Each October, the library celebrates Inclusion Awareness Month, which recognizes the Arlington Heights Memorial Library’s commitment to connect you to resources and programs, highlights enhancements in accessibility and invites community feedback. Featured programming this month includes a celebration kickoff on Friday, October 4 with a Monster Mash dance party for adults presented in collaboration with Northwest Special Recreation Association, The Chicago Lighthouse Low Vision Products Road Show on October 17, and Our Time Celebration: Active Sensory Fun on October 5.
With the community’s feedback and guidance, the library continues to improve accessibility. This year we added cane holders at service points, installed new tabletop electronic magnifiers in the computer labs at the main library and the Senior Center, updated the overhead sound systems in the Lindsey and Hendrickson Rooms, and enhanced accessibility features for the 24/7 Hold Pickup Lockers.
The library also completed an update to Kids’ World that included adding an all-gender bathroom and a Wellness Room which offers a quiet space for nursing parents and for anyone who may need a calming space during their visit to Kids’ World. The library was recognized by C.I.T.Y. of Support with an Inclusion Award for the library’s efforts to provide resources, programming, and materials for families and children who receive or are considering therapy services, and the Accessibility Support Collection and the Our Time: Developmental Playgroup were noted as models of inclusion and library-community partnership.
Inclusion Awareness Month Programs
October 1: Learn About Illinois ABLE
October 4: Monster Mash Costume Party
October 5: Our Time Celebration: Active Sensory Fun
October 8: Our Time: Developmental Playgroup
October 17: The Chicago Lighthouse Low Vision Products Road Show
October 20: Assistive Tools Kit Demo
October 22: Favorite Things: Celebrating Inclusion Awareness Month
October 25: Resource Hour: Village of Arlington Heights Social Worker & Disability Services
October 25: Accessible Kitchen Tech
Our commitment to inclusion is ongoing, and we want to hear from you! To tell us more about your needs and ideas, contact us via comment cards, available in the library, at ahml.info/contact, call us at 847-870-3712, or email us at Accessibility@ahml.info.