Gigi Benzio Email & Phone Number

Wyncote, Pennsylvania, United States

Year 1:-Led 8 art-therapy groups per week, working with students age 3-18 with ASD, down syndrome, and other disabilities.-Worked as a 1:1 aid to students with Intellectual Disabilities-Collaborated with classroom teachers to develop creative solutions for student engagement and self-regulation.-Held an art exhibition to showcase student artwork.-Developed a curriculum and proposed a budget for the art department.Summer Camp-Led and facilitated 20 groups per week, students age 3-18.Year 2:-Work alongside the art team in furthering the curriculum and leading 16 art groups each week with 10 unique classrooms.-Trained the new art teacher and art instructional assistant. During my time at ASUA:-Use verbal deescalation skills and crisis management skills to assist BCBA's and Behavior Specialists when a student is experiencing distressed behavior or aggression.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

• Assisted the art teacher facilitate 5 classes of Juniors and Seniors with about 20 students in each class.• Advised students about their project designs & encouraged creativity.• Observed in 4 counseling small groups of 7-10 students each & led the group in therapeutic art-making workshops. • Built meaningful relationships with students & faculty members.

Philadelphia, Pa

• Facilitated conversations, art activities, games, and built meaningful relationships with my program pair with dementia.• Completed Aging & Dementia training through the University of Pennsylvania.• Collaborated with fellow Council members to develop the Weekly Smile Program in response to COVID-19 which adapted our programming to a virtual setting.• Weekly volunteer in the Weekly Smile companionship program since May 2020.

Reading, Pennsylvania, United States

• Observed 3 different virtual art classes, including an adult class and 2 child classes.• Participated in the class instruction, and provided feedback to instructors.• Developed an extension of their Creative Carryout Program for people with dementia during COVID-19 isolation.• Designed three different Creative Carryout kits for people with dementia at three different skill levels, including material lists, written instructions, instructional videos, and suggestions for adaptations based on ability level.

Doylestown, Pennsylvania, United States

Volunteered through the OMA (Opening Minds through Art) Program.-received training about dementia and aging-prepared materials and the space before residents arrived-escort residents from their living unit to the art space-helped residents with dementia create abstract art-built meaningful relationships with elders with dementia in my community-helped host an end-of-season art show for the public to showcase resident's artwork