Vegas PBS recognized a desperate need in the state of Nevada: ensuring access to learning media for those with special needs, their parents, educators and professional therapists. The station established a grant-funded, free-loan library with over 14,000 unique items. Working in cooperation with various community partners for input, Vegas PBS built a specialized collection of educational media and activities addressing autism, blindness, deafness, developmental delays and other special needs. Materials are available in an online catalog for check out by all Nevadans. Educational media is mailed directly free-of-charge, including return shipping.
The library’ media is available to serve the educational needs of all Nevadans, no matter their abilities. Those who have deafness or blindness can check out media with closed captions or descriptive voice-overs, which makes the visual elements of programs available to those who are blind or visually impaired. The library offers educational games and activities that parents, teachers and other professionals find vital for teaching children with unique learning challenges.
Utilizing the educational resources available, structured play groups for children with special needs ages two to four are also conducted in a specialized children’s area within the library. These playgroups serve local Nevadans by creating a community among parents while addressing their child’s functional, communication and social skills during group play and provide the resources for loan so parents/caregivers can continue the learning at home.
The library serves as an important addition to Vegas PBS’ role as a trusted educational media provider in Nevada. The reach of our educational broadcast content is extended by offering accessibility to a greater population of children. Parents, caregivers, teachers and therapists are grateful to have these resources provided by an organization they trust with their children’s development.