WHY IMPROV?
Learning to utilize established improvisational theater techniques allows the student to express themselves and their ideas and having the group build on those ideas in a fun, safe environment. Improv invites spontaneity! When one is spontaneous they are truly being themselves! Improv realizes that everyone has something to offer. Just as in life, Improv is flexible and unscripted. Improv allows social interaction, role playing, trust, understanding, respect, and working as a group. Many times Improv invokes laughter. Laughter relaxes us and fills us with energy. It has been said that “letting your mind play is one of the best ways to communicate, collaborate, interact, and solve problems!” Finally, and most importantly, the very foundation of Improv are two simple words: Yes, And. Yes, I’m listening And I’m going to build on your idea. Developing a Yes, And mindset can allow us to do wonderful things and not necessarily on stage but in life!
SKIT takes the principle inherent techniques of improv and applies them to developing and expanding social communication skills for people who have intellectual or developmental disabilities.
Unscripted: The joy of improv is that it is unscripted. You may never know what will happen and that means you need to be flexible and go with the flow. Participants have the choice and opportunity to do or say whatever they what within the rules of the specific activity and as long as it is safe and not hurtful or offensive to others.
Accepting: In improv you need to accept others thoughts and ideas. This does not mean you need to agree but you can not say that others thoughts and ideas are not valid.
Contributing: You are taking others thoughts and ideas and contributing but building upon that with your own thoughts and ideas.
Initiating: There are many opportunities in improv to start or initiate interactions with others and to speak up and share your thoughts and ideas with the group.
Flexible: The only rules are those of the activity. What participants choose to do or say within it is completely up to them.
Listening and Responding: To be able to respond to others you first need to listen. In any activity listening and responding are key components.
Generalization of Skills: With so many ways to practice skills throughout different activities there are many opportunities for generalization of skills.
Collaborative: Everyone must participate and work together to make the activity work. Everyone needs to put in effort and try to make the activity work.
SKIT Programs focus on Social and Communication Skills including but not limited to:
Perspective Taking
Conversational Skills
Active Listening
Interpersonal Skills
Nonverbal Communication
Problem Solving
As well as working on Executive Functioning Skills that help us focus, remember and manipulate information as well as adapt to change and multitask. Students can enhance their creativity, create a better positive self image and make meaningful friendships as well all while having fun!