Workshop for Families & Students with Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Class meeting time: Saturday, 6/23 10:00 am – 1:00pm
Registration fee: $25 per parent/guardian and student
This workshop is geared towards children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their parents/guardians.
Recent studies have shown that poetry is often the most direct linguistic expression for many on the autism spectrum. Beyond the inherent pleasure of writing and reading them, poems can also serve as unparalleled advocacy tools in and out of the classroom, forging a path of expression that can lead to greater autonomy, confidence, and engagement. In this one-day workshop, poet and Unrestricted Interest co-founder Chris Martin will show why and how poetry can be the ideal vehicle for transforming the lives of people with autism. Come learn practical tools for turning a so-called restricted interest into a portal for discovery. Our most direct task will be creating individualized poem forms to fit specific passions (diagnostically known as restricted interests). We will also be looking at exploring approaches to poetry based on number patterns, sensory perception, and borrowed language. This class is open to ASD students of all ages, and the registration fee covers a student and one parent/guardian.
Thanks to a generous donation, the next ten registration pairs can attend the workshop for free. Sign up to reserve your spot!
This event is co-sponsored by the CITY Center for Collaborative Learning and the University of Arizona Medical Humanities Program.