The Autism Society Event and Education Recordings Archive

When traditional therapies did not help her son Neal, adopted from a Russian orphanage as a toddler and diagnosed with autism, Elaine Hall “CoachE”, former Hollywood acting coach for film and TV,   sought out creative people (actors, writers, musicians, visual artists) to work with her son.  Inspired by Dr. Stanley Greenspan’s relationship-based approach to working with children on the autism spectrum, Hall developed new methods to reach children with autism, which resulted in the creation of The Miracle Project. The Miracle Project is a theater and film program for children with autism and their typically developing siblings and peers. The Miracle Project celebrates and honors the unique and often unrecognized talents of young people with autism by guiding them through creative workshops and artistic programs. 

 Children with autism who begin  in The Miracle Project workshops shy and withdrawn, soon become engaged participants socializing with others, being spontaneous, making transitions easily, and ultimately performing in front of a live audience.  Reverse Inclusion with typically developing peers enable natural socialization to be learned.

 This multi-media presentation will reveal the techniques used to develop abstract thinking, communication, self expression, self regulation, friendships, body awareness, and more.  Leadership training, self advocacy and low cost interventions will be discussed as well as how to rally community support for creative interventions and socialization programs

 Due to the overwhelming  demand for The Miracle Project in other communities after the airing of AUTISM: THE MUSICAL, Elaine is now partnering with Diane Isaacs to train others how to create similar programs in their communities.  They are also releasing a CD, FLY: Into Autism, which pairs celebrity artists such as Jack Black, Stephen Stills, Chaka Khan with kids who have autism.  Hall directs a theater and film program at Vista Del Mar in Los Angeles and a religious school program for children with autism and other special needs.  Her memoir, Now I See the Moon: a mother, a son, a miracle (HarperCollins) chronicles her journey.