by Jan Spence –
I have been fortunate to see many fine stage productions from London to New York city and from Chicago to Georgetown, but none have surpassed the triumphant presentation I saw at the Palace Theatre Education Annex on December 13th.
On that crisp night, with holiday lights twinkling on the town square, Leslie Ford, Carolyn Halloway, and I joined some parents and friends to witness the performance of Acting with Autism’s production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Six students of the program, facing and conquering many of their daily challenges, delivered their lines (on a stage with a big Snoopy doghouse) in front of a packed room. They received a well-deserved standing ovation for their efforts.
The Acting with Autism program, which received a $10,000 grant from Seeds of Strength, addresses social skills for children with autism who are in grades 4 through 7. In the words of founder, visionary, and energetic dynamo Trina Sherman: See a need, fill a need. And so, about three years ago, she did exactly that.
Trina and fellow teacher Roxanne Dahl bring the expertise, the heart and the elbow grease necessary to make it all work. The students come on Tuesday nights during the school year to work on building the sets, learning their lines and making other decisions about the performance for the selected play. In the process of these activities, though, they are improving other skills. Using sensory games and social exercises they build on abilities like empathy. Every session includes a circle time where the students sit in a circle and roll a ball to each other. Whoever has the ball has the floor and is free to share. The others listen and may even give feedback. This is good practice in articulating feelings, in listening, making eye contact, and in responding appropriately – all of which are difficult for these students. Some of the SoS grant dollars have gone towards games for practicing social interaction, weighted blankets and vests to promote calming, and other activities and equipment such as acting books, puppets, sensory games, and learning games.
As students move through the activities each week, Trina and Roxanne can find themselves dealing with social/emotional issues ranging from insecurity and anxiety to high-pitched squealing, to aggression and a full-blown meltdown. It’s not easy being autistic in this strange world.
On that special night in December, students faced their fears, dried their tears and went on stage where they said their lines — and even sang! Until joining Acting with Autism, one student would not speak in front of a group. Yet, as part of the cast of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown he spoke his lines in front of a room FULL of people. Another student had tried taking a drama class in his middle school and had been overwhelmed; but, because of Acting with Autism, he experienced the fun of performing and enjoyed the taste of success.
The students aren’t the only beneficiaries of this great program. The parents get to see their beloved children grow and thrive. They show appreciation through their dedicated presence as they wait outside the room during rehearsal times, by attending the performance with the whole family in tow, and by long strong hugs and words of thanks.
Trina is not new to the world of autistic children. She walked that path as she raised an autistic child of her own. Perhaps that is why she has such a passion for the work. After the performance she said, “The rewards are HUGE! The sense of accomplishment, the joy of hearing the laughter, seeing your family smiling at you in pride….” And her enthusiasm is contagious, affecting Roxanne and all the other volunteers who interact with the children.
With her abundant energy and dedication, Trina overflows with ideas to expand and improve the program. In the future, Trina plans to utilize some of the grant dollars to obtain further training for herself and Roxanne. She also would like to bring in more professionals to work with the students. Seeing the dedication of Trina and Roxanne, I know that our dollars will continue to serve children in the program for many years to come. And I also believe that the students themselves will carry with them the benefits of what they gain from the program for many years to come. So, our dollars seem to be doing what Ralph Waldo Emerson encouraged us to do when he said, “Be an opener of doors for those who come after you.” Do you feel the small draft of fresh air as those doors are opening?
To see the play, click the link below:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4-FnVG4G3yZSDk4ZTFWV0tGMkE/view