The Child's Place for Children With Special Needs

At Brooklyn Public Library, there’s a place where all children can relax, play and have fun. We provide unique programs for children with and without disabilities from birth to age 12.

Programs

Fostering an inclusive environment, this unique Brooklyn resource opens its doors to all children, parents, and educators. Join us at one of our many free programs:

• After-School Story Time, a fun-filled hour of stories and crafts for children, their families, and friends.
• Weekend Programs featuring guest performers who entertain and teach through puppet shows, sing-alongs, hands-on musical play with instruments, and interactive storytelling.
• Toys for Tots, to provide children up to age five a book-sharing and creative education playtime with their families. Children learn social skills and language development is stimulated by playing together with age-appropriate toys.
• Parenting Workshops provide a forum for discussion of topical issues. Guest experts speak on education, advocacy, discipline, medical issues, language development, and many other topics.
• Class Visits: During Class visits, special education and inclusion students are introduced to Library services and given library cards. The visits, which are held at both the library and in local school classrooms, are designed to suit the needs of individual students. By appointment only.
  
• Hospital Storytelling: Staff and volunteers read aloud and distribute free books, a gift of Reading is Fundamental. This program takes place in hospitals and pediatric clinics.
• Garden Club (April-October) participants focus on gardening and related books, storytelling, music, and crafts.

Search our calendar of events for times and locations.

Volunteers

We have many Young Adult Leaders to help with crafts and gardening programs or to assist behind the scenes. Volunteer opportunities are open to all, including young adults with disabilities. Go to the volunteer section of this site to find out more.

Resources

Visit our Parent Information Center to find a large collection of books, audiocassette sets, and other materials on exceptional parenting of both children and young adults with special needs. Parents and family members, caregivers, and professionals who work with children may also peruse our selection of magazines, newsletters, pamphlets, and videos. Look for information on community resources in the SATIRN database and in the Center's reference collection. Some materials are available in alternative formats.

Facilities

The Child's Place for Children with Special Needs is located in six barrier-free BPL libraries. Our equipment makes the library experience accessible to children with different abilities. Cube chairs, mats for floor play, positioning cushions, and adaptive toys are available. For information about adaptive technology, please call 718-253-4948.

Internet Resources

• Special Education Resources on the Internet
  
• Council for Exceptional Children
  
• Exceptional Parent
  
• National Information Center for Children With Disabilities
  
• Center for Applied Special Technology
  

Our Generous Sponsors

The Child's Place for Children with Special Needs is partially funded by Coordinated Outreach Library Services aid from the New York State Education Department, administered by the State Library's Division of Library Development. Additional funding is provided by The Joseph LeRoy and Ann C. Warner Fund, The New York Community Trust, the Louise and Ardé Bulova Fund, Colgate-Palmolive Company, the Elsam Fund, Stop & Stor, as well as through endowment funds established by The Joseph LeRoy and Ann C. Warner Fund and the Ilma F. Kern Foundation.