WATCH ABOVE: Cameron Ferguson’s special needs drama class at Bur Oak Secondary School in Markham made history last March when they performed at the Ontario Sears Drama Festival. It was the first time in the 69-year history of the festival that a special needs class participated.
MARKHAM – A high school drama class from Bur Oak Secondary School became the first special needs class to perform at the Sears Ontario Drama Festival.
For the last two years Cameron Ferguson has been teaching drama to these special needs students, and feels that they should have the same opportunities as her other drama classes. She believes that the theatre is a place for her students to have their voices heard, and to have their issues and dreams presented in their own way.
“This group of kids, they’re wonderful performers,” said Ferguson. “They may not perform in the same way as other schools, and other shows, and other teenagers, but they have their own unique set of skills and they create equally beautiful work.”
Under Ferguson’s direction, the class came up with a play entitled “Shoes” — a play about their way of doing things and seeing the world.
“Some of the kids are autistic, some of the kids have Down Syndrome, some of them are developmentally delayed, but the one unifying thing about this class is that they’re just such a joy to be around, and they have a love of life,” said Ferguson.
This past March their performance of “Shoes” made history in the Sears Ontario Drama Festival.
Wayne Fairhead, the festival’s executive director, said that in the 69-year history of the festival no one else has asked to enter a special needs class.
“I think for the audiences, it would have been one of those unique moments,” said Fairhead. “And I think helped us to understand what it’s like to walk in those shoes.”
Tracy Pearce, whose daughter Abby participated in the performance, believes that “Shoes” has a powerful message.
“I really, really enjoy teaching this class,” said Ferguson. “They’re just such a beautiful group of students.”
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