National Institute 2026

This presentation shares the practical realities of building trust-based partnerships with disability communities, including the commitment to provide consistent services over months before gaining community trust, and how word-of-mouth eventually brings people from over two hours away because they feel genuinely welcomed. We'll examine micro-level implementations (ASL storytimes, sensory bags, adaptive art programs, adult changing tables) and macro-level system changes (staff training, accessibility walkthroughs, budget strategies). 

Attendees will learn from both administrative and frontline perspectives as we share concrete data on program outcomes, discuss gracefully receiving critical feedback, and address implementing meaningful change within budget constraints. We'll provide practical tools, including curated disability advocacy contacts, and demonstrate our framework for ongoing community feedback--including how the disability community helps distribute library surveys, creating authentic accountability loops. 

This community-initiated approach offers a replicable model for moving beyond ADA compliance to genuine inclusion, with honest discussion of failures, timeline realities, and the transformative potential of letting communities lead the way using a framework that embraces the disability rights principle of "Nothing About Us, Without Us."