Autism Arts Level 1 is intended for use with low functioning autistic children and young people and focuses on the visual and auditory prompts, cues, tactile objects and the opportunity to learn through the freedom to explore. Creative arts and drama-therapy are increasingly used to help people with special educational needs to explore, reflect and develop when linguistic ability or intellectual functioning restricts their self-expression. Level 1 of the Autism Arts drama syllabus, for use by facilitators with and without drama experience, encourages children on the autistic spectrum to learn, interact and develop by integrating sights, sounds, touch and movement. The aims and goals of Autism Arts Level 1 are basic and centre on using the body to develop self-awareness, spatial awareness and provide an outlet for feelings and energy. Autism Arts Level 1 will also begin encouraging the use of the voice to express thoughts and feelings.
Abigail Barragry has worked around the world using the arts as a tool to teach, empower and bring groups together. She has spent extensive time in Malaysia where she pioneered the use of drama in education and for psychosocial development. Abigail has given numerous presentations on the benefits of creativity and expression in mental health, and conducted extensive research on this area at the University of Malaya. Abigail has been doing drama with children and young people for many years to target specific barriers faced by individuals and groups. In particular, she has created programmes for children on the autistic spectrum, those with Down's syndrome and those who have not had the same positive start in life as their peers. As director of a performing arts enrichment centre, Abigail has spent considerable time fine-tuning programmes, training teachers and closely monitoring international developments in the field. As drama specialist for the National Autism Society of Malaysia, she created their official three-year drama programme.
Contents include: Term 1: The five senses Term 2: My body and me Term 3: Puppets and play: CD rom with supplementary material.
"Abigail Barragry's wonderful new drama syllabus for children on the autism spectrum offers a three tier course that is easily accessible by both newcomers to the field and also experienced practitioners. At its heart is a belief that drama can be a powerful tool for teaching and learning, even in connection with this very challenging group of children. The courses takes Sue Jennings' embodiment-projection-role paradigm as one of its underpinning themes, and challenges us to move away from 'contain and train' approach to working with autistic children. The documentation is packed with easily accessible practical exercises, which are strongly supported with tips for trainers. I shall be dipping into these materials for many years to come." Professor Fraser Brown PhD, Playwork Team, Leeds Metropolitan University.
