- Be aware that you may be presenting to a group with a range of disabilities but try to become familiar with some of the prevalent disabilities within your audience. For example. there is a helpful website on the effects of stroke which we found useful in relation to story telling:
Similar websites can be found for many disabilities. This website just shows the type of information you can find that might support you in your telling.
- Your audience may be more impulsive than usual and may not react in the way you expect them to.
- Your audience may have different needs than your used to. Consider the possibility that people may have hearing or visual impairments and try to compensate if possible by using words or gesture to describe things in your story.
- Your audience may relate to different aspects of your story. For example, if it's a story about running, this will be viewed differently by people in wheelchairs. This may sound obvious although it truly is an important consideration to be aware of!
- It's likely that your audience will be highly motivated by audience interaction, as long as the interaction is adapted to the needs of the disabilities people are coping with.
- Storytelling is viewed as a mode of therapy in much of the world of disability. If possible, give your audience the opportunity to share their own stories in some way as they might enjoy it.
- Consider alternative modes of storytelling that may fit the audience. Digital storytelling, puppets, music/ sound effects, and many others can be useful.
This link about presenting to people with disabilities can be a helpful tool (especially if you are unfamiliar with disabilities):
http://www.aera.net/meetings/Default.aspx?menu_id=22&id=490
No comments:
Post a Comment