Vanessa Burghardt is the breakout star of "Cha Cha Real Smooth," starring Dakota Johnson and Cooper Raiff, who also wrote and directed. Burghardt, an autistic actor, portrays Lola, the autistic ...

In 2020, Raiff broke through at SXSW with his Grand Jury Prize-winning debut Shithouse, another film in which he controlled all aspects of production. That film’s lead character (whom he also played) ...

Music has emerged as a powerful tool for supporting children with autism spectrum disorder, particularly in managing anxiety and enhancing focus. Research consistently shows that carefully selected ...

the most compelling evidence supporting the clinical benefits of music therapy lies in social-emotional responsiveness and communication, including reduced anxiety, improved speech output, receptive ...

For many people, music can be their first language. It allows people to celebrate their creative expressions and talents. Jazz Hands for Autism is a Southern California-based nonprofit that provides ...

For “Cha Cha Real Smooth” casting director Angela Demo, it was out of the question to consider neurotypical actors for the part of Lola, who is on the autism spectrum. “It was never in my mind,” Demo ...

Shrub Oak International School is proud to highlight its Music Education Program, a unique and highly individualized offering that blends therapeutic expression with skill-based learning to support ...

Music has long been described as a universal language one that reaches people even when words cannot. For autistic children, this idea is more than a metaphor. Modern neuroimaging tools such as ...

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