A NEXT for AUTISM Grantee Spotlight
2022 NEXT for AUTISM Grantee: Jenn Freeman - The Improv Lab
Organization Type: Autistic-led
Grant Categorie(s): Social
WHO THEY ARE
Award-winning dancer, choreographer, and educator Jenn Freeman is using dance to create movement-based connection. Diagnosed with autism at 33, she realized that the techniques she had developed for dancers were also therapeutic tools that met her own sensory and social needs. Her structured improvisational class, The Improv Lab, draws from dance therapy and trauma-informed practices to help autistic individuals, especially those who struggle with verbal communication, build meaningful bonds. Jenn is continuing to train dancers and educators around the world and collaborates with an inclusive approach. Her acclaimed stage work Is It Thursday Yet? has toured nationally, paired with community engagement events that bring her movement-based approach to local autistic audiences. The next engagement of Is It Thursday Yet? is slated for November 14th and is being presented by DukeArts at The Reynolds Theater In Durham, NC. Freeman will facilitate community engagement at Duke University that will include moderated Q&A’s as well as hosting The Improv Lab.
THE RESULTS
- 100 # autistic individuals served
- 10 cities
- 20 days
THE IMPACT: MOVEMENT AS THERAPY
With the support of a NEXT for AUTISM, Jenn Freeman launched a nationwide expansion of The Improv Lab, hosting workshops in 10 major U.S. cities. The workshops created inclusive spaces where movement replaced words as a primary mode of connection, allistic and autistic participants were intentionally integrated as co-facilitators to offer peer leadership and authentic representation.
Attendees reported improvements in communication, emotional connection, physical well-being, and confidence through movement-based expression. Post-workshop discussions explored how improvisation and stimming-informed techniques can be integrated into therapeutic and educational environments.
Additional highlights include:
- A keynote and campus-wide Improv Lab at The Juilliard School as part of their Diversity Dialogue series.
- A workshop tailored for 20 physical therapists exploring ASD support through dance/movement therapy with the intention to expand patient support for both allistic and autistic individuals
- A co-hosted Improv Lab at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica, engaging students from USC, UCLA, and local colleges.
- A keynote address by Jenn at the Rotary International Peace Conference on Mental Health, highlighting early intervention and movement for ASD, particularly in women and girls.
This multifaceted project continues to scale via Jenn’s train-the-trainer model and upcoming online course, ensuring her methods can reach and empower autistic individuals globally.
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