“Where Love is Shared as Much as Stories!” is The Book Worm Bookstore motto. Something everyone at the bookstore takes very serious.  Last week when I was scrolling through my social media feed, I noticed that Autism Career Pathways offered a Sensory Inclusive Certification. Right away I knew that it was something I needed to make happen.

Inclusivity is very important to me as a person and business owner.  The team and I pride ourselves in carrying a diverse set of books and making everyone feel welcomed. To me, this certification is just a necessary expansion on that.  Immediately, I reached out to Maisie at Autism Career Pathways to see what the next steps would be. 

The process is simple and rewarding.  Block out an hour to go through the application, resources and videos. While I am familiar with autism and sensory concerns, there was so much eye opening information to go through.  It makes you look at some every day things differently.  Even now that the process is completed I find myself thinking of one particular video that we reviewed when I make certain decisions. To have insight into what someone with sensory concerns experiences during a simple walk through the mall was enough to have me make as many accommodations as possible.

To me the accommodations are not only simple, but quite frankly things business owners should try to do anyway.  From providing tools like something to write on to turning the volume down on a door chime when asked. For someone who is nonverbal pen and paper may be the only way to communicate. Even temporarily removing a door chime could comfort someone who just endured countless uncomfortable noises just to make a trip to your store.

Autism Career Pathways will provide you with a checklist of items and schedule a zoom call to discuss possible changes or additions you and your business could make. The zoom call should take place in your bookstore so you can walk around and discuss some of the options. 

Maisie was not only friendly, but open about some of her own personal experiences having being diagnosed with Autism herself. What was disheartening to hear was that not everyone is open to becoming Sensory Inclusive Certified. When Maisie mentioned that adults were requesting an autism focused book club, my immediate response was - “What do you need me to do?” Needless to say June 22, 2022 will be The Book Worm’s first Austim-led Book Club meeting.

I would encourage all bookstore owners to contact Autism Career Pathways to at a minimum review the resources to learn more about autism neurodivergent inclusivity. While I hope that all bookstores would take the journey to becoming Sensory Inclusive Certified, I would be happy just to see many review the resources. Bookstores are not only a big part of the communities they are in, but a place where memories are made. Just think how much of a difference you could make by making sure everyone has an opportunity to read a good book.

For more information: Autism Career Pathways
www.autismcareerpathways.org
maisie@autismcareerpathways.org