Every Thursday from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., the St. Albert Public Library hosts the All Abilities Afternoons for adults with developmental and learning disabilities. Each week, the program has a different theme. Carnival was the theme during rodeo week.
The smell of freshly popped popcorn led to Forsyth Hall on May 23 where the program usually takes place. Upon opening the double doors, the smell of snacks, smiles, hugs and ‘hellos’ of participants warmly welcomed you.
“I love coming to see all my friends,” Christina Axani said, describing her favourite part of the program. “And all the crafts,” she added.
Axani is one of the many participants who have been coming almost weekly since the program first started in January.
“I noticed a service gap, and other staff had, too,” Michele Pagliuso said. Pagliuso is the library assistant who created and runs the All Abilities program. “We got a sense of whether there was a need or interest for this type of programming, and there was.”
Currently, Medicine Hat Public Library and Airdrie Public Library are the only other libraries in Alberta with ongoing programs like the All Abilities Afternoons. Edmonton’s public libraries offer modified programs but have no ongoing program at the moment.
When the program started at the St. Albert Public Library in January, 33 participants showed up. That number has more than doubled now and continues to grow, with more than 80 adults participating in May.
“We did not expect that it would grow so quickly,” said Alison Watson, public services co-ordinator for the St. Albert Public Library. “It seemed that word spread amongst the different support workers and the participants and people came back week after week.
“Sometimes we won’t see participants for a period of time, but we are always happy when they return and are excited to see us, and it’s created a real sense of community.”
Selamina Abraham works with LoSeCa, a foundation that offers support services to adults with disabilities.
“(The program) is amazing – they love it,” Abraham said about her clients. “We’ve been coming here every week for about six months and bring eight to 12 people with us. Sometimes there has to be more staff to be able to bring everyone.”
Participants and their caregivers partake in many activities that Pagliuso sets up each week. Lego, colouring and crafts are staples and favourites of the participants, but Pagliuso also comes up with other fun activities.
A pool with magnetic fish was set up for participants during Carnival Week to work on hand-eye co-ordination and other fine motor skills, as well as an archery game that had participants helping each other draw the bowstring back and hit a paper target set up on the wall.
Sometimes, Pagliuso sets up games like bingo or charades to encourage the participants to get to know each other and interact.
“I want to build in more collaborative activities,” Pagliuso said. “I find that when we can get people to all play a game together, that tends to be really fun.”
One of Pagliuso’s favourite memories from her time running the program happened during a game of charades.
“(One participant) jumped in wholeheartedly and was the life of the party,” Pagliuso said, describing his spot-on charade of the word ‘salute’. “We will have games out and people who don’t know each other – or don’t know each other well – will all sit around and play Trouble or Sorry! or Guess Who, building in even more opportunity for people to interact with each other.”
One of the participants and her caregiver have been working with Pagliuso to further develop fine motor skills. The participant’s goal is to be able to write her name.
“I made her a ‘c’ stencil,” Pagliuso said. “Watching (her) open up and also kind of build those skills is nice. It’s nice to feel like you are on the journey with them.”
The program has also created a sense of belonging among the adults who participate and has encouraged them to come to the library more often and participate in other services and programs being offered.
“One thing that has come of (the program) is that we’ve seen some of the regulars from All Abilities come to things like our Makerspace program,” Watson said, referring to a service where different technology stations are set up, such as snap circuits, green screens as well as low-tech components like quilting. “It’s great that we’re seeing All Abilities participants coming to those programs.
“I think one aspect of libraries that people who don’t visit libraries regularly realize is that they have a role in creating community. So, having a place where you can go to belong, to meet with other people where it's free and there’s space for you to meet, that’s really important. It’s created a sense of belonging and just that feeling of a space (where) you can come to be together and learn new things.”
While the All Abilities Afternoons will be taking a break during the summer due to Forsyth Hall being used for other programs, participants and their caregivers can still attend them once a month on June 13, July 11 and Aug. 8.
These sessions will run longer than usual, starting at 1:30 and going until 3 p.m., and will take place in Peggy’s Cove. The library will also be having a modified version of its adult summer reading game, Summer of Discovery, to supplement the All Abilities Afternoons.
The modified Summer of Discovery program was created with input and ideas from All Abilities participants who expressed interest in a more inclusive game for those with literacy challenges. New inclusive game categories include listening to an audiobook, watching a movie or TV show based on a book, and listening to new albums.
“It’s always a joyous reunion when the participants come in on Thursdays,” Pagliuso said, explaining that some of the participants live more independently than others and may not get to see each other as much during the week.
“Building those friendships and building relationships among the care-workers is an important aspect of the program,” Watson said. “It really fills your bucket.”
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