This study explored the benefits of a week-long drama camp on the socials skills of children on the autism spectrum through the perspectives of parents and instructors. Data collection included pre- and post-camp questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The results revealed that daily intensive exposure to drama and theatre can be a viable option to promote the development of social skills among children on the autism spectrum. The activities seemed to promote particular gains in caregiver/peer interaction, adjusting to routines, eye contact, and social perceptions/cues. Additionally, results indicated that children with greater social communication needs and those with more extensive exposure to the arts seemed to make stronger gains in social skills. Finally, the results of this study suggest directions for future studies in the area of using theatre to develop social skills, and highlight the importance of advocating for the inclusion of children on the autism spectrum in theatre programs.
","abstract_html":"<p>This study explored the benefits of a week-long drama camp on the socials skills of children on the autism spectrum through the perspectives of parents and instructors. Data collection included pre- and post-camp questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The results revealed that daily intensive exposure to drama and theatre can be a viable option to promote the development of social skills among children on the autism spectrum. The activities seemed to promote particular gains in caregiver/peer interaction, adjusting to routines, eye contact, and social perceptions/cues. Additionally, results indicated that children with greater social communication needs and those with more extensive exposure to the arts seemed to make stronger gains in social skills. Finally, the results of this study suggest directions for future studies in the area of using theatre to develop social skills, and highlight the importance of advocating for the inclusion of children on the autism spectrum in theatre programs.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Rhoades, Olivia"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Arts (MA)","degree_level":"Open Access Thesis","degree_discipline":"Special Education","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Ana Claudia Harten","Bill Cupples","Patricia Zimmer"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2014,"date_issued":"2014-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2014-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:17:27Z","subjects":["Autism","Drama","Social Skills","Special Needs","Theater","Theatre","Arts and Humanities","Education"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://commons.emich.edu/theses/866","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Ana Claudia Harten","Bill Cupples","Patricia Zimmer"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Rhoades, Olivia"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2018-03-15T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Special Education"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Open Access Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Arts (MA)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Autism","Drama","Social Skills","Special Needs","Theater","Theatre","Arts and Humanities","Education"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/866"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This study explored the benefits of a week-long drama camp on the socials skills of children on the autism spectrum through the perspectives of parents and instructors. Data collection included pre- and post-camp questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The results revealed that daily intensive exposure to drama and theatre can be a viable option to promote the development of social skills among children on the autism spectrum. The activities seemed to promote particular gains in caregiver/peer interaction, adjusting to routines, eye contact, and social perceptions/cues. Additionally, results indicated that children with greater social communication needs and those with more extensive exposure to the arts seemed to make stronger gains in social skills. Finally, the results of this study suggest directions for future studies in the area of using theatre to develop social skills, and highlight the importance of advocating for the inclusion of children on the autism spectrum in theatre programs.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Autism centered theatre: The use of drama to improve social skills for children on the autism spectrum"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Ana Claudia Harten","Bill Cupples","Patricia Zimmer"],"dc:creator":["Rhoades, Olivia"],"dc:date.available":["2018-03-15T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["This study explored the benefits of a week-long drama camp on the socials skills of children on the autism spectrum through the perspectives of parents and instructors. Data collection included pre- and post-camp questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The results revealed that daily intensive exposure to drama and theatre can be a viable option to promote the development of social skills among children on the autism spectrum. The activities seemed to promote particular gains in caregiver/peer interaction, adjusting to routines, eye contact, and social perceptions/cues. Additionally, results indicated that children with greater social communication needs and those with more extensive exposure to the arts seemed to make stronger gains in social skills. Finally, the results of this study suggest directions for future studies in the area of using theatre to develop social skills, and highlight the importance of advocating for the inclusion of children on the autism spectrum in theatre programs.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/866"],"dc:subject":["Autism","Drama","Social Skills","Special Needs","Theater","Theatre","Arts and Humanities","Education"],"dc:title":["Autism centered theatre: The use of drama to improve social skills for children on the autism spectrum"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Special Education"],"thesis:degree_level":["Open Access Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Arts (MA)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:17:27Z"}