IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Larry Bisceglia: 754-321-7500
Florida Special Education Students put the Spotlight on Rain Forests
with a Little Help from Lumonics Studios and AbleNet
Hollywood, FL (September 17, 2007) — The Quest Center, a school for multiply challenged students, invites local media to attend one of several special multimedia performances of 'The Great Kapok Tree,' slated for September 28, 2007.
Think back to your first school play or pageant. Being a member of the cast or crew gave you a sense of belonging, a sense of accomplishment and, perhaps best of all, instant "star status" as friends, family and peers cheered your performance. Thanks to an "Arts in Education" grant, special education students at The Quest Center, in Hollywood, Florida, have been rehearsing for their big moment under the direction of professional artists Dorothy Tanner and Marc Billard, of Fort Lauderdale's own Lumonics Studios. Over the years, Tanner and Billard have built a reputation for creating distinctive theatrical experiences that blend highly imaginative visuals with light and sound, which is an apt description of The Quest's production of 'The Great Kapok Tree.' But what makes this particular endeavor truly unique is that the production is entirely orchestrated by students with moderate to severe cognitive disabilities, including autism.
The Quest Center's production of 'The Great Kapok Tree' brings Lynn Cherry's beautifully illustrated picture book about the importance of rain forest conservation to life using images in light boxes that students, located off-stage in a "switch pit", will control using assistive devices developed by AbleNet, Inc. AbleNet, located in St. Paul, Minnesota, provided wireless switches, known as Jelly Beamer switches, along with a number of PowerLink control units, which provide the ability to control electric appliances with a switch. For the purpose of presenting 'The Great Kapok Tree,' these assistive technologies allow students to illuminate characters in the play and activate a variety of sound effects, as well as the pre-recorded narrative. The switches can be mounted on virtually any surface, including wheelchairs, and are activated with the slightest pressure from a student’s hand, cheek, knee or foot, making them indispensable in classrooms and at home.
According to Quest Center Curriculum Specialist, Larry Bisceglia, "We believe in providing our students with educational experiences that allow them to realize success at their own level. One of the goals of this program is for multiply challenged students to be able to participate in a performance that will be attended by their parents, peers and students from other schools in the district. While the teaming, timing and activation skills are all goals that are continually worked on at The Quest, the satisfaction and pride of achieving this goal is something that this population seldom get to celebrate."
As with any opening performance, students and staff of The Quest Center are hoping members of the media will make a point of attending and reviewing their interactive version of 'The Great Kapok Tree.' While the performances are not open to the general public, students and staff would be honored to have members of the media in attendance. To make arrangements for a sneak peek at the rehearsals, or to attend a performance, contact Larry Bisceglia at 754-321-7500.
About the Quest Center
The Quest Center is a Broward County Public School located in Hollywood, Florida. The school is designed to provide intensive supportive education for exceptional students. The Quest is part of the continuum of services required by the IDEA law in order to protect the right to a free and appropriate education for all children. The Quest serves students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Its curriculum includes basic academics, functional daily living skills, leisure recreation, vocational and social skills training. For more information, visit www.broward.k12.fl.us/questcenter/.
About AbleNet
AbleNet offers a complete line of assistive technology products, including communication aids for non-verbal students, and access aids, such as switches and wheelchair mounting devices for students who require physical supports. The company is also recognized for developing research-based special education curricula that meet state and federal mandates. Located in Roseville, Minnesota, AbleNet is an ESOP company that sells its products through a network of distributors in more than 50 countries. AbleNet's products and programs have been used in tens of thousands of classrooms nationally for more than 20 years. For more information, visit www.ablenetinc.com.
About Lumonics Studios
After leaving the New York art world and traveling in Europe, artists Mel and Dorothy Tanner opened their Miami art studio in 1967. Upon completing their first light sculptures and water fountains, they went on to design an art/technology environment for Hi-Fi Associates, a well-known stereo store in Miami. That was in the summer of 1969. Today, the Tanners have expanded their artistic endeavors to include the digital video art and music studios of Tanner/Billard. Dorothy Tanner and Marc Billard began their musical collaboration in 1990. Marc had been experimenting with computers, synthesizers and midi since 1985. For Dorothy, music composition is as comfortable as creating sculpture, finding satisfying similarities between the two modalities. The Tanner/Billard video art is a further development of the pioneering video art form of Dorothy and Mel Tanner. For more information, visit www.lumonics.net.
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