Autism and disability sessions at state conferences for school librarians

Abstract

With 1 in 44 children in the United States meeting the criteria for an autism diagnosis , it is likely that most, if not all, school librarians will have some contact with a student with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). One potential avenue for such education is through professional development opportunities such as state library conferences, in which school librarians share information with one another in forums such as breakout and poster sessions, while also attending keynote and sponsored presentations. To expand upon previous research related to training of school librarians in the area of ASD, this content analysis examines state library conference programs to determine if information is being shared through such conferences about autism and disability. Conferences from nine states, over a 5-year period, were analyzed for key terms related to autism and disability. Findings reveal few opportunities for school librarians to learn about autism and disability through sessions presented at state conferences, despite a previously established interest and need.