Library News

Goodnow Library Invites Community to Educational Series During Global Diversity Awareness Month

Virtual Event: Unlearning Ablesism, Action, Allyship, and How to Talk to Children about Disability will be held via Zoom on Thursday, October 13 from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Click on Image to register.
Goodnow Library
Goodnow Library, in collaboration with the Town of Sudbury’s Commission on Disability, and the Sudbury Cooperative Preschool’s Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Initiative, invites community members to a series of educational programs during Global Diversity Awareness Month.

October is recognized as Global Diversity Awareness Month, and the programs will focus on people with disabilities being an underrepresented group of diversity.

The educational series, “Understanding Differences: A Look at Disability,” will include programs aimed at educating children, educators, and adults on how to be an ally for individuals with disabilities.  

On Thursday, Oct. 13 at 7:30 p.m. the series will kick off with the virtual seminar, “Unlearning Ableism: Action, Allyship, and How to Talk to Children about Disability,” hosted by guest speaker, author, and disability educator Ashley Harris Whaley of Disability Reframed.  

Disability Reframed combines self-learning with open dialogue and conversation to create a space where decades-old attitudes toward disability, disabled lives, and disabled people are de-constructed, examined, and then thoughtfully rebuilt. Closed captioning and an American Sign Language interpreter will be provided for this virtual event.  

On Sunday, Oct. 23 from 1:30-4:30 p.m. the Library will host, “Together We Play — Celebrating Disability Awareness,” a community event for families and children to celebrate and learn about differences. The event will feature readings from authors Jake Marrazzo and Lotte Diomede. The program also will include activities led by the nationally recognized award-winning program Understanding Our Differences, which uses a hands-on curriculum to foster acceptance and inclusion for people of all abilities.  

Families will be able to participate in a scavenger hunt around the library for a chance to be entered into a raffle to win a $100 gift card to Learning Express Toys and Gifts, New City Micro creamery and books about equality and inclusion. Viking Martial Arts will lead a class. A sensory calm space will be available for families.  

“Disabilities are often overlooked when discussing diversity, equity, and inclusion, even though people with disabilities are one of the most marginalized groups in Western societies,” said Library Director Esmé Green. “This partnership allows us to bring disability awareness to the forefront. We are very proud of the programming we developed. It will provide resources, support, and awareness to both people with disabilities and allies of the disabled community.”  

In addition to the two featured events, the Goodnow Library will theme their regular programming of story times, book clubs, and craft programs around disability awareness throughout October.   To learn more or register for these events, please visit the Goodnow Library’s website here.