Kevin McClatchy, director of the Shakespeare and Autism Project, examines the project's unique collaboration of art and science, how the Hunter-Heartbeat Method uses Shakespeare to engage children with autism, and the project's profound impact on his own artistic life.

Kevin McClatchy is a faculty member in the Department of Theatre at The Ohio State University and the Director of the OSU Shakespeare and Autism Project. He has also been a professional actor for more than twenty years. Originally from Philadelphia, he attended Washington and Lee University, where he earned a degree in Journalism and English and played basketball. He also has an MFA in Acting from Ohio State.

Kevin had never acted or even seen a professional production of a play until he moved to New York just prior to his 24th birthday. From his first real theater experience - seeing the original cast of Lanford Wilson’s play "Burn This" - until today, Kevin has felt privileged to be part of acting and teaching communities. Kevin and his wife Lisa have been married for 23 years, and they have two children, Eirann and Kavanagh.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx