Ballet Serves as Therapy for Those with Autism

As the holiday season approaches, it brings with it a beloved tradition that Tulsans have enjoyed for the past 40 years; Tulsa Ballet’s The Nutcracker. Running from Dec. 11 – 23 at Tulsa’s Performing Arts Center, this remarkable production will enchant young and old alike. The audience is drawn into a young girl’s heartwarming fantasy story filled with sugarplums, snowflakes, toy soldiers, adventure, heroism, and an epic battle between a Mouse King and the Nutcracker Prince. With magical choreography by Tulsa Ballet’s Artistic Director Marcello Angelini and Tchaikovsky’s musical masterpiece, it’s truly a mesmerizing holiday event that the whole family will enjoy and remember.

In addition to seeing The Nutcracker during the holiday season, many enjoy attending the ballet throughout the year. Ballet offers much more than year-round cultural entertainment and enjoyment. In fact, ballet with its wide range of dance movements can be used as a form of therapy for developmental delays, behavioral problems and autism. The Mayo Clinic describes autism as a group of serious developmental problems called autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The onset of autism generally occurs before the age of three. Though it varies in symptoms and severity, all autism disorders affect a child’s ability to communicate and interact with others.

Dance is therapeutic because it’s both a stimulating and calming activity, it’s an effective form of communication, and improves coordination and self-confidence.

New York-based Suzi Tortora, Ed.D, a certified movement analyst and dance therapist, utilizes dance therapy for children with autism, adhd, developmental delays and behavioral problems.

Through mirroring gestures and emotions, according to Tortora’s website, she uses the movement of dance to stay connected non-verbally to her autistic patients.

Additionally, Joanne Lara, M.A. Special Ed. Moderate/Severe & Multiple Disabilities, and adjunct professor at National University in the department of special education in Los Angeles, Cali. has developed an autism therapy program called Autism Movement Therapy (ATM), which incorporates music and the joy of movement to help autistic children develop skills and enjoy the fun and benefits offered by dance.

When asked what benefits ballet would have for autistic children Jennifer Sollars Miller, co-founder and resource director, The Autism Center of Tulsa, says, “The music would engage the children and I feel the movement and rhythm of ballet would have a calming effect. Many children with autism are highly anxious,” adding, “A class setting would provide an opportunity for the children to socialize doing something they enjoy.” Melinda Gable, director of marketing and PR, Tulsa Ballet, says, “Ballet offers so many benefits. It’s tremendous exercise, it develops coordination and rhythm, it builds confidence, it develops one’s musicality, and it’s fun.”

When one explores ballet, it’s easy to discover that it has something to offer for just about everyone; from bringing enjoyment during the holiday season with spectacular productions like The Nutcracker, to providing a way for autistic children to learn to engage, and experience the joy of music, movement and dance.
For information about Tulsa Ballet visit www.tulsaballet.org.

http://www.gtrnews.com/greater-tulsa-reporter/8381/ballet-serves-as-therapy-for-those-with-autism

Autism therapy plummets post high school

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41463913/ns/health-mental_health/#.Tp1Wjt4g_UA

Many teenagers with autism stop receiving speech therapy and other needed mental and physical health care services once they leave high school, according to a new study. Graduating seniors lose access to the services they obtained through their school-based special education programs.

The loss is problematic because the need for those programs doesn't go away, said study researcher Paul Shattuck, of Washington University in St. Louis.

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And access to care as students leave high school is critical because this transition period "sets the stage for what happens in the rest of adulthood," Shattuck said.

Federal, state and local policies that were established decades ago to help adults who have developmental disabilities need to be revisited, Shattuck said. The number of children diagnosed with autism has rapidly increased in recent years, and this diverse group of patients is now entering adulthood.

"We have to recognize that the population of people who have developmental disabilities has changed," Shattuck said.

"The good news is, if we provide support and assistance, a lot of people with autism can function very well" and contribute to society, Shattuck said.

Between 1998 and 2007, the number of children ages 12-17 with autism who were enrolled in special education increased by about 15,500, to nearly 100,000, the researchers said. Children and young adults with autism often have a high need for mental and physical health services because the disorder is associated with other conditions such as attention deficient hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and epilepsy.


Shattuck and his colleagues analyzed data from questionnaires given to parents and guardians of young adults (ages 19 to 23) with autism. More than 400 parents and guardians answered questions about their children's use of four types of services after high school — mental healthservices, medical services, speech therapy and case management — or about the coordination of the patients' care.

The researchers found the rates of use of these services all had fallen since the students were surveyed six years earlier. Most notably, the number of students receiving speech therapy dropped from close to 75 percent to 9.1 percent. While these two estimates are not directly comparable because some of the participants discontinued the study during those six years, the results still showed a steep decline in use of services, the researchers said.

About 39 percent of the young adults did not receive any special services after high school. Teens in this group were more likely to be black and from families with low incomes.

The drop in speech therapy use may be due to cost — after students graduate, health insurance disability programs usually don't cover it, Shattuck said.

"One of the services they need the most is the one service that is essentially excluded by way of eligibility and reimbursement policies," Shattuck said.

The results are published in February issue of the journal Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

Pass it on:There is a steep drop in use of health care services, particularly speech therapy, by young adults with autism after high school.