Your Library offers a storytime for adults with disabilities, which is held the second Thursday of every month. The next meeting is Thursday, Nov. 14 at 11 a.m. in the Library’s Jones Meeting Center. Registration is required; you can sign up here.
Our Adults with Disabilities Storytime is led by volunteer Linda Hammons. Linda worked as a children’s librarian for 25 years and has led storytimes at nursing homes and for people with disabilities for many years.
At each session, Linda starts by introducing the day’s theme. She asks the group open-ended questions to get them thinking about how that theme fits into their own lives.
Linda says, “Their experiences and opinions are important and appreciated, so I like to listen to them talk about their lives. I want them to feel valued and treasured.”
During the program participants sing songs together, listen to a story that often includes interactive elements, and take part in a multi-sensory experience or craft.
The goal of the storytime is to bring the joy of literature to adults with disabilities and encourage them, as Linda puts it, “to intertwine these stories with their own experiences and who they are.”
Linda says that the following quote from author Katherine Paterson’s “A Sense of Wonder” captures what the program is all about: “A book is a cooperative venture. The writer can write a story down, but the book will never be complete until a reader of whatever age takes that book and brings it to his own story.”
Adults with Disabilities Storytime offers many other benefits to participants as well. Not only is it a safe place to express their unique creativity and self, but it’s also educational. Linda explains, “engaging with these interactive stories and activities enhances cognitive and language skills while improving memory, focus, and attention span.”
The group ranges in ages from 19-75, and participants come as individuals or in groups from centers as far away as Abingdon. If you’re interested either in bringing an individual or a group on Thursday, Nov. 14, you can register here or call (423) 434-4454.
Visit our events calendar to find more upcoming opportunities for people of all ages. Follow Johnson City Public Library on Facebook and Instagram to receive updates about Library programs, collections, and services.
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