REEL Life Skills for Autism’s Award Winning Short-film Showing at Blackstone Valley in Millbury, MA
Industry: Healthcare
The “REEL Life Skills for Autism” vocational program made a short film that won acceptance into film festivals. It is showing locally on 6/11/16 at 10:00 in Millbury, MA
Northborough, MA (PRUnderground) June 7th, 2016
People with autism need support after high school, yet there is a dramatic decline in access to services during the transition into adulthood. The Friendship Network’s, REEL Life Skills for Autism program aims to fill the gap and smooth the transition, leaving participants with real rubber-meets-the road work-related social skills that they can take with them to future employment.
REEL Life Skills for Autism is a unique and exciting pilot program that launced in the summer of 2015. It first provided job readiness training to young adults on the spectrum by qualified master’s level counselors in a small group setting. Then students became interns on a real movie set, where they are given actual responsibilities. No specific filmmaking experience was required. Also, the story for the film was written by a teenager on the autism spectrum.
Why a movie set? A busy set is a demanding environment with deadlines demonstrating real work expectations and the need for good communication. Experienced crewmembers were oriented in understanding autism, but the concept was to make the environment as realistic as possible. Counselors were on set to help facilitate the learning process. In the end everyone’s work lead to a tangible result: a short film, something that all involved could have the satisfaction of knowing they had a hand in creating. It was also accepted into The Boston International Film Festival.
Because of the success of the pilot program, The Friendship Network is already planning to produce a second short film, again with a vocational training component. The lead character will not have autism, but will be portrayed by an actor on the spectrum.
Come watch “The Elevator” and help support this project. It will be showing on June 11, 2016 at 10:00am at The Shoppes at Blackstone Valley, 70 Worcester Providence Tpke. Millbury, MA 10527. The suggested donation to watch the film is $15. Tickets can be purchased online: https://www.networkforchildren.org or at the door. All proceeds will go towards the next production.
About The Friendship Network for Children
Incorporated in 2004, The Friendship Network for Children, Inc. is an ambitious mental health non-profit that provides counseling, training and advocacy for children, teens, and young adults with Autism. The organization’s goal is to accept people for who they are while providing services to improve their well-being using the Connection Formula®. For more information, visit www.networkforchildren.org.
