Bedford Playhouse Marks Autism Awareness Month Virtually

BEDFORD, NY — The Bedford Playhouse announced this week it would reopen for in-person events starting on May 28, just in time for Memorial Day weekend. In the meantime, the movie theater and event space will continue to offer virtual presentations as it has since closing their doors in response to coronavirus concerns.

Beginning April 13, the Playhouse will mark Autism Awareness Month with a weeklong series of virtual discussions, films and question and answer sessions. Organizers say the carefully curated lineup is aimed at inspiring the community to gain a deeper understanding of autism and celebrate the uniqueness of every individual.

The programming kicks off with “Autism 101” presented by Dr. Stephen Kanne. The talk from the director of the Center for Autism and the Developing Brain at Weill Cornell Medical School will focus on how autism may present in children and the ways it is being diagnosed and treated. He will discuss his research focused on children with autism, including targeting diagnostic tools, outcome measures, behavioral phenotyping, co-occurring symptoms, evidence-based therapies and subthreshold symptoms.

The panel discussion on April 14, will take a decidedly less clinical look at the subject. Experts, including Melanie Adsit from the Guggenheim, Larissa Kunynskyj from the Theatre Development Fund and Aliza Greenberg from the CO/LAB Theater Group, will discuss the unique relationship between art and autism.

On April 15, a panel discussion about depression and anxiety in the autism community will focus on how symptoms of depression can go untreated for many of those on the autism spectrum. The panel discussion will be led by Dr. Michelle Gorenstein of Mt. Sinai.

On April 16, the Bedford Playhouse will continue its “Virtual Cinema” series with a showing of the film “Best Summer Ever.” The feature is described as “the first-ever movie musical that stars people with disabilities.” A question and answer session will follow the showing.

The Autism Week lineup wraps up with a panel where advocates will look at the ways organizations are helping to provide the skills and resources necessary for adolescents with Autism to succeed as they mature into adulthood. Patricia Wright of NEXT for Autism, Tibi Guzmán from The Arc Westchester, Dr. Francis Tabone from the Cooke School and Institute and Jessica Nesbihal, also from the Cooke School, will be on hand to discuss their work.

Advance registration is required for the Bedford Playhouse Autism Awareness Week events. Tickets for the presentations and more information on the happenings can be found here.