Frist Center for Autism and Innovation Salon Series Panel Discussion: Art and Science to Enhance Social Competence for Children and Adults with Autism
April 23, 12-1 p.m. CT
Held in Room 241, One Magnolia Circle Building, and online. A small number of boxed lunches will be offered, first come, first served.
Presented by Blythe Corbett, Ph.D., James G. Blakemore Chair and Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences; Professor of Psychology.
Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) can experience diverse challenges in areas of social competence including social cognition, communication and interaction. Theatre has the potential to serve as a novel therapeutic approach in which to teach essential social skills. Blythe A. Corbett, Ph.D. an actor-turned psychologist-turned-clinical scientist will talk about the impact of SENSE Theatre®, a peer-mediated, theatre-based intervention research program shown to enhance social competence in children, adolescent and adults with autism. Dr. Corbett will talk about how blending the innovation of art and rigor of science can make a positive and meaningful impact on how we interact with the social world.
About the speaker: Blythe A. Corbett, Ph.D. is the James G. Blakemore Chair and Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She is the Director of the Social Emotional NeuroScience Endocrinology (SENSE) lab, a translational research program focused on better understanding and treating social competence and stress in children, adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Inspired by a background as a professional actor and writer, in 2009 Dr. Corbett developed and founded the non-profit SENSE Theatre®, a peer-mediated, theatre-based intervention, which has contributed to significant immediate and generalized gains in social cognition, social interaction and reciprocal communication in children and adolescents with ASD. The research to examine the efficacy of SENSE Theatre® has been supported by grants from the National Institute of Mental Health, the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Academy of Country Music Lifting Lives®, a Vanderbilt Innovation Catalyst Award among others.
Co-sponsored by the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center.
For more information, contact Colette Rybinski.