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Using Library Resources to Support Special Needs Students


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In both school and life, everyone has unique abilities and requires different levels of support. In Australia in 2023, 24.2% of total school enrolments received an educational adjustment due to disability. 

With one in four students needing some kind of adjustment, accessibility in our schools is more important than ever. The library plays a vital role for student learning outcomes and wellbeing by providing a safe space that isn’t the classroom or the playground for students to study, read or take part in clubs and activities. Driven by school librarians, a good school library is essential for the academic success of all students.  

Results from the 2023 Australian School Library Survey show that school libraries also improve students’ emotional health and wellbeing by creating safe, inclusive spaces, offering supportive resources, providing personalised interactions, fostering community, and designing calm, quiet areas. This is particularly important for children who are more likely to face challenges at school, so ensuring the library and its resources are accessible is vital for students’ experience – both academically and socially. 

Understanding Special Needs in the Library Context 

Special needs are defined in the Cambridge dictionary as “the particular things needed by or provided to help people who have an illness or condition that makes it difficult for them to do the things that other people do”.  

These conditions can range from physical disabilities like hearing or sight impairment to cognitive disabilities such as autism or down syndrome. Each condition requires different accommodations for that person to do the same things as other people. In the context of libraries, this could be as simple as ensuring wheelchair accessibility but it’s also important to think about different learning styles and how we can support those that aren’t neurotypical to ensure they get all the benefits of the library resources. Research suggests that engaging students with disabilities in reading and discussing texts is associated with improved comprehension outcomes. Therefore, it’s incredibly important to understand and support students with special needs in the library for their educational outcomes.  

Key Library Resources for Supporting Special Needs Students 

There are lots of resources in school libraries to support students with special needs and provide them with the same opportunities as other students. They can be broadly categorised into five key areas: 

  • Assistive technology  

Devices like screen readers, text to speech software and braille displays help students with physical disabilities access resources. 

  • Digital Content 

E-books, audio books and accessible formats, such as dyslexia friendly fonts, accommodate diverse learning needs and allow students operating at different stages of their literacy journey to still benefit from reading.  

  • Sensory Tools 

Resources like fidget toys, weighted lap pads and quiet areas help support students with sensory processing issues.  

  • Accessible Facilities 

Adaptive furniture, ramps and adjustable lighting ensure the physical environment of the library is inclusive. 

  • Specialised learning materials 

Resources such as books, games and multimedia specifically designed for students with cognitive disabilities help them engage and learn in a way that suits them. 

How Oliver Supports Special Needs Students 

The Oliver school library management system goes beyond traditional cataloguing to support learning. With an intuitive search screen that resembles popular streaming services, students can navigate their library collection with ease. Personalised recommendations will keep them coming back for more of what they love and fully customisable news pages and LearnPath guides means librarians can seamlessly curate resources specific to different needs and learning styles. 

Open Dyslexic font is available at the tick of a box and can be turned on for anyone that would benefit from it. With complete integrations with e-learning tools and digital resources, students don’t need to leave Oliver to access the resources they want, in the format that suits them. 

Orbit Pick and Click feature animal icon

In addition, with picture-based searching in Orbit, the junior search interface, students with a low reading level can still select resources themselves and develop a positive relationship with their library. Read the full guest blog to see how Oliver has helped special needs students at Glenallen School overcome barriers to reading engagement. 

Tips for Librarians and Educators 

Librarians are the strongest and most important resource available in the library, their ability to form relationships with the students and cater their service to individual needs is irreplaceable. Some helpful tips for librarians and educators to engage and support students with special needs include: 

Provide safe, accessible spaces – design the library space so it is physically accessible and caters to different learning styles, for example quiet reading zones and collaborative work areas. 

Stock a variety of collections and resources – ensure that there is something for every student in the collection, across reading levels, interest areas and resource types. 

Talk to the students, parents and teachers – no one knows their needs better than they do, having open and honest conversations and building relationships with students allows for a better understanding of ways you can support them. 

Encourage choice and teach resource selection skills – students engage more when they are part of the resource selection process, with poor choosing skills identified as a barrier to reading engagement by 39% of adolescent infrequent readers. 

Research and training – stay up to date with the literature on how best to support special needs students in the library. 

Conclusion 

Library resources play a pivotal role in educational outcomes for students with special needs. By connecting with students and providing them with relevant, interesting and accessible resources, librarians and educators have a huge impact on special needs students’ education experience and wellbeing. 

Further Reading 


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