COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Shakespeare and Autism Project is an initiative within The Ohio State University's Department of Theatre, Film, and Media Arts that aims to overcome the difficulties many children with autism face when trying to communicate and express their emotions.
Marking its 10th year, the project is preparing to host 10 weeks of free workshops for children between the ages of eight and 18 this spring.
"The Shakespeare and Autism Project at OSU is a service-learning course," explained Associate Professor Kevin McClatchy, head of acting and directing department as well as the director of the Shakespeare and Autism Project.
"[Students] spend the first four weeks learning the Hunter Heartbeat Method which is an intervention using Shakespeare drama games to engage autistic children."
McClatchy pointed out that the games are simple by design to be adaptable. Part of the training involves students assessing the level of support that workshop participants may need and then making sure that the games are adjusted accordingly.
In addition to the workshops, the Shakespeare and Autism Project has collaborated with Bridgeway Academy since 2017 to offer a pre-professional internship to students who have completed the Shakespeare and Autism Project training.
"They take the Shakespeare and Autism work to Bridgeway and lead drama games," McClatchy explained. "[The] internship prepares them for a career in drama therapy or a career as a speech pathologist or whatever their interest is."
"Getting to watch the actors demonstrate to where it looks like, 'hey, that's fun; I want to take part in that' is so much better. It's not work, at that point, it's play," said Alexa Reck, a speech-language pathologist at Bridgeway, "It's allowing them to work on skills demonstrating and recognizing more emotion, taking turns in dialogue, everything is repeated and supported and modeled, so it really lets them learn skills, but it doesn't feel like you're being taught something."
Reck pointed out that staff and families have noticed significant changes in some students over the years.
"Conversation is improved," said Reck. "Every day, you don't know when you walk into a conversation, what's going to happen, what's going to be asked of you, where you're going to go. So, the chance to play these games builds that skill."
Reck related that she has had students show interest in careers in acting or voice work and, to be able to interact with college students who are actively pursuing those careers, is really inspiring for them.
"It's kind of a transformative experience for all of my students because it's about something outside of yourself," said McClatchy.
He explained that it was important for Ohio State students and the participants in the workshops and at Bridgeway Academy to "pause" the stress and anxiety of life for a moment and meet each other halfway to create something magical and empowering.
"We investigate what it feels like to be alive, and to try and express that in a new way."
The Shakespeare and Autism Project workshops at The Ohio State University's Department of Theatre, Film, and Media Arts are free and open to children ages 8-18 and run Feb. 6 through April 18. You can sign up for one-hour classes that start at 4:15 p.m. on either Tuesdays or Thursdays.
To sign up, contact Kevin McClatchy at mcclatchy.1@osu.edu or 614-688-4668.
You can find more information on the Shakespeare and Autism Project here: https://theatreandfilm.osu.edu/shakespeare-and-autism-project.