Inspired Spectrums
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Autism and Theater - it pays to play!

1/8/2015

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If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to volunteer in an improv/social skills acting class with a group of extraordinary actors who also happen to have autism, I would seriously recommend it.  It’s the fastest 45 minutes you will ever experience!

When Bonnie Neumann, founder of Drama Interaction wrote in my Minnesota autism and play group on facebook about her theater class for children with special needs, I had to find out more about it.  I had read some research recently into how theater programs had helped children learn social skills.  I have always loved theater (probably why I have no problem playing with a child while being videoed and watched by a team of staff.)  I called her up and offered to volunteer in order to learn more and see how it works.  I am so used to working with children one on one so the idea of a class of children with autism seemed a bit daunting to me and I wanted to see how it went. 

Bonnie is the perfect blend of cheerleader, facilitator, show person, people allower, and theater coach.  She grew up in theater, starting dancing when she was young and continuing to perform her whole life.  She designed the adaptive theater class many years ago with the help of Special Education Teachers. Bonnie wanted everyone to have the chance to experience theater and it just so turns out that theater gives everyone a chance to act out and process some of the little nuances of human interaction.  Thus it makes the perfect class to work on social skills too!

 The class followed a schedule that Bonnie customized for each day and allowed the students the opportunity to have plenty of movement while they acted.  It included activities like body warm ups, voice warm ups, tongue twisters, acting out emotions, acting out things that happen to you, theater games, improv games, practicing lines, acting out skits.  Each week built off the last week’s skills helping students ease into learning a performance.

 The staff was partly professional staff and educated volunteers. We participated as well in order to model the exercises and of course have fun.  There was enough staff for lots of encouragement and occasional individual attention when needed that didn’t distract from others.  Everyone was really accepting of everyone’s sensory needs and allowed for each person to stim/ism/take care of themselves and when appropriate encouraged them again to participate.

 I was blown away on the very first day by the amount of enthusiasm, participation and creativity of all the students in the class.  I helped out in 2 classes, one for children younger than 12 and one for teenagers between 12 and 18.  The students were all over the spectrum although they were all verbal.  The classes were 45 minutes each. While they followed a schedule, the classes varied a lot, the energy was often intense, and the concepts were all fairly new to all the kids.  Even so all the students did fantastic!  When it came time for add on storytelling at the end – I have never heard such creativity and big picture thinking.  It was incredible!

I think a lot of the fun and ease of the class goes to the incredibly accepting atmosphere that Drama Interaction puts forth.  We all were totally okay with whatever happened, if a student needed to run a bit, that was okay, we just gently brought them back.  If a student had a sensory meltdown there was no pressure to change and participate.  The students and staff did a great job supporting each other at exactly the stage they were at.

I think this sort of class would be rather easy to start for those who have some expertise.  I know it could help children everywhere if there are those generous souls who would be accepting enough and confident enough to look into these programs.  Bonnie certainly seems willing to help all she meets.

For those near the Twin Cities of Minnesota a new class is about to happen with Drama Interaction.  You still have to time to register.  Classes start next week, January 12th and there are various times throughout the metro area.  Here is the link for more information   http://www.cokartscenter.com/dramainteraction501c3.html     I know I will be back sometime in the future, its also mega fun to volunteer!

In the meantime, I have always considered playroom time with your child as a sort of improv theater.  We are always modeling social skills through fun and excitement in the playroom.  Children learn and process best through play and experience. The more excited we are to play with them, the more they will learn.  So the next time you go into the playroom, tap into your inner actor and amp up your animations.  The more expressive you are with your body and face the more engaged your child will be and the easier they will be able to interpret your body language.

Happy Playing!

Katrina

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What I've been up to ;)

11/30/2012

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Wow, its been awhile since I've written a blog, Believe me I haven't forgotten about you old blog friend, I've just been readjusting to my new life.   Anyone ever wonder what happened to Katrina Kramlich after she stopped appearing in those playful youtubes?

       As I sit here in my hotel room on the eve of an outreach, I think about my glorious years since then...(key time warp chime music)....I left the mountains in 2010 as a Senior Facilitator so that I could bring play therapy closer to my home, and also so that I could spend more time with my growing family.  I left Sheffield, MA with my awesome husband and my one year old daughter in tow and we left to travel the midwest and eventually settle in my parents' home of Albuquerque, NM.   It was here, that I found out I was pregnant with my second daughter.  I decided to dedicate myself to my little ones while they were babes, because I just loved them so much, so I took a year and a half off working.  Although I still very much loved (and still do) to apply play therapy techniques with my own family (you should see us trying to get the picky toddler girls to eat at mealtimes - lol) and even "volunteered" with an awesome 7 year old friend to keep me in "my game" ;)  

    Finally, after convincing my husband to move back to Minneapolis, MN (one of the loves of my life!) in the summer of 2012, I began working again.  We outreached our way up from Albuquerque through the midwest. Then we settled for a month in North Dakota, home of my amazing brother in law, (somewhere on the spectrum) who connected me back to the power of the relationship.  This only fueled my mission to truly help as many children with special capabilities (aka autism) that I could.  And those that I could not reach myself I would empower and suport their own parents and team to help them.  

I brought that enthusiasm with me when we moved back to the city and I now provide autism therapy and treatment in Minneapolis and all over Minnesota. I get to help people on many different levels.  I play with my local friends here in the twin cities (St. Paul and Minneapolis together for those not from around here) on a regular or as needed basis, and teach families through observation.   I also do 2 or more day outreaches to wherever people want me to (within my schedule).   And last but certainly not least, I help friends worldwide over the internet in all stages of their home therapy programs through my "Ask a Playroom Expert" videos and consults.  I also love hearing people's stories on a day to day level through facebook and email.  I really feel a part of everyone's team, which is my dream come true!  I love my job so much!

    All of you out there running a home therapy play program for your child with autism, interested in running a home therapy program, or who have already ran your program,   I live and breath finding and creating more ways to help you.  I think what you are doing is amazing on every level, and I just want to keep helping you and finding more ways to help you even more.  One of the amazing parts about working for yourself (not the bookwork or accounting, bleh!), is that you get to choose whatever you want to do.  I love talking with you and your team, I love sharing my knowledge with you, I love supporting and inspiring you to think for yourself and go further with how you can help, and give your world to your child.   I love spending my time with you even if its through the internet like this.   I truly believe we are a community who needs as much support as we can get (well I think all people do, but at least parents of children with autism are ready to admit it ;)  And I want to give you as much support as I can.  Now in addition to everything I do now I am dreaming more ways to bring you even more support. Keep checking back with me to see if they are in place.   And also if you've ever had an idea of ways that would be helpful, let me know, because I love dreaming up new services and many times parents are so helpful to me with creating them!

In the meantime keep me in the loop with your lives.  I love it!
Best wishes,
Katrina



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Moving to Minnesota!

5/14/2012

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Hello everyone,
    I am excited to announce that in August 2012, Inspired Spectrums will be moving to Minneapolis, Minnesota.  I will be continuing to offer my services in person and over the internet worldwide, but I will be looking to make a more permanent base in Minneapolis, MN.  I am so excited to move back to the land of 10,000 lakes where I first was introduced to the world of autism.  I am hoping to connect with old friends and also make many new ones.  I am so thrilled to bring autism play based therapy to Minnesota.  If you or anyone you know lives in Minnesota and would like a free consultation let me know!
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    Katrina Kramlich

     The founder of Inspired Spectrums shares her tips and experiences in working with children and adults with autism.  Word of caution: she is occasionally sentimental and this is often reflected in her blogs :)

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