Accessibility Without Overwhelm

AFTER YOU ATTEND THIS COURSE, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO:

• Build short community surveys and conversations that surface what disabled patrons actually need from your programs.
• Apply the OF/BY/FOR/ALL framework to engage local disability communities as partners, not just participants.
• Identify and remove common accessibility barriers in your existing programs.
• Adapt children’s, teen, and adult programs so they are more inclusive and welcoming across ages and abilities.
• Use practical checklists and examples to evaluate and strengthen any program you currently offer.
• Develop a practical marketing plan that improves access and visibility.

You will leave with planning work already underway and a framework you can apply across future programs.

WHO THIS COURSE IS FOR

This course is for public library staff who plan, support, or oversee community programs and want to make those programs more accessible in practical, sustainable ways.

• You have looked at a library program and wondered whether everyone in your community would feel comfortable showing up.
• You want to make meaningful adjustments without redesigning your entire programming calendar.
• You have tried to improve accessibility before and felt unsure what “accessible enough” actually means in daily library work.
• You coordinate programs or supervise staff and want a consistent approach your team can use.
• You plan children’s, teen, or adult programs and want clear ways to adapt what you already offer.
• You want to move forward thoughtfully without adding unrealistic expectations to your workload.

This includes Youth Services Librarians, Teen Services Librarians, Adult Services Librarians, Programming Coordinators, Library Managers, Directors, and any staff member involved in planning or supporting public programs.

If accessibility feels important but complicated, this course will help you approach it in a structured, manageable way.

THIS COURSE CONSISTS OF 6 ON-DEMAND MODULES:

Module 1: Finding Your Library’s Purpose in Accessible Programming: Assessment and Engagement

This foundational module helps you understand why accessibility work matters and how to begin it with purpose. You will explore strategies for gathering authentic feedback from people with disabilities, their families, and caregivers. Learn to design short community surveys, hold inclusive conversations, and analyze real responses to decide your library’s priorities. You will finish this module with a draft plan for community assessment and engagement that fits your local reality.

Module 2: Developing Sustainability through Community Partnerships

Accessibility becomes lasting only when it is shared work. This module guides you through what allyship looks like in practice and how to build lasting collaborations with disability partners. You will learn the OF/BY/FOR/ALL approach and see how it can apply directly to library programming. Through mapping exercises and case examples, you will identify potential partners in your own community and outline first steps toward connection and trust.

Module 3: Inclusive Library Programming for Children Ages Birth to Grade 5

Early library experiences shape how families view inclusion. In this module, you will explore how to design children’s programs that welcome all abilities while supporting caregivers. Learn how to adapt storytimes, clubs, and events to reduce sensory, physical, and social barriers. See examples of family-centered programming models, including Sensory Storytime, Sensory-Friendly Movie programs, and Accessibility Hour events. You will also practice evaluating your current programs through an accessibility lens.

Module 4: Inclusive Library Programming for Teens in Grades 6 to 12

This module focuses on how libraries can support and connect with disabled and neurodivergent teens. Explore programming ideas such as adaptive gaming, social clubs, and life skills workshops that help teens build confidence and friendships. Review real examples from libraries that have created welcoming spaces for neurodivergent participants and learn practical techniques for communication, group facilitation, and collaboration with caregivers or educators.

Module 5: Inclusive Library Programming for Adults

Inclusive programming does not stop at childhood. In this module, you will examine how to make adult and intergenerational library programs accessible to patrons with a wide range of disabilities. Study the Next Chapter Book Club model, memory cafés, and other inclusive examples that build connection and community. Create a customized Library Program Accessibility Checklist to use with any future program and apply it to real scenarios from your own library.

Module 6: Accessible Marketing Strategies for Programs Serving Patrons with Disabilities

Finally, learn how to make sure your accessible programs are seen and understood by the people they serve. This module shows you how to improve the readability and design of your library’s online and printed materials using clear language and accessibility standards such as WCAG 2.2. Explore examples of successful communication strategies and community outreach efforts, then start building a marketing and communications plan that amplifies your inclusive work.

COURSE ADVISOR & INSTRUCTOR

Renee Grassi, Accessibility Consultant and Librarian

Author, trainer, librarian, administrator, teacher, and accessibility consultant Renee Grassi is an advocate for equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in libraries, schools, and communities. As a neurodivergent librarian herself, Renee has worked in public libraries for over 17 years, developing award-winning library initiatives that welcome, support, and empower disabled residents and their families and caregivers. Learn more at reneegrassi.com.

WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS COURSE

This course is designed for public library staff who plan, lead, or support community programming and want a more practical, sustainable approach to accessibility for disabled patrons.

SESSIONS AND PRICING

Early bird pricing ends one month before the registration deadline. Course materials unlock on the registration deadline date.

GROUP OPTIONS

Training a team? Choose the setup that matches how you want to plan and pay :

Group course enrollment: Enroll 3+ staff in this course and save.

Bulk course credits: Prepay once, get the highest per-seat discount on every course, and assign seats later.

Unlimited annual licensing: System-wide access for a year with no per-course approvals.

Request Discounted Group Pricing

Questions? Email groupsales@libraryjournal.com.

COURSE FORMAT

This is a fully self-paced, asynchronous online course consisting of six modules. Each module is designed to help you apply accessibility thinking to real library programming work through instruction, examples, reflection, and practical planning tools you can use in your own setting.

If you are focused on a specific audience, Modules 3, 4, and 5 are also available as standalone options. The full course includes all six modules for a broader approach across assessment, partnerships, age-specific programming, and marketing.

EXPECTED TIME COMMITMENT

Each module is designed to take approximately four hours to complete, for a total of 24 professional development credit hours. You may move through the course at your own pace and on your own schedule.

ALL THE DETAILS

If you plan or support library programs, you’ve probably had this moment.

You’re planning a program you’ve run ten times before, and you think, “Is this actually accessible?”

And then immediately: “If I try to change it, am I going to get it wrong?”

Accessibility can feel like walking a tightrope. You want to make sure disabled patrons are included and welcomed. You don’t want to single anyone out or make someone feel different. You don’t want to accidentally offend someone while trying to do the right thing. And you definitely don’t have time to rebuild your entire programming calendar from the ground up.

This course focuses on the programs you’re already running and helps you think through how to adjust them thoughtfully. You’ll work through community assessment, partnerships, and practical strategies for children’s, teen, and adult programming. You’ll also look at how your marketing shapes who feels invited to show up.

Nothing in this course assumes you have unlimited time or staff. The focus is on steady, realistic improvements that you can maintain.

This course is fully self-paced, allowing you six months of access to complete all six modules at your own pace. The full course provides a comprehensive approach across assessment, partnerships, age-specific programming, and marketing. If you are focusing on a particular audience, individual age-specific modules are also available as standalone options.

If accessibility has felt important but also intimidating, this course gives you a way to move forward with more clarity and less second-guessing.

ON-DEMAND ACCESS

You will have access to all course materials for six months from the materials unlock date.

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION

Complete all six modules to earn 24 professional development credit hours and a Library Journal certificate of completion. Certificates are emailed upon completion.

ACCESSIBILITY

All video recordings feature auto-captioning. If you require accommodations, please email course-support@libraryjournal.com upon registration and we will make our best efforts to support your needs.

SUPPORT

For technical or course-related support, please contact course-support@libraryjournal.com.