Carla Phillips | Mother of SKIT student

“SKIT has been a big part of my daughter's life for approximately three years, and it has made a tremendous difference. Nyema has always been social and loves interacting with people in general. Since working with her SKIT family, Nyema has become more confident. She has learned it's okay to not know everything, but to make the next best decision. Can I say she has wings now? Yes, the sky is the limit.  

I would like to thank SKIT for embracing my daughter and all other young adults striving to find their place in this world. I enjoy the way you use comedy to teach, inspire, and motivate others.  You have been an inspiration.

Thank you, guys! You are the best!!!!

I would recommend SKIT to any young adult hearing to find their voice, learning to express themselves and wanting to have a good time.  

Again, thank you SKIT team!”

“Minal Patel | Parent of Student

Jody Wood’s SKIT programs are some of the most effective and enjoyable communication experiences my 25-year-old daughter has taken part in. No matter what mood she is in at the start of each session, Jody and his team always draw her attention into the moment and she engages quickly with the socializing skills of each workshop. Many of the communication skills I was seeking for her are practiced in the SKIT sessions - listening to her peers, paying attention to verbal and non-verbal cues, cooperating with story building, conversing on topics that are of interest to others, and not adhering just to those that preoccupy her mind. I’ve heard her spontaneously transfer some of these SKIT exercises to social settings with good effect. Jody and his team are very adept at affirming participation, no matter how much or little a participant has to say. My daughter takes notice of this, and she's very aware and happy that no one is critical of having freely expressed his or herself. I am very thankful to Jody and his SKIT team for the joy my daughter gets from the program.”

“

Uchenna/Florence Ugorji | Parent of Student

It is with great pleasure and deep gratitude that I am writing this piece or little message about SKIT. My son joined SKIT about a year ago and since then it has been what he expects every Thursday with Ms. Atiba or on Saturdays with Jody, Lucy, Eric and Marc. Today, his face beams with laughter or smile when he hears the name SKIT. SKIT is a wonderful Program and my son and I have nothing else to say except, " Thank you " to all at SKIT for all that " YOU do " to Bring Smiles to our faces.  Thank you and God Bless!

“

Maria Gerdy | Parent of Student

The positive impact of SKIT on our son AG is unbelievable. AG has always been outgoing - but his speech and social behavior have improved, we believe, by the exposure to your sure and measured guidance, as well as to his fellow SKIT participants. Especially, your patient, inclusive, animated, and artistic demeanor has opened up AG again. You know how to reach the participants where they are. The pandemic and its social isolation affected him. Having you and your program are simply perfect for his ongoing personal development.

“

Sarah | Parent of Student

Charlie came to SKIT two years ago, as the pandemic was ending. His social skills were always somewhat limited, and the COVID isolation set them back considerably. So, we were thrilled to learn about SKIT, and even more so when Charlie went to the first class and then said he wanted to continue. He has been going ever since (in the summer as well) and having a chance to participate in another social setting -- whatever level he reaches! -- is very meaningful for Charlie, and for the two of us.

“

Al

Hi SKIT team it’s Al and these are the reasons how skit change my life for better and emotionally better somehow and this is the reason SKIT has helped me to open to my imagination and made me reason that my dream can become a reality even though I know that. But bottom line is the most important part of SKIT is it has taught me how to have fun and how to let down my guard and be more in the present moment and use my imagination too. Because before I did SKIT, I rarely used my imagination.

I don’t like the imagination inside my brain which I found that pretty cool and my mom did too, and so did my teachers when I was in school 

I was more in the present moment, and I’m also working on being in the present moment now because life is a challenge but we all face challenges each and every day . And without challenges we would never be able to test our abilities to the limit. And life would be boring too. So, thank you skit from the bottom, my heart for bringing imagination and laughter into my life again and fun and also teaching me it’s OK to let my guard down.

“

ohn and Keith Ann Brennick | Parents of Student

Our son definitely has fun in the program and is motivated to ensure we get there on time!  He will often chuckle during the week about how fun the workshop is. Best of all, though already verbal and social, he is gaining additional valuable skill interacting and thinking quickly on his feet. We can see the clear skills improvement after only the first few sessions. The atmosphere at SKIT is always positive. The instructors have a talent for drawing out participation from diverse personalities and abilities. We are impressed also that the program sparks creativity beyond the minimum: one participant has written scripts for use in the program and our son’s previously written draft screenplay might be adapted and used. An added benefit is that he and we are meeting more friends with so much in common.

“

Elizabeth Dicker | Student

The instructors at SKIT believe in the capabilities of everyone including students who have disabilities. They are very encouraging and respectful. Having autism being in a social group is hard. The class never seemed hard though it just felt like fun. Learning improv helped me to learn how to deal with changes and unpredictability and pushed me to speak up more in groups.

“

Penny Reilly | School Psychologist Galloway Township

On several occasions I’ve been privileged to observe Jody Wood and his SKIT team deliver an Improv Workshop to approximately twenty students with developmental disabilities who belong to our middle school FUN (Friends United Now) Club.  The purpose of the FUN Club is to assist students in developing the social skills, confidence, and self –esteem necessary to foster meaningful peer relationships.  As a school psychologist working with these students over the past two years, I have seen them struggle to find their place in the challenging and socially ambiguous atmosphere of middle school.  During each of the SKIT workshops I have observed the potential of the activities to enhance social skills and build self -confidence.   I was amazed to see awkward students shine, shy and anxious students take risks, rigidly serious students laugh at themselves and with each other, all of them having a genuinely good time while away from electronics and practicing vital skills. During a recent session the instructor played the Zip, Zap, Zop game. Social Skills that were immediately evident as students played the game were increased eye contact, focus, concentration, and cooperation.  During the One Word Sentence game, students demonstrated attending skills, cooperation, and “thinking on your feet.”

The students also played “Yes And, Yes I am listening, And I am going to Build on Your Idea.”   This activity requires active listening and cooperation as well as both divergent (creative) and convergent (systematic and logical) thinking.  Since the SKIT workshop, I have used this activity in my social skills counseling sessions with great success.  Many of my students need to work on conversation skills and through this activity I have been able to work on skills such as topic choice, topic maintenance, nonverbal expression, and using questions to maintain a conversation in an enjoyable and unique way. The activities presented in the workshops emphasize cooperation, self -control, and appreciation for the ideas of others. They allow for the exploration of identity and emotions through role- play, help students develop reflective listening skills (showing empathy), and provide practical experience in maintaining conversations and understanding nonverbal communication. They provide practice for real world social experiences in working together and demonstrating mutual respect. I would highly recommend the SKIT workshops and programs for students of all ages and abilities.

“

Mike Kaufman | Director High Point School of Bergen County

My school had the honor and pleasure of working with Jody Wood and his Skit team. It was amazing to see students who usually do not like to emote feelings, to share stories, or to show their vulnerability be so open to his acting coaching and come alive while working with him. I believe the form of expression Jody endorses is vital for our students. They hold so much in, and to find such a positive way to release what they have inside is a true gift. I highly recommended using Jody Wood’s SKIT program in your school setting, especially if you want to give your students an opportunity to productively express themselves and discover talents they never even knew they had.

“

Rachel Irgang | Student

I liked the SKIT program because it taught me the importance of putting another person’s interest first when having a conversation. Jody Wood and the exercises he taught the class showed me the importance of being open to a topic and building on it. He embodied the idea of the phrase “Yes, And.” I’ve begun to use the phrase “Yes, and when talking to others. I’m still learning how to build on conversations and not direct the discussion back towards what I want to talk about. I have learned to support and build on the topics others are interested through SKIT.

“

Susan Irgang | Mother of student

I had recently heard about the innovative use of improvisational acting skills training to enhance communication skills in people on the Autism Spectrum when I found the SKIT program. Improv skills can improve eye contact, attention to another’s words, and enhance spontaneity and interactions in conversations among other benefits. My 24-year-old daughter was curious but tentative, that is, until her first session! The SKIT instructors do an excellent job in encouraging the students to participate as they can and meeting them where their skills are; then they teach the students improv acting concepts with lots of laughs as well as encouragement. Ultimately these skills improve and enhance their communications, and the best part is that the participants are having so much fun they don’t realize how much they are learning! My daughter is now using the skills she learned – “yes, and” outside the SKIT program setting, and has become more aware and interactive in conversations. We are looking forward to taking more classes. Thanks to Jody the SKIT program!

“

Joanne Wickey | Parent of Student

I tell all my NY friends how the improv skits you do facilitates Jesses language skills, thinking skills and communicating skills.  It is really hard for him to think in the moment and to speak it out.  I love the improv! I can see how it will help Jesse with his language skills and thinking on his feet.

“

John and Keith Ann Brennick | Parents of Student

Our son definitely has fun in the program and is motivated to ensure we get there on time!  He will often chuckle during the week about how fun the workshop is. Best of all, though already verbal and social, he is gaining additional valuable skill interacting and thinking quickly on his feet. We can see the clear skills improvement after only the first few sessions. The atmosphere at SKIT is always positive. The instructors have a talent for drawing out participation from diverse personalities and abilities. We are impressed also that the program sparks creativity beyond the minimum: one participant has written scripts for use in the program and our son’s previously written draft screenplay might be adapted and used. An added benefit is that he and we are meeting more friends with so much in common.