Developing social skills in autistic children through ‘Relaxed Performances’

Kempe, A. (2014) Developing social skills in autistic children through ‘Relaxed Performances’. Support for Learning, 29 (3). pp. 261-274. ISSN 0268-2141 doi: 10.1111/1467-9604.12062

Abstract/Summary

Families living with autism often feel unable to attend social and cultural events largely due to the fear of their child attracting negative or even aggressive reactions from others. The ‘joint attention’ that is part of the theatre experience however may be a powerful factor in the development of social and communication skills for such children. ‘Relaxed performances’ offer an opportunity for them to access and engage with theatre by making special arrangements designed to reduce tensions associated with visits to public places. Aspects of the production such as the use of lighting and sound effects which may trigger adverse reactions are also adjusted. This paper reports on how one local theatre drew on the findings of a national project to mount a ‘relaxed performance’ of their annual pantomime. It discusses the theatre’s preparations and presents evidence of the impact the event had on local children with autism and their families. The success of both the national and this local project marks a new beginning for improved access to the theatre for an audience that has hitherto felt largely excluded.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/37713
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Arts, Humanities and Social Science > Institute of Education > Improving Equity and Inclusion through Education
Uncontrolled Keywords	autism; joint attention; relaxed performance
Publisher	Wiley-Blackwell
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