19/05/2020
To all budding first-time and established playwrights, please Get Writing for this competition!
WRITE-OFF! is an annual showcase of the best new writing talent from the West Midlands.
Five new short plays by established and new local writers. Spanning several genres and based around one central theme which for this year will be 'Mental Illness', there's plenty to enjoy for all tastes and all ages.
Your play can reflect what it's like to live with any number of types of mental illness from depression, anxiety or schizophrenia to dementia, tourettes or Parkinson's. It could be based on the people who have to treat mental illness or those family members struggling with those that suffer it.
Your play should contain no profanity unless absolutely necessary, be roughly 10 - 20 minutes long, no longer please, a maximum of 5 characters/actors with minimal staging required. All stage directions should be clearly displayed and differentiate from dialogue and character names.
Please send your entry to [email protected]
https://www.freespirittheatre.co.uk
In an effort to help promote, not only more awareness of Mental Illness, but also to educate those that feel they don't know enough about it, I plan to post each week around this time, information and symptoms to be aware of for particular Mental diseases. This week; Autism
Types of Autism in Children:
Asperger's Syndrome.
Children with Asperger's Syndrome tend to struggle to understand and interpret social cues, develop intense, often obsessive interests in one or two subjects and often display a higher-than-average and even gifted intelligence. Although children with Asperger's can suffer from sensory integration difficulties, like sensitivity to tags on shirts or seams on socks, they do not usually have delayed speech. In fact, many children with Asperger's Syndrome have an advanced vocabulary for their age.
Due to its subjective nature, some children with Asperger's Syndrome receive an initial misdiagnosis because other conditions resemble it, such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Attention Deficit Disorder. Parents can help children with Asperger's Syndrome by locating social skills classes, taking part in behavioral modification for any obsessive tendencies, possibly altering diet to remove preservatives, gluten, artificial sugars and food coloring, and looking into differentiated curriculum for advanced learners.
Rett Syndrome:
This type of progressive autism only affects girls and begins to become apparent when they reach about 6 months old. Typical symptoms of Rett Syndrome start with several characteristics found in other forms of autism, including repetitive hand and arm flapping, delayed speech and problems with fine and gross motor skills.
More severe symptoms start to appear as the child gets older. These can include difficulties breathing, mental retardation, grinding teeth, seizures and growth delays. Girls with Rett Syndrome usually need lifelong care. Treatment includes physical therapy to help increase mobility and straighten limbs, occupational therapy to reduce involuntary movements and to promote self care, speech therapy, diet modification and certain medications to control seizures.
Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD):
You may have heard stories of children who seem to develop normally -- meeting all of their milestones -- but then suddenly start regressing around the age of 2. This type of autism -- CDD -- can feel devastating and confusing for parents. Children often show no signs of developmental delays whatsoever, then out of the blue will stop talking, stop making eye contact and often completely lose the ability to socially interact with others. Doctors have seen a connection between this rare form of autism and seizure disorders. Parents can help kids with CDD through early intervention involving behavioral modification, dietary changes, occupational therapy and speech therapy.
Kanner's Syndrome (Classic Autistic Disorder):
Children with Kanner's Syndrome usually demonstrate what many people consider the standard behaviors of autism. These include difficulty understanding and communicating with others, limited to no eye contact, hypersensitivity to noises, touch, light and smell and a strong preference for routine.
Children with this more common type of autism often seem absorbed in their own world and have little to no interested in interacting with the world around them. Children with this form of autism can benefit from a weekly immersion program that incorporates different forms of cognitive and occupational therapies with social skill development.
Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS):
This more mild form of autism can cause children to have social or developmental delays, like walking or talking later than most children. Children with PDD-NOS often learn to cope with their developmental and social challenges more easily than children with more severe forms of autism. Like Asperger's Syndrome, children with PDD-NOS can benefit from social skills classes, dietary changes and occupational therapy
Free Spirit Theatre are an independent theatre company based in Solihull, West Midlands, focusing on original works from new and upcoming writers. We strive to support new artists by bringing you the freshest material. Original writing. Original Theatre.
