The Daily Times

A book club formed recently in Blount County offers adolescents and young adults with disabilities an opportunity to enjoy a pastime many of us take for granted: reading a book.

The Next Chapter Book Club meets Saturdays at the Blount County Public Library, The national program began at The Ohio State University Nisonger Center, a research and training center on developmental disabilities. It was founded in 2002 and has grown from two groups in Columbus, Ohio, to more than 175 groups in the United States, Canada and Germany. The Tennessee Council on Development Disabilities awarded a grant to East Tennessee Technology Access Center to begin the Next Chapter Book Clubs in this area. Several clubs meet in Knoxville.

“It came out of the fact that, once people (with disabilities) graduate, there are not many programs for them, especially where literacy is involved,” explained Lorrie Crockett, assistant technology specialist with ETTAC and book club coordinator in this area.

Crockett said the Blount County club is ETTAC’s seventh club. Only two young adults are attending at the library thus far, aided by volunteer facilitators Pratibha Dabholkar and Deborah Lewellyn. Crockett said new members are always welcome.

The group is currently reading “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

Socialization, literacy

According to the website (http://nextchapterbookclub.org) , the NCBC model promotes social connectedness, literacy learning and community inclusion. The premise is simple. A group of five to eight people with intellectual disabilities and a wide range of reading skills gather with two trained volunteer facilitators in a local bookstore or café to read aloud and discuss a book for one hour a week. Much like members of any other book club, NCBC members choose the book they want to read and how they would like to structure their club. Members are learning and making friends and having a lot of fun doing it.

Pratibha Dabholkar, associate professor, College of Business at the University of Tennessee, helps facilitate the Blount County club. She said, “As an educator, I’m always looking for ways to help people learn. I find the classroom and my publications very useful in doing this. And, as a volunteer facilitator working with the Next Chapter Book Club, I can help disabled community members to learn and grow.

“What is really special about this book club, is that it goes beyond basics such reading and literacy to encourage positive social interactions and builds self-confidence in people who can greatly benefit from it.”

Library resources

Joan VanSickle Sloan, community outreach coordinator at the Blount County Public Library, said, “The library has had a long-standing partnership with ETTAC. To help people in Blount County become aware of the various services and equipment available through ETTAC and to assist people with disabilities, the library has hosted ETTAC presentations, demonstrations of equipment for children and adults, and exhibited resources and equipment. We’re glad for the opportunity to host the Next Chapter Book Club meetings and to find opportunities to promote socialization and more fully involve people with disabilities in the library community.”

Sloan said the library has other resources to assist people with disabilities:

• 2 electric carts (key available at Circulation Check-Out Desk)

• 1 manual wheelchair

• 2 computers reserved for use with various disabilities using Microsoft’s special settings and additional software.

• 2 print magnifiers

• Wireless connectibility (Wi-Fi)

• Books on CD and audiobooks

• DVD & VHS movies with closed caption

• Tennessee Library for the Blind & Physically Handicapped — 1-800-342-3308. Applications are available at http://www.tn.gov . Free services are available to those unable to hold, read or turn pages of ordinary books and magazines and include books and magazines available in recorded format, Braille and large print; and descriptive videos to active patrons with visual disabilities

• Brochure developed by BCPL of “Disability Services and Equipment Available at the Library and in Blount County Area.”

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