Meet Teaching Artist and Sensory Drama Specialist, Maddie Napel. Maddie (she/her) has a background in sensory drama from working with Seesaw Theatre at Northwestern University and is the founding Artistic Director of Parachute Players.
She also has extensive experience as a teaching artist in special education classrooms in Seattle and personal experience with the disability community as a sibling of an adult brother with cerebral palsy. Through her work and training, she has sought out (and continues to seek out) partnerships with teachers and artists with disabilities.
FIRST, TELL US A BIT ABOUT SENSORY DRAMA. WHO IS IT FOR AND WHY IS IT UNIQUE?
Sensory Drama is what happens when you reimagine traditional creative drama (facilitated group storytelling) to make it more inclusive of all kinds of learners and players! Sensory Drama classes have built-in moments for sensory engagement (seeing and hearing but also feeling, smelling, and moving our bodies through space). This helps class work for both students who are sensory seeking and those with sensory processing challenges, while simultaneously strengthening instruction for all learners, as it gives everyone more options for how to get and stay engaged! Other accommodations are provided as well. When we intentionally include young people with disabilities in our programming, we all win.
These Sensory Drama summer classes are specifically for students with disabilities. We feel that holding space for these students is always important, but particularly important right now, as they have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 initiated shift to online learning. We want to show these students and these families how much they are valued by offering these experiences, tailor-made for them.
These Sensory Drama summer classes are specifically for students with disabilities. We feel that holding space for these students is always important, but particularly important right now, as they have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 initiated shift to online learning. We want to show these students and these families how much they are valued by offering these experiences, tailor-made for them.
WHAT KINDS OF ACCOMMODATIONS ARE MADE FOR DIFFERENT STUDENTS?
So many fun accommodations! The biggest feature of Sensory Drama is, of course, its focus on multimodal sensory engagement, but we provide other accommodations as well. Once families register, all families will have access to a social story, detailing exactly what they should expect during class. This can help to alleviate anxiety and demystify the unfamiliar social situation created by distance learning. During class, we will follow a visual schedule to help ease transitions between activities. Also— and this is a big suggestion that came from consultant Talleri MacRae—we will be upfront about our expectation that not all families will stay connected for the entire class each day. Things happen, and we’ll provide families with enough structure that they can “finish” each class on their own time. Finally, we may provide accommodations for specific students’ needs, like modifying instruction for a physical activity for a student in a wheelchair or encouraging students who use Alternative / Augmentative Communication (AAC) to use these devices.
WHAT IS THE GOAL OF A GUARDIAN AND ME EXPERIENCE? WHAT DOES THAT PARTICIPATION LOOK LIKE FOR BOTH GUARDIAN AND STUDENT?
This is a guardian and me experience because Sensory Drama is about connection, and it’s sometimes hard to feel that connection through a screen! We connect when we share in sensory experiences (when we touch the same soft fabric or smell the same smell of lavender). Guardians (and other members of your household) can expect to be fully included in the experience. We will play together!
HOW HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE BEEN WHILE TEACHING THESE CLASSES IN A VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT?
I’ve been teaching virtual classes for young people with disabilities since March, and I’ve been completely inspired by the transition to online instruction. Just as I am inspired by the challenge of accommodating for individual students’ needs, I am inspired by the challenge of this online platform— it has its own constraints and affordances and has made me more creative as an educator! When a change prompts us to question our assumptions about how things must be done, new possibilities emerge.
MEET SENSORY DRAMA CONSULTANT, TALLERI MACRAE
 | Talleri Macrae (she/her) is a disabled theatre artist based in Louisville, KY. Talleri is a teaching artist for Playwright Discovery Program, an arts-based residency that serves young writers with disabilities. She also works alongside theatres, service providers, and autistic self-advocates to offer sensory-friendly and relaxed performances. Some organizations Talleri has served are: Actors Theatre of Louisville, the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, Indiana Repertory Theatre and La Jolla Playhouse. Talleri is the Director of Professional Development and Training for National Disability Theatre (established 2018). She holds a B.S. from Northwestern University, and an M.F.A. from The University of Texas at Austin. |
