Kathy MacMillan (she/her) is a writer, nationally certified American Sign Language interpreter, librarian, and signing storyteller. She writes picture books (including The Runaway Shirt and the Little Hands Signing series from Familius Press), children’s nonfiction (including She Spoke: 14 Women Who Raised Their Voices and Changed the World from Familius Press and Understanding Bipolar Disorder from BrightPoint Press), middle grade fantasy (the Chronicles of Cavallon series under the pen name Kim Forester), and young adult fantasy (Sword and Verse and Dagger and Coin, both HarperTeen). Her debut novel, Sword and Verse, was a finalist for the Compton Crook Award.
Kathy has also published eight resource books for educators, librarians, and parents, including five volumes in the bestselling Storytime Magic series from ALA Editions.
Creating a Welcoming Space for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Patrons at Your Library with Kathy MacMillan
We are thrilled to welcome Kathy MacMillan, who will be presenting a series of workshops on creating a welcoming space for deaf and hard of hearing patrons at your library.
A brief description and registration links for each of Kathy's workshops can be found below:
Working with Sign Language Interpreters at Your Library
Wednesday, April 23, 2025 | 10:00-11:30 am
Register for Working with Sign Language Interpreters at Your Library
Communicating through a third party can be stressful for everyone involved – but it doesn’t have to be that way! In this workshop, you will find out about best practices for hiring interpreters, develop an understanding of the interpreter’s role and learn how to effectively communicate through an interpreter.
Welcoming Deaf Kids and Families to Your Library
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 | 10:00-11:30 am
Register for Welcoming Deaf Kids and Families to Your Library
In this interactive overview, you’ll learn communication tips for interacting with deaf kids, teens, and parents, information about American Sign Language and Deaf Culture, best practices for program access, and even some basic ASL vocabulary to introduce yourself and help families navigate the library.
Little Hands Signing in Storytime
Wednesday, June 18, 2025 | 10:00-11:30 am
Register for Little Hands Signing in Storytime
This presentation will cover the benefits of using basic American Sign Language with all children and offer a variety of simple techniques for making your programs more fun, educational, and participative through the use of signs with audiences of all ages. Participants will leave armed with a vocabulary of very basic signs to start using right away.
