In the Spring of 2014 a school in Staten Island put on a musical, not an unusual activity for a school. But there was a twist. All the performers faced hurdles; autism, Down Syndrome, communication disorders, developmental delays, and more. As the performance deadline loomed the staff became anxious. Could the students actually learn all the songs, all the lines, all the dances, and all the cues? Could they perform on their own, with the minimum of direction from the staff?
Would the students find their voice?
Susan Abdulezer
Video Producer
District 75 New York City Department of Education