Event box
Beyond Words: Creating Community for People with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities Online
Location: Online via Zoom
This presentation uses Howard County Library System's Beyond Words series to demonstrate how libraries can lead the way in building inclusive, accessible, and community-centered programming for children, teens, and adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. By positioning the library as both a community hub and a safe, inclusive space, librarians can respond to local needs, foster belonging, and remove barriers to participation. Participants will learn strategies for adaptive program design, sensory-friendly environments, and partnerships that empower all community members to learn, grow and connect. Presenter: Peg Prentice, Instructional & Research Specialist, Howard County Library System.
Contact Hours (Maryland public libraries) = 1 hour
- Date:
- Monday, November 24, 2025
- Time:
- 2:00pm - 3:00pm
- Time Zone:
- Eastern Time - US & Canada (change)
- Online:
- This is an online event. Event URL will be sent via registration email.
- Audience:
- Library Staff - Public Libraries
- Categories:
- Programming
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Identify ways to develop a library program that is inclusive and accessible to community members with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
- Articulate at least one new program idea (e.g., sensory storytime, adaptive art, accessible book clubs) that reflects community input and inclusive principles.
- Demonstrate how establishing the library as a community space fosters belonging and connection for people of all abilities.
- Identify potential partnerships and community networks to sustain inclusive programming efforts.
Peg Prentice currently serves as an Instructor and Research Specialist at the Howard County Library System’s Miller Branch and has developed and led the Beyond Words Program for the past 2.5 years. Prior to her work at HCLS, Peg spent 20 years as a high school science teacher, and also has 2 years of hands-on experience supporting adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in residential settings, emphasizing personalized care, independence, and community interaction.