About the Authors |
Michelle Babitz began her career in autism in 1977, when her drama class did a reading of “The Little Red Hen” in sign language for a group of autistic children at a nearby private school. This was at a time when autism was 1 in 10,000. Now the average is 1 in 50. The moment Michelle walked into the room with these autistic children, she was mesmerized and moved by the energy, sound, rhythm and spirit of these children and young adults. Michelle knew in that moment she wanted to be part of their world. She began her 40 year career working at that school the following summer and eventually ran their group home in the1980’s.
Michelle, earned her Bachelor's degree from New York University (NYU). At NYU, she did a two year study on autism and the expressive arts through their Gallatin Division. She earned a Masters Degree at Teachers College, Columbia University in Autism and Adolescents. While in college, she worked at and eventually ran group homes in Staten Island New York. The first 20 years of her teaching career were in New Jersey and Massachusetts, teaching in Private schools for autism. These schools taught her the importance of physical education, sensory integration, communication, Therapeutic Milieu and vocational training. Therapeutic Milieu had a profound effect on her development as a professional. Michelle learned the importance of including the person with autism as part of the team to create a more wholistic approach to behavioral challenges. If the person with autism was non verbal, every adult in the school that knew or interacted with that child or young adult, was given an opportunity to be their voice. The base philosophy of Therapeutic Milieu is that change and growth can not be forced on an individual. Michelle learned how to understand the thoughts and emotions of her students and developed programs and curriculum accordingly. Moving to California and working in the public school system was an adjustment for her. Michelle learned that many school systems were focused on saving time and money. Once again, however, she was very lucky to work for a a Special Education Director who was tasked with bringing the more violent and disruptive students back to the school district. The Director saw that Michelle could bring a lot to the table and gave her unconditional support developing programs for these students. For the next 15 years Michelle was able to take everything she had learned from her past training and experience, and develop her own style of teaching and leadership in the classroom. Of the hundreds of students Michelle (and Robin) worked with, only two students had to return to the non public school. In 2010, Michelle and Robin joined forces with PPLSI (Pre-Paid Legal Services incorporated) empowering and protecting people with affordable access to legal services and support. In 2017 they chose to leave teaching to become full time parent advocates with these services. This decision gave Michelle and Robin the time flexibility to co-author a book on autism, “I Am David, A Journey to the Soul of Autism”. They are, at present, writing a play on autism, “Behind the Mask, A Journey to the soul of Autism”,. It is their hope and goal to support the community and help build a better future for the special needs communities. |
Robin Trigg began her life in pre-war Vietnam, and Brazil, where she learned, at a young age, that too many people in both of those countries survived with very little food, shelter, and no health care. At 10 years old, Robin worked with her mother in Saigon, in a hospital for young victims of polio.
She soon discovered that wherever she went, she could bring smiles and laughter to the faces of young people who had no hope in their lives, and whose focus was strictly to survive in an environment of illness and hunger. When Robin became a teenager, her father, who worked with Aid for Underdeveloped Countries, was assigned a post in Northeast Brazil to serve underprivileged families. It was at that time, that she experienced first hand, in her theatre class, how the Arts brought so much joy and happiness, both to her life and to the lives of poverty-stricken Brazilian youth. As a result of this awareness, when Robin returned to the U.S., she began her career in the Arts as an actress and Director, received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Stephens College, her Masters Degree in Theology from the Episcopal Divinity School, and her teaching credentials in Special Needs and Drama from National University. Her studies also included Child Psychology and Psychodrama. Robin was passionate about beginning her career in the Arts in New York City, where she made her acting debut off-Broadway. After 20 years as an actor, she became aware of a desire and vision she had to pass her experience in theatre on to young, confused students, who were struggling to find themselves. Robin took the first step toward following her vision by directing the New Jersey Shakespeare Festival, while teaching Drama to college students, who were actors and technical assistants in the plays. After moving to California in the 1990’s, she transitioned into teaching Special Education students, using Drama as a vehicle for them to strengthen their communication and self-expression skills through acting, singing, and dancing. Robin wrote and directed plays for the students, and brought them together in Public Speaking classes to help improve their Social Skills. One of Robin’s students, who was non-verbal, began to speak, as a result of discovering her talents and passions through acting and creating plays with other students. Robin reached a peak in her career when she realized what an extraordinary vehicle Drama could be in helping young people to discover themselves by working with supportive teams and groups of students to learn together what their strengths are in life. Robin and her partner, Michelle, are currently writing a play on autism, “Behind the Mask, A Journey to the Soul of Autism.” They both plan to continue growing and developing their skills, so as to support the community and build a hope-filled future for the special needs communities. |
Michelle and Robin have worked as a team for over 20 years and bring new insight about autism to their readers.
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