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Wings of EPOH is the story of a young boy with autism who takes a journey with an unlikely friend, a butterfly named Epoh ("hope" spelled backward). Together, they learn to spread their wings and share the talents, abilities and courage that lie within. Written by acclaimed author and Holocaust survivor, Gerda Weissmann Klein, and lovingly illustrated by New York Times best-selling illustrator and educational innovator Peter H. Reynolds, the story teaches acceptance, tolerance and empathy. What unfolds is the gift of friendship, and the joy in helping a person who is misunderstood or who just doesn't fit. The Wings of EPOH is available as both a book and a film.
While this story is important to everyone, it is especially important in a school setting, as it provides a framework for social skills development. For students with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) or social differences, the school experience can be a lonely one as the disorders affect the development of meaningful social relationships. While some children willingly befriend a child who appears to be different, many need a certain amount of education, training, structure and encouragement to do so. Wings of EPOH can act as a framework for discussion, promoting peer sensitivity for elementary school students to increase awareness, tolerance and support for students with social differences.
The DVD includes the user guide Tips for Friends, Parents, and Teachers, developed to help teachers and parents provide strategies for social communication to a child/student (of any age) with an ASD or other social differences. The tips are to be used as part of a discussion following the film.
Wings of EPOH (Hardcover Book) - Written by Gerda Weissmann Klein and Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds; 26 pages; 8" x 8". (FableVision/SARRC 2008)
Duration: 8 minutes. (FableVision/SARRC 2008)
Wings of EPOH Activity Guide is an additional resource produced by SARRC (Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center). This guide provides 13 specific conversation starters and activities that serve as a catalyst to engage students in meaningful experiences. Students will be encouraged to explore the way they treat others based on similarities and differences. Also included is the "Friend Contract," which encourages students to commit to practicing what they have learned. Designed for students in Grades 2 - 5.
