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Book
club to be launched for adults with developmental disabilities
Darke County Board of Developmental Disabilities recently joined the
Next Chapter Book Club Affiliate Network and has recently launched a
local club. Founded by Dr. Thomas Fish, a professor at The Ohio
State University in 2002, Next Chapter Book Club is a community-based
book club program for individuals with Down Syndrome, autism, cerebral
palsy and other types of intellectual and developmental
disabilities.
Next Chapter Book Club, which was awarded the “Innovations in Reading
Prize” by the National Book Foundation in 2016, has clubs throughout
North America and in other parts of the world. Clubs meet in
public places and are comprised of four to eight members and two
volunteer facilitators who are trained to engage readers of all levels
– including those who cannot read or are “emerging readers.”
“People with intellectual and developmental disabilities love books for
the same reasons most people do. They enjoy being transported to
different worlds where they meet interesting characters and learn about
exciting new things. Taking that journey with a group of friends
makes it even more delightful and fun,” said Susan Berg, Executive
Director of the Ohio-based Next Chapter Book Club.
Although reading skills of Next Chapter Book Club members often improve
as a result of reading more often, the program is more about “reading
to learn,” rather than “learning to read.” The primary focus is
on having fun with friends in public place on a regular basis.
Anyone interested in joining the club or becoming a volunteer
facilitator should contact: Mary Baker, Advocacy Coordinator at
(937)459-4628 or maryb@darkedd.org.
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