Partners in Arts Participation
ACHF Arts Access
AuSM will continue to train STC artists, as well as collaboratively plan experiences that are ASD friendly through a specific CAST (Creating Accepting Sensory Theatre) model. Participation data and program evaluation will be recorded to demonstrate ties to both STC and AuSM. After the program itself, we can also track the increased participation in CAST classes as well as attendance at STC sensory-friendly performances. 2: We will provide an opportunity for youth with ASD to address their communication, emotional, and social challenges to learn social skills through arts in a fun, safe environment. Parental evaluation with the Autism Social Skills Profile (Bellini, 2006) will help measure the increase in particular social skills as a result of participation. Anecdotal success, evident in session or at home, will also be recorded.
A partnership was developed between AuSM and Stages that served the underserved ASD community. AuSM staff members who attended all the rehearsals and performances reported that the participants’ engagement in the activities, rehearsals and performances became more comfortable, creative and confident as time went by. This information was gathered through verbal interviews with the staff members. AuSM leadership went a performance and saw the outcome that all participants were engaged and seemed comfortable and happy with the performance. 2: Theater is the perfect place to learn social skills such as how to communicate in effective ways with use of non-verbal and verbal language. The plan was for participants and the caregivers to complete the Bellini Autism Skills Profile both before and after the class, however when doing this report it was discover that this step was omitted. A plan has been made for how to correct the issue for the 2017 grant. The Bellini Autism Skills Profile will help us to evaluate changes in social skills for each participant.