This session will provide and talk through practical tips for supporting the agency of autistic and neurodivergent individuals in your library. Led by Bailey Hoffner, an adult-diagnosed autistic librarian, the session will encourage attendees to ask questions such as: - What are specific ways of thinking that aren't serving your entire community, and how might you work towards a neuro-affirming, universal design? - What are things that you and your library are doing because you think you should and which of those things could be dropped to better support autistic and neurodivergent individuals? - What parts of yourself may need tending to make the necessary paradigm shift towards more neuro-affirming practices? Participants will walk away with actionable steps they can take in nearly all areas of librarianship, from more inclusive ways to engage with patrons to better policies to support all workers. About our presenter: Bailey Hoffner is an artist, writer, mother, partner, and PDA autistic, white woman. She currently serves as the Metadata Librarian for Digital Resources and Discovery Services at Oklahoma State's Edmon Low Library. In her own research and creative work, she is interested in investigating ways in which metadata and descriptive practices have the power to uphold or dismantle the structural racism, sexism, ableism, and discrimination inherent in their creation and use, with a particular interest in the representation of autistic experience in library work and library metadata. Please review our Code of Conduct, our Statement on Viewpoints, and details on Interpreter Services here: https://metro.org/code-of-conduct

All are welcome to attend, regardless of METRO member status.

Register for this free webinar here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_lKCjswhqQLKon3xUcY6lcQ#/registration