PBS高端访谈:为自闭症球迷表演蜘蛛侠

 　　IVETTE FELICIANO:This might look like a typical Saturday matinee on Broadway…

　　But the fact that Annmarie Scotti is here with her son Nick, tells you it’s anything but…

　　(Annmarie Scotti: “Hey Nick, you ready?”)

　　IVETTE FELICIANO:And tickets for this particular performance weren’t available to the general public; they were only sold to families like hers…

　　(Annmarie Scotti: “we are in row f”)

　　IVETTE FELICIANO:Why?

　　Because this performance of “Spiderman, Turn Off the Dark” was specially¹ tailored for people with autism…

　　People like 10-year-old Nick Scotti, who often has a very difficult time going to any kind of show.

　　(Nick: “I’m very excited!” Annmarie: “You’re excited?!”)

　　ANNMARIE SCOTTI:When you’re on the spectrum², some kids either flap their hands, or scream. They have impulses. When you go to places, I always feel like I’m on guard. I have to be, like, okay, my son has autism. I’m sorry if he does something to, you know, to bother you or upset you, but I want him to be able to enjoy this as well.

　　IVETTE FELICIANO:Annmarie Scotti says her family has walked out of performances, wasting hundreds of dollars because of disapproving³ stares and comments from other audience members.

　　ANNMARIE SCOTTI:Nick actually wanted to see Spiderman in the worst way. And that, I gotta tell you, is one play I was not gonna go take them to.

　　IVETTE FELICIANO:That’s where the Theater Development Fund stepped in…

　　LISA CARLING-DIRECTOR, THEATER DEVELOPMENT FUND:This is a way of ensuring a warm, welcoming environment, judgment-free, so that families can come and relax and have a good time and not worry about how the person on the spectrum is going to behave or what– other people might think.

　　IVETTE FELICIANO:Lisa Carling is director of accessibility programs at the Theater Development Fund. The non-profit organization coordinates⁴ autism-friendly performances on Broadway, like these, four times a year. TDF’s mission is to make live theater more accessible to diverse audiences…

　　LISA CARLING-DIRECTOR, THEATER DEVELOPMENT FUND:So we hope to raise awareness⁵ about autism and help people become more accepting and more inclusive.

　　IVETTE FELICIANO:Here are some of the things you’ll see at an autism friendly show that you wouldn’t see on Broadway otherwise:

　　Ushers⁶ have about 30 extra helpers on hand…They hand out colorful stress relievers and koosh balls called manipulatives to help autistic audience members relax before and during the performance.

　　Producers and actors work with autism specialists to make the autism friendly shows as close to the regular shows as possible…but this audience is especially sensitive to jarring lights and sounds…

　　So audio levels are reduced by about 20%, and strobe lights are completely eliminated.

　　Yet organizers say it’s what happening off the stage that truly makes this Broadway performance unique.

　　SAM BLANCO, AUTISM SPECIALIST, TDF:Wehave children and adults with autism at the show so if they need a break; they have a place that they can come to.

　　The usually empty lobbies are transformed into activity spaces with bean bags and toys for families who need a break from the sensory⁷ overload…And if anyone needs a bigger break, some sections are designated to be completely silent.

　　SAM BLANCO, AUTISM SPECIALIST, TDF: I’ve been working with kids with autism for 10 years and I’ve never seen so many of them openly able to enjoy something that we really take for granted on a daily basis.

　　(Nick: “want to sit in the middle?”)

　　IVETTE FELICIANO:For weeks before this special performance, Theater Development Fund was already helping⁸ Nick Scotti ease into this new experience by making customizable social stories available on its website.

　　(Annmarie Scotti: Here’s the lobby. Do we walk or do we run? What are we gonna do?

　　(Nick: walk.)

　　(Annmarie Scotti: We’re gonna walk, right… )

　　IVETTE FELICIANO:Even with the changes to the show, Nick had a hard time getting through the first act…but he was allowed to leave the theater as much as he needed to.

　　IVETTE FELICIANO TO SCOTTI:Is it different than other times?

　　ANNMARIE SCOTTI:Oh yeah, it’s definitely different because if you were in a regular play you’d be getting kicked out by now…you know, if your kid wasn’t quiet enough. So everyone here is great, all the volunteers have been great with my kids. So, I couldn’t ask for a better day…

1 specially   

adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地

参考例句：

• They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。
• The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。

2 spectrum   

n.谱，光谱，频谱；范围，幅度，系列

参考例句：

• This is a kind of atomic spectrum.这是一种原子光谱。
• We have known much of the constitution of the solar spectrum.关于太阳光谱的构成，我们已了解不少。

3 disapproving   

adj.不满的，反对的v.不赞成( disapprove的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Mother gave me a disapproving look. 母亲的眼神告诉我她是不赞成的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Her father threw a disapproving glance at her. 她父亲不满地瞥了她一眼。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 coordinates   

n.相配之衣物；坐标( coordinate的名词复数 )；（颜色协调的）配套服装；[复数]女套服；同等重要的人（或物）v.使协调，使调和( coordinate的第三人称单数 )；协调；协同；成为同等

参考例句：

• The town coordinates on this map are 695037. 该镇在这幅地图上的坐标是695037。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, coordinates all UN emergency relief. 联合国人道主义事务协调厅在紧急救济协调员领导下，负责协调联合国的所有紧急救济工作。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

6 ushers   

n.引座员( usher的名词复数 )；招待员；门房；助理教员v.引，领，陪同( usher的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Seats clicked, ushers bowed while he looked blandly on. 座位发出啪啦啪啦的声响，领座员朝客人们鞠躬，而他在一边温和殷勤地看着。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• The minister then offers a brief prayer of dedication, and the ushers return to their seats. 于是牧师又做了一个简短的奉献的祈祷，各招待员也各自回座位。 来自辞典例句

7 sensory   

adj.知觉的，感觉的，知觉器官的

参考例句：

• Human powers of sensory discrimination are limited.人类感官分辨能力有限。
• The sensory system may undergo long-term adaptation in alien environments.感觉系统对陌生的环境可能经过长时期才能适应。

8 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。