The 2015 Jefferson Awards for Public Service presentation and reception was held at the Newark Museum on Monday, June 8, 2015./Russ DeSantis Photography and Video, LLC
Last week, the Paper Mill Playhouse announced that their Autism Advisory Team won the 2015 New Jersey State Governor’s Jefferson Award for Public Service. The Paper Mill Playhouse was the first professional theater in the nation to offer Autism-Friendly performances designed for people with autism as well as other development disabilities. This has been part of the Paper Mill’s commitment to offer affordable programming that enables all patrons to enjoy live theater with independence and dignity.
Honorees of the New Jersey State Governor’s Jefferson Award achieve measurable community impact and represent outstanding acts of public service, without the expectation of recognition or compensation. Recipients demonstrate unique vision, dedication and tenacity of heroic proportion and serve as inspiration for others. The Paper Mill Playhouse’s Autism Advisory Team was presented the Jefferson Award by Acting NJ Governor Kim Guadagno at a ceremony at the Newark Museum. Accepting the award were Paper Mill Autism Advisory Team leaders, Linda S. Meyer, Ed.D., BCBA-D, MPA, CPT; Kelly A. Carlile, M.A., BCBA; Jeff Jacobs, M.A., BCBA, and Erin Chambers, a graduate student in Applied Behavior Analysis at Caldwell College. This Team was selected for this prize from a pool of close to 500 nominees.
The Paper Mill Playhouse’s Autism Advisory Team members must have a minimum of 2 years of experience working with or supporting people with autism or other developmentally disabilities such as behavior analysts and special education educators. Qualified volunteers wishing to join the award-winning Paper Mill Playhouse Autism Advisory Team should contact Paper Mill’s Director of Education Lisa Cooney at LCooney@PaperMill.org.
At an Autism-Friendly performance, the theater environment is altered, providing a sensory-friendly, comfortable and judgment-free space that is welcoming to all families. The performance itself will be adjusted with special attention paid to lighting and sound, with preparation materials provided and on-site specialist support.
The 2015 – 2016 Autism-Friendly performance schedule includes the TheatreworksUSA productions of “Curious George” on Nov. 7 and May 12 at 10 a.m., “The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe” on Dec. 16 at 10 a.m. and “Henry & Mudge” on June 12 at 10 a.m.. Also included this winter is a special Autism-Friendly performance of the Paper Mill’s holiday, main stage musical, “A Christmas Story: The Musical” on Tuesday, Dec. 29, at 1:30 p.m.
Additionally, Paper Mill Playhouse will host a free Open House titled Meet Your Seat for “A Christmas Story: The Musical” on Monday, Dec 28, 2015, from 4 – 6 p.m. This is an opportunity for children who are new to the theatrical experience to visit the theater space before the show. Often children with autism or other developmental disabilities become anxious in new surroundings, new experiences, and they need time to transition. The Meet Your Seat open house provides an opportunity for children to come to the theater in advance of the performance and take time to feel comfortable in this new space.
The Autism-Friendly performance of “A Christmas Story: The Musical” is proudly sponsored by the Merck Foundation. Major funding for autism-friendly programs is provided by the Merck Foundation, with additional generous support from C.R. Bard Foundation, The Karma Foundation and MetLife Foundation.
Tickets for these performances are on sale now at www.PaperMill.org/education/autism-friendly or may be purchased by calling 973.376.4343, at the Paper Mill Playhouse Box Office at 22 Brookside Drive in Millburn, or online at www.PaperMill.org.