Rated E for Everyone
Expanding services to children with special needs
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Gaming in libraries, and especially the introduction of console video games, has dramatically increased in popularity in the past few years. As a result, libraries have been expanding their gaming programs beyond the obvious teen and tween audience to new user groups, including children, adults, and more recently, children with special needs.
Extracurricular activities designed specifically for children with special needs are limited and often require parents to travel to other communities. Cris Munzing, a parent of a child with special needs, commented: “Almost all activities for children with special needs are outside of our town, so the kids don’t see each other in the neighborhood school and the likelihood of forming lasting friendships is difficult.”
| Games for Special Needs Children |
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The following list of board/card games and video games was created with input from the parents of children with special needs, and also from research done for this article. Board/Card Games Aggravation (board) Video Games Wii Active Life Outdoor Challenge |
Gaming programs in libraries provide the unique opportunity for children to improve eye-hand coordination, social skills, learning and memorization, pattern recognition, and basic literacy. All of these are important areas of development, and offer children with special needs a fun, active, and engaging experience.
Patty Simmonds, head of children services at Piscataway (NJ) Public Library, also sees an opportunity for libraries to expand services to this audience, and says: “We’ve always been committed to outreach, especially to people within the community who we feel are underserved here at the library.” The children’s department in Piscataway has also made a consistent effort to supplement services offered by the local schools, and sees a gaming program for special needs children as another opportunity to enhance learning opportunities for young people in the community. And while the library has always welcomed children with special needs into other library programs, Simmonds explains that “with gaming, we felt it important to provide a non-competitive atmosphere where special needs children could feel good about themselves and succeed at their own pace.”
The Program in Action
Piscataway Public Library, which serves a diverse, growing population in a community of more than 54,000 residents, has been offering gaming events since 2008. The library’s latest program, “Gaming for Children with Special Needs,” was conceived in response to a request by Cris Munzing, a resident of the community, whose son, Nate, is deaf and autistic. The boy’s special needs challenge his ability to participate at the same level in certain games as other children. By having a non-competitive atmosphere with players of similar skill levels, children can comfortably play at their own pace, without feeling rushed or pressured.
Piscataway’s program was modeled after a gaming program for children with special needs ages 8 and up called “Special Needs Gaming Night,” hosted by Community Valley Library, located in Peckville, Pennsylvania. With no other libraries in New Jersey offering similar programs to serve as a model, Community Valley Library was instrumental in helping Piscataway plan and launch their special needs gaming program by providing helpful tips and suggestions for getting started. Expanding on those ideas, we solicited the assistance of teen/peer volunteers, which has added to the success of the program. With nearly a 1:1 ratio between teen volunteers and children, every child is actively engaged, giving parents the opportunity to socialize and network with other parents of special needs children. We require children under age 13 to be accompanied by a parent or caregiver, and make an effort to foster interaction between the parents.
Parents appreciate the involvement of the teen/peer volunteers. In fact, Cris Munzing says “the teen or junior high peer helpers that come are a huge help. My son, at 10, is still working on preschool board games. When we play those games, I don’t have to be the other player and be his role model at the same time. The helpers are the closest thing to same age peer role models [that] my son has, since at school he is still working mostly with adults.”
Debra Hopkins, a parent of a child with neurological delays, likes bringing her son to the library’s special needs gaming program because her son, Kenny, “is learning to share and take turns.” He is also learning “how to take instruction from peers and learning how to give instructions to others.” When Kenny first came to the special needs gaming program, he was resistant and did not want to stay. We were able to convince him give it a try, but he had a difficult time waiting for his turn and sharing with the other children. By the end of the program, Kenny made remarkable progress and now helps instruct younger children with the Wii games and has few problems sharing and taking turns with other children.
Parents attending “Gaming for Children with Special Needs” have expressed their appreciation and gratitude for this service. Munzing commented: “I am so thankful for this program because it is something Nate can be included in where being different doesn’t make a difference. Of course, there are still those games the other kids want to play that he can’t due to the fine motor skills required or to not knowing the objective of the game. But thanks to the program facilitator, he gets his turn playing Wii Sports or other simpler games that the kids can enjoy just as much.” Another parent recently told us that she changes her work schedule just to bring her son to this program, which shows how important this service is to her family.
Getting Started
Developing a gaming program for children with special needs can seem like a daunting task. However, any library can become involved in this type of event, even if you’re not already offering any gaming programs or activities for children with special needs.
Planning process: Contacting your local schools and talking to the special education teachers and the director of pupil services can help you determine how many people in your community might stand to benefit. Distribute an exploratory survey to the parents of children within the special education program, and encourage them to spread the survey among parents within their other networks. Soliciting input from parents regarding their child’s gaming interests and abilities can help you make any necessary special accommodations for their children.
Think broadly about gaming: In addition to interactive console games like Wii Sports, Wii Sports Resort, and Super Smash Bros. Brawl on the Nintendo Wii, Piscataway also uses card, board, and other games like Uno, Chutes and Ladders, Connect Four, Checkers, and Jenga. Console games might limit you to 1 to 4 participants at a time, so offer game alternatives that will keep everyone engaged for the entire length of your program.
Solicit donations from community partners: If you contact local businesses, you may find that they share a commitment to this audience and are interested in offering support. Send them a detailed description of the program you’re developing and ask them to donate any available gaming products, including board games, card games, and video game equipment. Piscataway Public Library’s gaming program first began in 2008 with the donation of a Nintendo Wii from the Best Buy in Bridgewater, NJ.
Utilize teen volunteers: Local middle and high school students are often in need of community service opportunities. Solicit volunteers from the schools through the guidance office or school civic organizations like high school Key Clubs, and pair these students with special needs children in your gaming program. The teen volunteers have fun working with the children and can accrue hours towards community service. This will be a rewarding experience for everyone involved!
Gaming for children with special needs offers kids the opportunity to build communication and social skills, improve physical, cognitive, and literacy skills, and connect with the library through a positive experience. Programming continues to be an important part of library service, and gaming can be a valuable tool. Consider implementing a program like this at your library, and take the time to get to know some special kids in your community.
| Author Information |
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Peggy Wong is children’s services librarian and M. Allen McGinley is head of user services at Piscataway Public Library, NJ. |
