Theatre Horizon offers autism drama outreach program
Norristown’s Theatre Horizon is offering a theater program to young students with autism this fall.
This is the second year the nonprofit theater company is holding the acting sessions for students. Last year, the program, which focuses on drama and improvisation, was held in both the fall and the winter, as it will be this year.
This year’s fall autism drama class sessions are held Saturdays in October and November.
The Wolfson Foundation, Haas Foundation and the Genuardi Family Foundation sponsor the classes. This allows Theatre Horizon to offer the opportunity at an affordable rate to children.
“Families may already be spending money on schools and treatment so we really wanted to make this affordable option,” said Theatre Horizon’s director of education Kate McLenigan Altman.
McLenigan Altman said the theater company started the program after they were contacted by a local family looking for actors to work with their son on communication and social skills through a home theater therapy program.
After working with the family on an individual basis, Theatre Horizon was inspired to offer acting and drama classes to children with autism.
“We wanted to create a class that would be an extracurricular, fun opportunity for children with autism to encourage social skills, eye contact, socialization, imagination and to help them meet new friends. It seemed like such a great way to spend our time,” McLenigan Altman said.
A certified special education teacher and Theatre Horizion teaching artists teach the classes.
McLenigan Altman’s goals for the class are to inspire imagination, flexible thinking, help students find their own voice and to teach social skills in a positive and fun way.
In each class, teachers will create lesson plans based on themes, such as characterization, movement and eye contact through acting games or activities. Each session is limited to 15 students for a small teacher to student ratio.
The drama classes offer students opportunities to play tailored games that focus on imaginative play, emotions and teamwork. Visuals and pictures are used throughout the games and activities.
Special education and elementary education teacher Mia Rotondo will work with children in the Theatre Horizon program. Rotondo works with children in learning support at a charter school in the Philadelphia School District and is a stage manager for Theatre Horizon.
“Theatre Horizon offers a great opportunity for kids and a welcoming environment that will encourage students to grow socially,” she said.
Juliette P., who asked not to be identified for the privacy of her family, is from King of Prussia. She approached Theatre Horizon to work with her son, Colin, through an outreach program at her home in 2006, thus inspiring the drama classes.
Theatre Horizon teaching artists worked with Juliette’s son, who is now 9, for about eight hours a week for nine months on child-led improvisational activities and play-based learning. He was 6 years old at the time.
Juliette said her son benefited from the individualized program. Colin currently attends a school district in Delaware County.
“It’s really special because they are not always just working with high functioning kids. They are trying to work with everyone, and they are succeeding,” she said. “Horizon was able to give him inspiration to talk more. The program encouraged his ideas and individuality and helped him find his voice.”
In addition to the autism drama class, Theatre Horizon offers general theater camps and classes to children during the spring and summer months. This summer, the company offered 25 weeks of camp to about 430 children in Montgomery County.
The theater company, in its fifth anniversary season this year, will offer shows titled “Fat Pig” by playwright Neil Labute and a Theatre Horizon original — titled “Another Holiday Show at the Swing Club” in the coming months.
This is the second year the nonprofit theater company is holding the acting sessions for students. Last year, the program, which focuses on drama and improvisation, was held in both the fall and the winter, as it will be this year.
This year’s fall autism drama class sessions are held Saturdays in October and November.
The Wolfson Foundation, Haas Foundation and the Genuardi Family Foundation sponsor the classes. This allows Theatre Horizon to offer the opportunity at an affordable rate to children.
“Families may already be spending money on schools and treatment so we really wanted to make this affordable option,” said Theatre Horizon’s director of education Kate McLenigan Altman.
McLenigan Altman said the theater company started the program after they were contacted by a local family looking for actors to work with their son on communication and social skills through a home theater therapy program.
After working with the family on an individual basis, Theatre Horizon was inspired to offer acting and drama classes to children with autism.
“We wanted to create a class that would be an extracurricular, fun opportunity for children with autism to encourage social skills, eye contact, socialization, imagination and to help them meet new friends. It seemed like such a great way to spend our time,” McLenigan Altman said.
A certified special education teacher and Theatre Horizion teaching artists teach the classes.
McLenigan Altman’s goals for the class are to inspire imagination, flexible thinking, help students find their own voice and to teach social skills in a positive and fun way.
In each class, teachers will create lesson plans based on themes, such as characterization, movement and eye contact through acting games or activities. Each session is limited to 15 students for a small teacher to student ratio.
The drama classes offer students opportunities to play tailored games that focus on imaginative play, emotions and teamwork. Visuals and pictures are used throughout the games and activities.
Special education and elementary education teacher Mia Rotondo will work with children in the Theatre Horizon program. Rotondo works with children in learning support at a charter school in the Philadelphia School District and is a stage manager for Theatre Horizon.
“Theatre Horizon offers a great opportunity for kids and a welcoming environment that will encourage students to grow socially,” she said.
Juliette P., who asked not to be identified for the privacy of her family, is from King of Prussia. She approached Theatre Horizon to work with her son, Colin, through an outreach program at her home in 2006, thus inspiring the drama classes.
Theatre Horizon teaching artists worked with Juliette’s son, who is now 9, for about eight hours a week for nine months on child-led improvisational activities and play-based learning. He was 6 years old at the time.
Juliette said her son benefited from the individualized program. Colin currently attends a school district in Delaware County.
“It’s really special because they are not always just working with high functioning kids. They are trying to work with everyone, and they are succeeding,” she said. “Horizon was able to give him inspiration to talk more. The program encouraged his ideas and individuality and helped him find his voice.”
In addition to the autism drama class, Theatre Horizon offers general theater camps and classes to children during the spring and summer months. This summer, the company offered 25 weeks of camp to about 430 children in Montgomery County.
The theater company, in its fifth anniversary season this year, will offer shows titled “Fat Pig” by playwright Neil Labute and a Theatre Horizon original — titled “Another Holiday Show at the Swing Club” in the coming months.
