Theatre arts project celebrates autism
Eight children with autism participate in after-school program to build skills and present a play
Kianna Tremblay sings everywhere. Her favourite tune is the theme song to “Dora the Explorer.”
On the way out the door to school in the morning, she will sing, “C’mon, Vamanos!” a favourite line of the young female protagonist, Dora, in the children’s cartoon TV series.
And yet, Kianna is nine years old and is just beginning to talk.
She has been diagnosed with autism and up until recently, did not use words to communicate. Kianna loves to repeat noises, words and phrases she hears, exactly as she hears them — it’s called echolalia — and she can precisely imitate the intonation, pitch, tone and expression.
The phrases she likes best, are the ones that involve singing, on some of her favourite shows like “Dora,” “Sid the Science Kid” and “Bo on the Go.”
When her mom, Veronica Tremblay, sings “Mommy loves Kiki, Kiki loves mommy,” Kianna will repeat her words in the same happy, singsong voice.
Until recently, she did not use her stockpile of scripts in any context and would express them at random times.
“She puts it into her brain, holds on to it, and then pulls it out,” says Veronica.
Slowly, Kianna has started to use phrases in appropriate situations.
When Kianna was holding a toy crab, she announced to her mother: “Can you be its mommy crab?” an exact line from a Dora episode.
“Singing and music are very important in our house,” says Veronica.
“That’s how you get into Kiki’s world.”
So when Kianna had the opportunity to participate in an afterschool performing arts program for kids with autism, her mom was thrilled.
In her words: “There’s so much hidden away that needs to come out.”
The program is the idea of Kristin Baker, an applied behaviour analysis supervisor with Niagara Catholic District School Board, and five others in the ABA department. They wanted to create an experience where kids with autism could develop independence and reach personal goals while using ABA strategies adapted to help them succeed.
Eight students in grades 3 to 6 from schools in Niagara Falls took part. Over 10 sessions, they incorporated visual arts, drama and music into a program that developed communication and social skills while they worked together to create and present a play.
They learned lines, sang songs and designed costumes and a set.
The play, “Jungle Jamboree,” was videotaped and presented to parents and family at a screening where the kids walked down a red carpet and were treated like
celebrities.
In the play, each youth is a different animal. On the way to a jamboree two of the animals, a giraffe and snake, get lost, meet each other and then work together to find the other animals friends. Differences are celebrated. Teamwork is emphasized. And everyone dances together at the end.
The journey to create the play was tailored to their skills and needs, says Baker.
They learned the words to the theme song little by little. Lines were broken down in small, manageable chunks, shown on an interactive screen and repeated by Baker, who modelled them over and over again as another instructor pointed to individual words. They clapped syllables. Imitated. And the song progressed from spoken words, to singing, to eventually introducing a guitar.
When they painted a large Jungle Jamboree banner, the kids were offered a choice between two colours, and a brush size to fit their abilities.
And the youth were allowed the freedom to lead.
“As a parent when your child has a special need you’re told what their limits may be,” says Baker.
“Here, we see the opportunities. We’re limitless.”
The arts program was part of an overall, two-year project funded by the Ministry of Education, that also included after-school sessions in martial arts and robotics. Some 70 youths in both elementary and high school participated.
Indeed, the ability to participate is big, says Veronica.
“It’s huge. For her to be part of something,” she says.
Kianna has two older sisters. “They achieve and do well and have friends.
“I just want the same for her.”