Thespian Camp for Kids with Autism

From Deluth News Website: Mercedes Sarkkinen, 5, of Poplar cheers for her classmates during an acting class at the Duluth Play Ground. (Clint Austin / caustin@duluthnews.com)

In Deluth, Minnesota, an SLP had a great idea for teaching children with autism language and communication: teach them with plays and skits. She teamed up with a local children’s theater to pilot her program, and it seems that it has been successful so far. Read the full article I’ve linked to below.

Deluth Play Ground News Article

I love to find people finding new, creative and community-based activities to work with people with autism. I’ve written about this before, but too many times the summer can mean more therapy, more therapy, more therapy… with none of the FUN that other kids get to have. This year when I was teaching special education in Washington State, we were coming to the end of the year and I could see the kids slowly checking out. Their actions were telling me “I’ve had enough reading already!!” I wanted to get creative and get them enthusiastic about coming to class again so we started doing Reader’s Theater with some familiar stories. Every single one of them absolutely LOVED it. They all started coming out of their shells… no more monotonous reading voices… they were actually reading with inflection and emphasis and having FUN!!!

Their enthusiasm got me thinking “They love just reading the stories so much, I wonder what they would think about actually performing the play in front of an audience?” When I first brought up the idea I had a couple who were excited, but most of them weren’t quite sure what to think. In the end though they all came around. They rehearsed the play, created costumes, created the set and put on the play for some staff members and one of the kindergarten classes. They were so motivated during the process and so proud of themselves once they had finished. The reviews I got from staff members were amazing… they were so thrilled that this group of students which included kids with Autism, Asperger’s, and ADHD had done all of that work and had done such a wonderful performance.

The next time you’re trying to think of something fun for your child or student with autism to do, consider community theater! You’ll be amazed at what your child is capable of doing!!

2. Do you have any other creative ideas? Please share them here.