The Milwaukee Post

14 • Milwaukee Post • August 2, 2013 Film explores ways to help peers welcome differences Autism at core of 'We ALL Fit' By JODY MAYERS Special to The Post MILWAUKEE – Chelsea Budde, co-founder and president of Good Friend, Inc., said a new short film that she helped write called "We ALL Fit" explains autism to typically developing peers. "'We ALL Fit' is Good Friend's third educational short film. While this production is meant to replace our 2007 release 'How Can I Be a Good Friend to Someone with Autism?' it will also boast elements not included in our first effort," she said. "We will have an original musical score by fellow area nonprofit The Figureheads, and we'll be tripling the cast and crew numbers." Budde and co-founder Denise Schamens are both mothers of children she describes as having brain-based differences. "Denise has three kiddos and her middle child, who will be a sophomore this fall, has autism," she said. "Both of my children, now ages 14 and 12, were diagnosed with autism in early childhood. We started this nonprofit in 2007 as a response to the need we saw for peer education. All kids deserve good friends, and our sons with autism are no different." Budde said people who watch the film can expect a professionally produced piece worthy of film festival screening that will move them. "That's really the point of the film, to move students to accept their classmates with brain-based differences including autism," she said. "The reality is that nearly two-thirds of students with autism spectrum disorder are bullied." Budde said knowing the diagnostic prevalence of autism spectrum disorder has increased 78 percent in a decade should be a growing concern not only for parents, but for all of society . "We hope this movie will show people that children with autism can be easily accepted when understood, and that the accommodations we make for students with autism can actually be good for all learners," she said. Budde said while the film strives for peers to learn more about autism and acceptance, it's really for everyone. "If you know at least 88 people, you know someone with autism," she said. "This film will help you understand those whom you know directly and will help parents and educa, tors use appropriate language and concepts when discussing students with ASD with their own students." Budde said while she and Schamens recently concluded a fundraising campaign, they are still in need of roughly $5,000 for their production budget. Submitted photo The film "We ALL Fit" is a way to help students accept classmates with brain-based differences. "As an organization, we have higher expectations of our film's content," she said. "We know more about child development, more about how this tool will be used in the schools we serve and more about the perspective of the other stakeholders involved." Budde said she and Schamens are taking on the task of casting the production and will be holding several casting calls in the next couple of weeks, seeking the ideal cast for the film. "We are looking for several children, and of those, several with ASD," she said. "We want our actors to be authentic. We don't want to ask a child to act as if he or she has autism." Budde said she has a strong desire to reflect the diversity of the autism spectrum, both in the strengths and challenges of these children as well as in their ethnicity . "People with autism come from all races and socio-economic backgrounds," she said. "We hope people will feel strongly enough about the message of this film to both share the At a glance For more information about the production "We ALL Fit," on how to make donations or about the upcoming casting, visit www.goodfriendinc.com. opportunity to become a part of the cast and consider attending the casting call themselves if relevant." Budde said the organization's programs in elementary and middle schools are ongoing and include staff in-services, student assemblies, peer sensitivity workshops, and individualized classroom presentations. "While we have no programs for high school at this time, we have seen the benefit of our offerings," she said. "We are also looking forward to reviewing the white paper next month from UW-Whitewater's Simone DeVore and Brooke Winchell, who conducted a research study involving our elementary school services over the last school year." Clements' contract renewed by Rep Post Staff MILWAUKEE – The Board of Trustees of the Milwaukee Repertory Theater announced Artistic Director Mark Clements renewed his contract for four years, keeping him with the organization through June 31, 2017. During Clements' three-year tenure at The Rep, accomplishments have included: producing critically acclaimed, powerful and thought-provoking full-scale musicals for the first time in the Quadracci Powerhouse main stage theater; expanding The Rep's artistic family to a wider group of associate artists, which now includes directors, writers, designers and musicians in addition to actors; and broadening The Rep's audience experience by infusing all three venues with enhanced lobby exhibits and late-night special events. "I began this relationship with Milwaukee Repertory Theater over three years ago," Clements said. "I am extremely happy with what we've accomplished so far, but I am also eagerly looking forward to deepening our engagement with our audiences ... and raising more awareness amongst the wider theater ecology in America on what a real gem the Milwaukee Rep is – and particularly so through the output of our exciting new play development program. I am proud to call Milwaukee Rep my artistic home and of our vision to create theater for all. I am equally proud to call Milwaukee my home and to be raising a young family here. Milwaukee audiences are enthusiastic, generous and have a natural curiosity I am . honored to continue on this artistic journey with them for another four years." "The Board of Trustees is delighted that Mark has accepted our offer to extend his contract with Milwaukee Rep for another four years," Board President Judy Hansen said. "Mark is a brilliant artist and we have been thrilled with the direction he has taken The Rep in his first three years."

• Cover