Librarians know very well the power of language! Words and how they are used, whose words are heard, and how people access those words are at the foundation of every library’s mission.

Words are powerful. The words we use in our internal operations and in our public-facing engagements are extremely important because they can lift people up or push them down, inspire kindness and equity, or even unwittingly create an unwelcoming environment.

Join us for an interactive workshop and learn how to incorporate inclusive language into your everyday library operations – language that includes and empowers everyone in our communities!

Presenter: Anita O’Brien, Executive Director, Rochester Accessible Adventures. Anita O’Brien, M.A., is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist with 27 years of experience working with individuals with disabilities, and helped found Rochester Accessible Adventures. Anita serves as a member of the Community Advisory Committee at the University of Rochester’s Center of Excellence for People with Disabilities, and the DEC/APA Accessibility Advisory Committee. Anita has lived in Rochester since 2000, working to bring opportunities in sports and recreation to individuals and families with disabilities and medical conditions. She is passionate about building relationships within the community which serve to connect people with resources, remove systemic barriers to recreation and sports, and build communities that embrace inclusion.