Action for Autism

For some, a small step is a giant leap…

Like for Sam Marcus. The 22-year-old talented singer and composer from
Hyderabad bloomed as a performer thanks to a theatre-based workshop in
Madurai that gave him self-confidence to carry himself on stage and connect
with the audience as he sang.
 Abbas, 14, discovered his flair for colours and drawing and whose hand
drawn and painted greeting cards are today popular!

Kannanbiran, 7, learnt to make eye contact with his mother and even noticed
that her bindi was missing — following a facial mask painting activity in
which the mother and son participated,.

Sam Marcus, Abbas, Kannabiran… these young people look no different from
you or me. Yet perhaps this absence of a difference and the ‘invisible’ nature
of the condition often make life frustrating and challenging for people with
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

What is ASD?

Autism Spectrum Disorder (Greek autos-self) is a neurobiological developmental

condition whose chief features include impairment in social interaction,
communication skills, and adaptive functioning. In most cases, the individuals have
average intelligence. What makes ASD particularly challenging to address is that
most affected individuals look ‘normal,’ thus making the condition invisible. ASD
manifests itself in early childhood, often before the child is three years and is four
times more common in boys than girls. Isaac Newton, Mozart, and Albert Einstein
are suspected to have been in the spectrum. Early diagnosis and intervention are
key to better long term outcomes, although there are no biomedical approaches to
treatment.

A Different Way of Being

Recently, however, a growing realisation that autism is simply a different way of

being; another way of viewing the world; and not a disease or disorder to be ‘cured,’
has resulted in several arts based modalities, special education, and behavioural
interventions to foster and nurture the skills and talents of people in the spectrum.

Introducing Velvi

Velvi is a registered Trust founded in 1997 and based in Madurai, the ancient
Temple city of South India.

Since inception the trust has been promoting Indian arts and culture, training for
students, and using theatre and arts for developmental activities. Velvi has run
workshops in prisons, homes for senior citizens, and mental health settings.

Besides producing new work and publishing plays and poetry, VELVI thought it
important to engage the community with applied art principles. Storytelling, acting,
dance, and movement are some of the important tools used by Velvi in reaching out
to people.

Art for Autism

While the journey took us in many directions, theatre for self -development, drama
for mental health, we discovered a neglected area—the world of Autism Spectrum
Disorder and found there was very little use of arts and theatre in this sector. Once
it dawned us we took a full plunge into the scenario and created modules for
workshops for Autism. Today Velvi is associated with Drama for Autism or Art for
Autism in many parts of the world.

We launched the Drama for Autism workshops in Madurai in 2007 and since then
Velvi has conducted more than thirty workshops in many parts of India, Kerala,
Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, Mumbai, New Delhi and in several parts of
the world, UK, USA, and Germany. The velvi website www.velvi.org has two entry
doors, one for autism and another for poetry and theatre.

Art for Autism Residential Camps

For the first time in India, we conducted an Art for Autism residential camp in
Madurai on January 9-11, 2009 and the response was overwhelming. Several
participants from outside Tamil Nadu participated and experienced the
benefits of the skill based training. There have been media reports about
the changes that happened in three days.

Inspired by the success of our first camp we followed it up with a second

residential camp in 2010 on 31 December, January 1 and 2, 2010, in which
15 children and their parents participated. The camp led to a public
performance and several media reports talked about the impact it had on
participants, parents and special educators.

What happens at the camp?

Participants are received at the railway station and transported to the venue of the
camp (Pillar Hall in 2009 and Hotel Jayashakthi in 2010) and given accommodation
in independent rooms with shower and toilet facilities. Each person in the spectrum
is accompanied by a parent or caregiver. They are provided with food, coffee and
tea and snacks and allowed to relax.
A Holiday with a Difference

Training in theatre, music and painting takes place every day for five to six hours
and during the training we identify the special talents of persons in the spectrum
and encourage the parents and special educators to work on those talents. We also
identify talents in the nation and show case their work.

In 2009 we organised a painting exhibition of Orko Roy from Mumbai and in 2010
we arranged a public concert by Sam Ashis Marcus from Hyderabad at the
American College where the public could enjoy and appreciate the talents of person
in the spectrum. Velvi photo gallery has pictures of the participants at the
workshops. An outing in the evening to Meenakshi Temple and Thirumalai Naicker
Palace and the Vandiyur Tank were also arranged for participants and families.

It was a great holiday for parents and they could interact with other parents and we
encouraged them to form parent support groups and learn from each other’s
experiences.

Facilitators

• Prof. Parasuram Ramamoorthi, applied drama practitioner and chairman

of VELVI

• Andrew Nelson, Autism Research Centre, Marshall University, West Virginia,

USA

• Shaheen Suvarna, Arts Educator and Principal, Asha Integrated School,

Bengaluru

• Rajashekar, Madurai-based musician

• Nikki Bettcher Erickson, US-based freelance theatre artiste who works with
people with disabilities including autism.

Each year we want to increase the number of facilitators and the number of hours
of training for participants.

Art for Autism Festival January 2011

Velvi plans to organise the next Art for Autism Festival on January 6, 7, 8 and 9,
2011 at Madurai. Planning has already started and we will advertise through the
Autism Society of India newsletter, media and the Velvi website for participation.
We hope to reach to thirty to forty people in 2011 and to invite three specialists
from the US and three specialists from India to work with the participants. We also
intend to organise a public awareness campaign during those four days in
Madurai about autism and a public performance by people in the spectrum.

For 2011 two specialists from USA have agreed to work with VELVI

Elaine Hall the founder of Miracle Project Los Angeles and the director of the famous

Autism: The Musicals will work with a group of young people interested in Music.

Elaine Hall, "Coach E!"

Founder: The Miracle Project

Author: Now I See the Moon (June 2010, Harperstudio)

Director: Vista Inspire Program

Host/Co-Producer: DVD Series Unlocking the World of Autism: 7 Keys to Being Miracle Minded

Prof. Rebecca Lyttle, Chair of the Department of Kinesiology, state University of

California at Chico will work with a group of young people interested in sports,
swimming and athletes. She will present Movement based workshops related to
physical fitness.

Josephine Cline currently working at the Autism Clinic of the State University of
California at Chico is a specialist in sensory and motor skills. She will work on Motor
skills with a group of young people.

Dr.Parasuram Ramamoorthi, as in the previous years, will do Drama for Autism and
focus on young adults and teens.
How you can help

We are looking for corporate and individual support and national organizations like
the National Trust New Delhi

The sponsorship categories include the following:

• Three international air tickets from USA

Rs.1,50,000

• Fees for the resource persons

100000

• Food and hospitality for participants and facilitators

200000

• Hall hire and equipments

30000

• Advertisements in newspapers /magazines

10000

• T-shirts, art material

50000

• Local transport( a bus for transporting participants around) 5000

• Documentation of the festival

15000

• Miscellaneous
10000

The 2011 festival is estimated to cost about Rs. 6 lakhs. If you are a corporate
house with social sensitivity and responsibility, or an individual with a philanthropic
heart, here is your chance to make a difference... Often a small difference
makes all the difference. Your contribution can make our dream a reality

Please send a draft or at par cheque in favour of

VELVI

10 Ashok Nagar Third Street

Kochadai

MADURAI (** PIN)

Ph: 91 94420 94771

Yours cordially

Parasuram Ramamoorthi

Chairman

VELVI

Participants speak

Orko Roy (from Mumbai): I made friends with many people and specially Shabir
from Pondicherry. I enjoyed working with Andrew and that helped me focus. I loved
Ram and his ideas about art and autism (Jan2009)

Shabir’s mother: My son had always hid his face and at school he would hide
himself under the desk. Now after the mask sessions he is happy and looks at me
He is happy at school. The mask helped him. (Jan2009 at Pondicherry)

Dr.Devaki: My son Sachin enjoyed playing with other children and it was a great
holiday for me as well. Getting to know other parents and supporting each other

Kausik Roy: father of Orko Roy: It was a well organized festival and I was happy to
meet with many parents and enthuse them. I was also happy that Apna Asman was
screened at the festival.

Sam Ashis Marcus (from Hyderabad): The festival gave me confidence. Though
I have been learning music for several years only after training at Madurai I gained
the confidence to sing before an audience. I feel confident as a performer. Now I
can sing before any audience.

Siddique: My son Abbas attended the festival last year and this year too. There are
a lot of changes in him. Now he can socialise, he can paint and he also has
discovered anew passion for running race. He loves 200 metres race now.

Sumathi: I attended the workshop this year and it helped my son Kannabiran very
much. My son focused on my face during the facial mask session. First time in my
life my son smiled and looked at my face and suddenly said,”Mummy, your bindi is
gone.”

Media coverage links:

Art therapy to bring out the best in Autistic Kids. Deccan Chronicle January 2,
2010

On a Mission Magnanimous Metroplus The Hindu, November 26, 2010

A Training camp that help special children face life. Indian Express (Madurai)
January 2, 2010

He moves audience with enchanting music. Indian Express January 3, 2010

Masks that open the face to emotions. New Sunday Express January 10 2010

American theatre Magazine USA, Jan. 2010

Action for Autism. Times of Madurai Feb. 2010