Richland, WA – A local woman will be honoured for her work with drama students on the autism spectrum at the Heart for the Arts fundraiser taking place on February 28.
Julie Schroeder had been a hairstylist for almost 40 years, however she decided to five up her career in the field to devote her life to helping children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) through acting, drama and theatre. She thus founded Spectrum on Stage five years ago which has proven to be success with a steady increase in enrollment taking place every year since its inception.
With current studies indicating that teaching drama and generalized improvisation techniques helps to enable those on the spectrum to engage meaningfully with their peers, the program’s success has undoubtedly been beneficial for the children attending the sessions.
Debbie Curran, the mother of a teen with ASD, lauds Schroeder’s commitment to helping youngsters with the disorder and says that her son has been able to form new friendships due to his participation in the program. Adele Connors, Academy of Children’s Theatre (ACT) director of development, echoes the sentiment saying of Schroeder:
“She is a consistent reflection of the mission of our organization to provide educational opportunities for children of all levels and interests.”
Tickets for the fundraiser are $85 and are available at the ACT studio in Richland.
Source:Dori O’Neal on the Tri-City Herald website: Heart for the Arts honors Julie Schroeder for her work with autistic drama students