PAST NEWS ARCHIVE
October 22, 2001
Contact: Patricia Fraga, Austin Public Library, (512) 974-7528
Fax: (512) 974-7442
Community outreach between Austin Public Library and AISD
Libraries play an important and vital role in our community. It is the Austin Public Library's mission to provide the highest quality library and information services for all people. Helping children and adults develop skills they need to fully participate in an information society—whether it's learning to read or exploring the Internet—is central to that mission. This is demonstrated in a program and partnership between the Yarborough Branch of the Austin Public Library and AISD's Rosedale School. Twice a month, Yarborough Youth Librarian Debbie Keith visits Rosedale School to do storytime for students with severe and profound disabilities. Keith uses props to stimulate the students' various senses—an autoharp when she sings to the group, finger puppets, and of course, colorful picture storybooks. This month she will go with 20-plus students to the Pumpkin Patch to do a fall-themed storytime. "All the students are in wheelchairs and most do not have speech, but I do get responses through various sounds the students make—this is how I know I am reaching the kids," says Keith. The Pumpkin Patch storytime will be at the Farmers' Market, 6701 Burnet Road, at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 24.
Rosedale School of the Austin Independent School District provides a modified state curriculum for youth ages 3 to 21 with severe disabilities. The teachers modify the curriculum to meet the students' needs by using multi-sensory approaches—using sound, light, color, and smells to demonstrate various subject matters such as literature, science, and math. "It is the goal of the school to help kids use all their abilities to their maximum capacity," says Tom Hansen, teacher at Rosedale School. "All our students deserve a fulfilling learning experience and a chance to interact with the community. Rosedale has partnered with the Library to provide the literature component of the curriculum to the students. Most of the kids have a library card, and their parents or caregivers check out materials for the students. The library is a great way for our students to be part of the community."
