For centuries, the plays of William Shakespeare have been celebrated for their larger-than-life storytelling and rhythmic language. Now the Bard’s work is being studied as a way to help children overcome challenges associated with autism.
Autism is a general term for a group of developmental disorders that may affect as many as one in every 45 children aged 3 to 17 in the United States, according to a recent government survey.
It can severely impair social and communication skills that most people take for granted. Children with this disorder often aren’t tuned into the subtle emotional expression of their peers and, as a result, tend to be loners who are often more comfortable with a computer than interacting with others.
The idea is that if kids with autism can act out social interaction, it won't seem so confusing in the real world.
