Engage in Autism Acceptance throughout April with New Westminster Public Library

At New Westminster Public Library (NWPL) we recognize April 2 as World Autism Acceptance Day and are excited to amplify autism acceptance throughout the month.

According to Autism BC, autism “is widely misunderstood. Many people still think of it as a disorder, a flaw, or something that needs fixing, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Autistic people experience the world in ways that are just as valid, meaningful, and important as the ways non-autistic people do. The more we challenge outdated ideas and autism myths, the closer we get to real understanding and acceptance.”

To support this work, we’ve curated three different booklists to help our patrons find resonant materials:

• World Autism Acceptance Month (Adults)
• Celebrating Neurodiversity (Kids)
• Autism Resources for Parents

We’re pleased to support our youngest autistic and neurodiverse patrons in additional ways, such as with the newly created “Visiting the library!” story found on our Kids page. This slideshow is designed to help children and families get familiar with a new space or experience before they visit in person. We strive to make the library as welcoming and comfortable a space as we can for all visitors.

In the story, we highlight our collection of sensory support items, which includes noise-reducing headphones, sunglasses, a wobble cushion, and more. To access these items, simply ask for assistance at the desk.

Finally, NWPL now offers a monthly Sensory Storytime! This small-group, adaptive storytime is for children with additional support or sensory needs. Our next session takes place on April 13th, with registration required.