Start an accessibility audit and transform your library by learning essential strategies for inclusivity and accessibility. 

Course Description 

Libraries play a vital role in fostering inclusivity and accessibility for their communities and staff. This online course is designed to empower librarians with the knowledge and tools to create a culture of accessibility for disabled and neurodivergent people. You will learn how to conduct an accessibility audit as well as the tenets of universal design for library programs and spaces. This course will also help you understand neurodiversity and give you resources and tips for how best to support neurodivergent patrons and colleagues.

The live sessions run on Wednesday, March 19 and 26, 2025 from 1:00 to 4:30 pm ET (recorded for on demand viewing) with an ongoing facilitator-led workshop over 2 weeks. Don’t miss this opportunity!

Learning Outcomes

After you attend this course, you’ll be able to:

• Use the most updated and respectful language to discuss disabilities and neurodivergence

• Plan for an accessibility audit of your library

• Understand the unique needs of neurodivergent colleagues, staff, and library users

• Create more neuro-inclusive programs, services, spaces, and workplace practices

• Understand the foundations of universal design

• Apply universal design to your library spaces and learning programs

Who should take this course?

This course will be relevant for all librarians generally, and will be most specifically relevant for those who are newer to concepts of accessibility.

Course Features 

This will be a 2-week online course and will include:

• Live sessions: Guest speaker presentations by leaders in their field. (All sessions are recorded for on demand access for six months after the course ends.) 

• Facilitated discussions: Audience participation in Q&A and discussion with guest speakers.

• Asynchronous workshop: Project-based weekly assignments to connect what you’re learning to your professional life. Includes written feedback from an expert in the field who functions as the workshop facilitator, as well as peer conversation via discussion forums. Workshop available for all multi-week courses plus half-day courses where indicated. 

• Early access on-demand resources: Access to a series of past live session archives from Library Journal and School Library Journal courses to explore at your own pace. 

• Online Classroom: The virtual learning platform that holds all course content and is accessible for six months after the course ends. 

Course Advisor

Expected time commitment

If you attend or watch the recordings of all live sessions, you'll spend approximately 4 hours on this course. You'll earn 4 hours of PD credit and a Library Journal certificate of completion. 

On-demand access

All live guest speaker sessions are recorded and available on-demand for six months following the initial broadcast as a part of your purchase.

Certificate of completion 

Complete the course and earn 10 professional development credit hours. We provide a certificate that is emailed to you. 

Accessibility

All guest speaker sessions feature live captioning and are made available on demand after the initial broadcast. Please email libraryjournal@edmaker.co upon registration if you require any special accommodations and we will make our best efforts to facilitate them.

Support

For support with online courses, please contact libraryjournal@edmaker.co.

Group Rates

We offer discounts for groups of 3 or more. 

For larger groups of 15 or more, we offer the option to apply group rates across multiple courses to receive significant discounts. For more information, select “Bulk Course Credits Packages” in the form below. 

Request a group discount!

By registering for this event you confirm that you have read and agree to our Code of Conduct.

Week 1: Supporting Accessibility in Libraries

Wednesday, March 19, 2025 
 

Course & Workshop Introduction | 1:00-1:20 pm ET
An introduction to the weekly assignments, an overview of what to expect from the online workshop in this course, and a chance to complete the course pre-assessment.

Session 1 | 1:20-2:20 pm ET
Disability and Neurodiversity 101: An Introduction to Language and History
Things change quickly, and it can be difficult to keep up with current language. This session will be a primer for both the history and most up-to-date language for disability and neurodivergent movements.

Speaker:

Dr. Margaret Price (she, her), Associate Professor, Department of English, Director, Disability Studies Program, The Ohio State University

Break | 2:20-2:30 ET

Session 2 | 2:30-3:15 pm ET
Getting Started: How to Conduct an Accessibility Audit
What should be included in your accessibility audit and how do you get started? This session will discuss how to evaluate your library for physical and digital accessibility. Leave with a roadmap to conduct your own audit as well as tangible ideas to increase accessibility in your library. 

Speaker:

JJ Pionke, Adjunct Professor, Syracuse University

Break | 3:15-3:20 ET

Session 3 | 3:20-4:30 pm ET
Supporting Neurodivergent Library Users
How can you create a neuroinclusive library for your users? This session will discuss ways to make spaces, programs, and services more accessible for neurodivergent people. Leave with ideas for how to create a welcoming sensory environment as well as how to support neurodivergent people across the age span. 

Speaker: 

Renee Grassi, Accessibility Consultant and Librarian

 
Week 2: Fostering Neuroinclusivity in Libraries 

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Workshop Q&A | 1:00-1:15 pm ET
An introduction to this week’s assignment and an overview of what to expect from the online workshop in this course.

Session 1 | 1:15-2:30 pm ET
Supporting Neurodivergent Colleagues and Staff
How can you support neurodivergent colleagues and staff? How can you advocate for your own needs as a neurodivergent person? This session will discuss some of the experiences of neurodivergent library personnel and barriers to inclusion that exist in many libraries. Leave this session with meaningful practices you can build into your management or work style to foster a culture of neuroinclusivity internally in your library. 

Speaker: 

Renee Grassi, Accessibility Consultant and Librarian

Break | 2:30-2:45 pm ET

Session 2 | 2:45-4:00 pm ET
Universal Design for Libraries
What is universal design and how does it apply to libraries? This session will cover the foundations of universal design for environments and instruction, and will discuss ways to incorporate it into your library spaces and programs. Leave with practical ideas for how to create a library that is as universally accessible and welcoming as possible. 

Speaker: 

Carli Spina, Head of Research & Instructional Services and Associate Professor at Gladys Marcus Library Goodman Resource Center. Author of Creating Inclusive Libraries by Applying Universal Design

Optional Interactive Working Session | 4:00-4:30 pm ET
This live, interactive working session will give you an immediate opportunity to process what you’ve learned in this course. You will be divided into smaller working groups and presented with a prompt to discuss. 

Please note: This session is completely optional, and it’s meant to be interactive, so if you can’t or don’t want to be in breakout rooms, you’re welcome to log off. If you stay, we ask that you please join on camera and audio to discuss ideas, ask questions, and hear from other participants in class. 

Online Course Preview

A preview of how we build your library skills and bring inspiration to your projects with our online learning experience.

Course Features

Live session with Andrea Blackman and Tasneem Ansariyah Grace	Live Guest Speakers Sessions Guest speaker presentations by leaders in their field.  Audience participation in Q&A and discussion with guest speakers.

Recordings of guest speakers

Recordings Available On Demand Sessions are recorded for on demand access for six months after the course ends.

Asynchronous workshop

Online Classroom + Asynchronous Workshop The virtual learning platform that holds all course content and is accessible for six months after the course ends.  Live session recordings. Peer conversation via discussion forums.

Early Access On-Demand Resources

Early Access On-Demand Resources Bonus: Register early and get access to a series of past live session archives from Library Journal and School Library Journal courses to explore at your own pace.  Some courses include supporting resources in the online classroom.