WOODBRIDGE, VA- Didlake Inc. employee, Sean Haley, opened the Sprout Film Festival’s first visit to Virginia with an interpretive reading of Dr. Seuss’s Oh the Places You’ll Go! The Sprout Film Festival visited the Dr. A.J. Ferlazzo Building of Prince William County on Saturday, March 31, showcasing films and videos featuring people with developmental disabilities.
Haley is a local celebrity among elementary-school children and their teachers. They have seen his dramatic readings of Dr. Seuss books in classrooms, school libraries and lunchrooms. “I think these stories are entertaining and I love them so much,” said Haley in a past interview. “I’m happy to share them with kids and adults and hope to do more readings.” A gifted orator, Haley’s love and enthusiasm for reading in front of an audience are revealed through captivating performances. He performed throughout the day on Saturday in breakout sessions between viewings of the Festival’s films.
The Sprout Film Festival was founded in 2003 by Sprout, a nonprofit based in New York City, dedicated to bringing innovative programming to people with disabilities. This is the first year the Sprout Film Festival has toured outside of New York City. Didlake, Inc., a local nonprofit based in Manassas, also exhibited artwork produced through its Expressive Arts Outreach Program and an interactive sensory room to demonstrate the support services Didlake provides through its Community Inclusion Program.
“It’s really fantastic to see people with disabilities portrayed so positively,” said Andrew Clarke, director of Facility Based Programs at Didlake, of the Sprout Film Festival. “I hope others walked away from this seeing people with disabilities as positive contributors to society.”
Didlake, Inc. was founded in 1965 to create opportunities for people with disabilities through services that connect them to employment, education and the community. For more information about Didlake and its programs, please visit www.didlake.com.
Contact:
Betty Dean
bdean@didlake.com