Beals Memorial Library (Winchendon, Massachusetts)

Recently, the Beals Memorial Library was awarded an LTC Access grant to enhance accessibility for patrons on the autism spectrum. Located in the small town of Winchendon, MA, the library serves a community of around 10,000 people. Through its participation in the C/W MARS Network, Beals also offers programming and services to the broader central and western Massachusetts area.

A driving force behind the library’s accessibility work has been assistant director Alexis Chanthachack. As the mother of two sons diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Chanthachack knows from personal experience how difficult it can be to find activities and events (especially in rural areas) that are welcoming to autistic youth. She saw the LTC Access initiative as an opportunity to advance the goal of autism inclusion within her community, along with other types of neurodivergence. After speaking with other local residents who have been diagnosed with ASD, she decided to apply for an LTC grant—which community members wholeheartedly supported. The mother of a teenage son with developmental disabilities said they were “absolutely thrilled when Alexis told me she was applying for this grant.”

“This is my family's community and I'm just giving back" - Alexis Chanthachack, assistant director at the Beals Memorial Library

After being awarded LTC funds, the library decided to focus its efforts on neurodivergence. A specific goal is promoting acceptance of people with autism. “I really push acceptance, not awareness,” says Alexis. As Kayla Charlonne, a staff member who identifies as neurodivergent puts it: “People are generally aware [of autism] — they’re just not necessarily accepting of people who have autistic traits.”

Community members knew this all too well. When the library received its LTC grant, there were few programs in Winchendon and the surrounding area that neurodivergent youth felt they could safely and enjoyably participate in. Fears of social disapproval kept many away from public events. Often, the absence of local sensory-friendly programming often forced parents to travel far outside of town in search of activities for their neurodivergent children to participate in.

As part of its "See Beyond the Spectrum" initiative, the library partners with the local YMCA to offer an autism friendly open swim.

The effort to create a more accessible space for those with autism has touched on all aspects of the library’s work — from programs to collections to staff-patron interactions. One of the library’s biggest accomplishments is the launching of its “See Beyond the Spectrum” initiative, which has supported the creation of many new, sensory-friendly programs.

As part of this initiative, the library established a monthly “Sensory Friendly Browsing Hour,” during which staff help neurodivergent patrons and those who are on the autism spectrum navigate the library and its various services. Working with partners at the local YMCA, the library has created a monthly “Autism Friendly Open Swim” event for those who need a more quiet environment for swimming. And for two years running, the library has held a “Sensory-Friendly Santa” program that gives those with sensory differences an opportunity to meet and speak with Santa outside of the over-stimulating environments (most notably, malls) these events are typically held in.

On top of these new programs, the library has established an autism / neurodivergent caretaker support group. Staff also regularly distribute “autism acceptance” bracelets at programs and events. Through efforts like this, library trustee Bernie Westerling explains, the library seeks to “serve as a repository for community education,” ensuring that “families also benefit, not only the person that’s on the spectrum.”

Sensory-friendly items are now available in all the library's programs, as are visual communication cards that help neurodivergent patrons specify which of these items they'd like to make use of.

In addition to creating new programs, the library has also worked to make many of its existing programs more accessible for neurodivergent individuals and families. One way they’ve done this is by creating sensory boxes full of chewies, tangle toys, stress balls, fidget snakes, sunglasses, and headphones. By making these boxes generally available, the library is ensuring that neurodivergent patrons can fully participate in all programs and events.

The library has also expanded some of its existing programs. Prior to launching the initiative, for example, the library hosted a Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) club for teens. After two younger patrons with ASD expressed interest in joining this club, staff began thinking about ways to accommodate the needs of neurodivergent D&D players. Eventually, they decided to create a preteen D&D club and modify these programs to meet each group’s age, playing styles, and needs.

Both clubs now help neurodivergent youth acquire a variety of skills — including understanding social cues, peer cooperation, and learning how to accept consequences. “The social, communication, and imaginative skills that some struggle with, that barrier doesn't appear in the game," Alexis shares. "You can see the kids thrive in the fantasy world, and they are using what they learned in the game in the real world."

The library also updated its collections. The goal was to replace the library’s extremely outdated books on autism with newer texts that are “positive and informative”—for example, memoirs and other writings by autistic individuals. For almost a year, Alexis researched the kinds of books they wanted to make available to patrons. The library’s new holdings are much more in line with the goal of fostering autism acceptance; staff member Kayla Charlonne mentioned a book by Paige Layle as “the most validating book I’ve read.” The library also established guidelines and criteria for adding new books on autism, which will enhance its collection development efforts going forward.

As part of its collection development work, the library has added a selection of books that have been modified to make reading more accessible to patrons with disabilities.

A final component of the library’s work was staff training. In the interests of promoting effective staff-patron interactions, the library brought in a preschool special education teacher and a speech pathologist. Working together, the two professionals taught staff how to make their existing programs more accessible to neurodivergent individuals. Through the training they received, staff learned that accommodations for people with ASD should include not just fidgets and noise-reducing headphones, but also adaptive books, breaks, and environmental changes such as flexible seating space for movement.

Staff also learned how to better communicate with neurodivergent individuals through the use of visual cards. And in March 2025, the trainers are offering a five-week ASL course for both staff and community members. Alexis has also played a role in educating her co-workers. “I’m very grateful for the training that Alexis gave us,” one staff member says, adding that this was both “fun and interesting.”

Partnerships have been key to the library’s efforts. Two particularly valuable partners have been Winchendon Public Schools and ParentChild+, an organization that promotes early literacy and school readiness skills. As there is a large population of autistic youth within the local school district, the idea was to have the library work with these partners to ensure that children receive all the services they need.

Staff from ParentChild+ and the school system often volunteer at sensory-friendly events held at the library, and members of these organizations have also received ASL training at the library.

Alexis' educational work has given staff a "deeper understanding of the issues that parents and [neurodivergent] individuals themselves face," says library director Manuel King (left).

The library’s efforts have had numerous, wide-ranging impacts – both internally and externally. Staff say that the training they’ve received from the LTC grant has given them a new consciousness around neurodivergence — one they try to incorporate into all aspects of their work. In their meetings, staff now regularly discuss ways to better communicate with each other. As a result, their interactions have improved. “I think the training we did taught all the rest of you how to communicate better with me,” notes Kayla Charlonne.

Trustee Suzanne Rader participating in a focus group on the impact of the library's autism inclusion efforts.

So too have staff-patron interactions benefited.

“I don’t feel like a deer in headlights like I did when we first started,” one staff member says. A trustee who is a long-time volunteer and parent to an adult son with autism says that whenever staff interact with visitors, “they’re very supportive and gentle” — always asking “what do you need?” and “how can I help you?”

As part of its "See Beyond the Spectrum" initiative, the library has created an autism-friendly bowling program for patrons who are neurodivergent or on the autism spectrum.

Community members have also seen the impact of the library’s efforts. “I’m amazed at the inventiveness [of the library’s sensory programming]” says a Library Friend. “I can’t praise the library enough” adds a patron, reflecting on how safe her son (a teenager with developmental disabilities) feels whenever inside the building. “You can’t ask for a better place to bring the kids,” says another patron who cares for multiple neurodivergent foster children. “The kids are so welcomed here — by library staff and other patrons. They don’t get the looks anymore. Any of my kids could come, and no one would bat an eye.” Another parent said their neurodivergent children are excited to participate in library programs because they “get to be involved” and “get to be free.”

More broadly, the library’s work is having a “ripple effect” throughout the community. Its successes in autism inclusion have “prompted other community organizations to ask, ‘what can we do?’” says one staff member. Those with ParentChild+ say they’ve learned a lot from their time in the library. “Seeing the full range of people who come through here helps to educate me,” one staff member shares. “Every time we do a community engagement event we’re learning.” ParentChild+ staff are also seeing more recognition of learning differences in the community. Pointing to Facebook, one says that, “You can see how many people are actively talking about this subject, and engaging their families more in it. Even people who don’t have children on the spectrum. I fully believe it’s much more recognized now than it ever has been. And more accepted.”

"I think one of the most important things about what we've done with the grant is that we've made it clear that our space is a welcoming space for individuals with autism," says Kayla Charlonne, a staff member who identifies as neurodivergent. "And that's why we've been getting more people coming in. Because the word is out there and they know this is a place where they can be comfortable to be themselves."

ParentChild+ staff also say that the library has helped destigmatize autism. “I feel like it’s not something that people shy away from talking about either,” one says. “It used to be a stigma, people didn’t want to talk about it, but now they do. And the kids help, because they know some in the classroom might be different.”

In recognition of their efforts, the library received an official certificate as an autism-welcoming institution from the Autism Alliance.

Through their work, the library is gaining recognition as a community leader in promoting acceptance of neurodivergence. Alexis was recently given an award from Winchendon’s governing body, and the library was the first in the state to receive an official autism welcoming certification. Moving forward, the library aims to continue this work in ways that further lift up their community. By making the library as accessible as possible, staff at Beals Memorial will help create an environment in which all are welcome, and all feel comfortable being themselves.

Written by Knology, a non-profit research organization that leverages social science to drive positive change. Knology’s approach to research is not just theoretical—we work alongside highly networked organizations (including professional associations, media creators, libraries, museums, game developers, and community groups) to simultaneously study and solve real world challenges in real time. Through research, evaluation, convenings, and capacity building workshops, our transdisciplinary team of social scientists, writers, and educators helps professionals improve their ability to facilitate understanding and advance public conversation. Our work empowers education and communications professionals through research-based insights, tools, and resources that can be used to amplify impacts and generate shared community understandings that open new pathways to action.

Photos courtesy of Rebecca Norlander, Pattianne Stone Photography, and the Beals Memorial Library