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Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility: DEIA Speaker Series

Find resources for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility at the Orange County Library System.

DEIA Speaker Series

Planning a "Snack Around the World" Series

Using Diverse Books in Storytimes

Advice from Lauren: 

How do you find diverse books? Easy—read! Reading is the simplest way to find new books to recommend, and/or use in storytimes. Simply browsing the library’s collection can do wonders! Check the catalogue for books on the topic you’re interested in, and then read the descriptions. Go to the shelf and read those books, or request a bunch to find the ones that work well for you.

Library resources:

Websites:

Upcoming Events

Arabesque

Presenter: Arab American Community Center of Central Florida 

Friday, April 26th at 2 PM

Register Here

During this session participants will: 

  • Get a better appreciation for Arab culture by learning about the rich tapestry of the Arab community 
  • Learn best practices for interacting with members of the Arab community by learning about Arabic traditions and cultural protocols. 
  • Learn about the Arab American Community Center of Central Florida and how it supports the Arab community in Central Florida. 

Programming for Native American Heritage Month 

Presenter: Jewels Leggett 

Wednesday, May 1st at 2 PM

Register Here

During this session participants will: 

  • Participants will learn about newly published books and indigenous authors that highlight their stories and experiences.
  • Participants will gain insight into distinguishing between appreciation and appropriation of indigenous cultures.
  • Participants will develop proficiency in evaluating program ideas for Native American Heritage Month, utilizing guidelines to discern between practices grounded in appreciation and those that inadvertently lean towards cultural appropriation.

See the World Differently

Presenter: Lighthouse Central Florida 

Tuesday, May 14th at 2 PM

Register Here

During this session, participants will: 

  • Learn best practices for serving customers who are blind and/or low vision. 
  • Develop an understanding of how visual impairments can impact daily life. 
  • Get an overview of the services provided by Lighthouse Central Florida. 

 

Breaking Language Barriers: Tips for Using Interpreters

Presenters: Gabriel Soltrén and Michael Sweeney

Wednesday, May 22nd at 9 AM

Register Here

During this session participants will: 

  • Learn how to enhance customer satisfaction through improved communication with non-English speaking customers.
  • Learn how focusing on reducing language barriers helps OCLS become a more inclusive and accessible community resource.
  • Get an insight into approaches to both ASL interpreting and spoken interpreting. 

Help our presenters by completing this pre-session survey: Tips for Using Interpreters Pre-Session Survey

Beyond the Rainbow: Understanding Identity and Intersectionality 

Presenter: Andrea Vazquez Cruz 

Thursday, June 2nd at 2 PM

Register Here

During this session participants will: 

  • Get a better understanding of the differences between gender, sex, sexuality, and intersectionality.
  • Learn best practices for interacting with members of the LGBTQIA+ community including pronoun usage.
  • Learn about current challenges affecting the LGBTQIA+ community and ways to serve as an ally.