Embedded Files
Stay informed of upcoming events!
This professional development workshop is designed for educators, therapists, and counselors working with students with Autism. The skills are transferrable to many other demographics as well.
These workshops were led by professional puppeteers Lindsey “Z.” Briggs and Adelka Polak, and sponsored by, The Henson Foundation and the Kennedy Center for the Arts.
The participants met virtually through 3 2-hour sessions, each about 2 months apart. In all of these sessions, we covered a broad spectrum of puppeteering knowledge in an attainable way. No prior puppet experience was necessary. Participants were encouraged to share their experiences along the journey, as all of the participants introduce puppets into their interactions with their own students.
I was truly inspired by the experiences that were shared in the workshops. It was a confirmation of the magic I have already experienced myself. There is an amazing connection that these students tend to make with puppets. A student that may be limited verbally may find that interacting with a puppet is very rewarding, and non-threatening. Many times this can result in the beginning of learning to make strides toward communicating and being understood. Puppets are beneficial for individuals at any age or neurological development level. They can offer a mode of creativity and of self-expression.
We left these workshops with innovative and inspiring ideas, and the encouragement to allow ourselves to be silly, mindful, and open-minded about what it means to make and use puppets. This was a wonderful experience I highly recommend the workshop.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse