) has worked in reference for the Spartanburg County (SC) Public Library system for eight years. He is married with two college-aged kids, and a grumpy cat. When he can, he writes a blog on Medium dedicated to trying to understand his place as an autistic adult in a neurotypical world. He is an avid reader, has an MFA from the University of Memphis, and hopes to retire to Atlantic Canada someday (if they’ll have him).

Accessibility Information

If you have questions or requests regarding accessibility, contact ce@ala.org or at 312-280-5100.