In 2017, New Zealand officials added new words to the Maori language for mental health and disabilities. The word for Autism is “‘takiwatanga,” meaning “his or her own time and space.”
Autism is a bio-neurological developmental disability that commonly appears in children before the age of three. It is a disorder that impacts typical brain development in the areas of social interaction, communication, and cognitive function. As a spectrum disorder, autistic behaviors and traits are unique to each individual. That is why awareness, acceptance, and understanding are critical to helping people on the spectrum and their families.
This April, the Autism Alliance of Northeastern NY celebrates Autism Acceptance Month. We encourage our community to think about how we can make small changes to support and include people on the spectrum.
Skywoman, Iotsitsisen (Mature Flower), from the Haudenosaunee Story of Creation, by John Fadden, colorized by David Fadden.
The Tsi ietsenhtha Plattsburgh Art Project and CEFLS libraries are presenting a series of events this fall to help build a bridge between the more than 4,000 Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) people who live in Northeastern New York, and those who may be unfamiliar with their rich culture. The events, to be hosted by various local libraries, include storytelling, film, crafts and singing, are designed to foster communication and understanding of diverse cultures.
Routes to Recovery, our guide to local and online resources for those needing services related to substance abuse as well as the professionals and loved ones providing support, has found a new home at routestorecovery.org. While we’ve discontinued support of the Routes to Recovery app on iOS and Android, the new website version hosts all of the same content and still features smart device compatibility, and we will continue to develop the website for the foreseeable future.
Thanks to funding from the American Rescue Plan and in partnership with the Northern New York Library Network, the libraries of the Clinton-Essex-Franklin Library System are excited to bring Senior Planet programming to the region. Librarians and library staff from 5 libraries have been trained in providing Senior Planet’s tried-and-true technology classes to their communities. Senior Planet’s curriculum has been specifically designed to aid seniors in 5 key areas: Financial Security Civic Engagement and Advocacy Social Engagement Health and Wellness …[CLICK TO READ MORE]
All of the local libraries are currently closed. Whether you’re stuck inside for physical distancing or just need an escape after finishing work since you’re an essential employee, we can help provide a slice of library experience to you. In order to provide additional support to area residents during this challenging time, CEFLS and Northern New York Library Network each contributed $3,000 to bolster the collection of ebooks and e-audiobooks available! We hope that these additional titles help you enjoy your downtime while staying safe and helping flatten the curve. Visit cefls.org/downloads to check one out today!
If you have any trouble accessing the online collection, you can email us at info2@cefls.org. We can take steps to either renew the card temporarily for the duration of the stay-at-home period or create a temporary account with the required information (your full name, date of birth, and a picture of a piece of mail sent to your local address as proof of residence). Of course, you can visit your local library once they’ve reopened to renew your card in full or grant you a new card.
To learn more about the COVID-19 coronavirus and what you can do to help stop it from spreading, check out our information guide at this link.
