Features of creative self-development of adolescents with intellectual disabilities by means of theatrical art

Importance. The problem of creative self-development of adolescents with disabilities is very relevant, since the social adaptation of such adolescents implies the complexity of interaction with others, is characterized by an unformed skills of self-knowledge, self-organization, self-regulation, and other mechanisms of self-development. In particular, the creative self-development of adolescents with intellectual disabilities is associated with the development of thinking, motor skills, and communicative functions. This is possible through amateur theater as a form of social and pedagogical work with young people with disabilities. The purpose of the study is to determine the role and pedagogical possibilities of amateur theatrical art as a means of creative self–development of adolescents with disabilities, taking into account the specifics of adolescents with intellectual disability (mental retardation).Research Methods. In the course of the research, such theoretical methods as generalization, comparison, etc. were used, domestic psychological and pedagogical works in the field of theater pedagogy were studied, empirical methods were used – understanding the experience of working with participants of the psychotherapeutic theater “We”.Results and Discussion. It is revealed and substantiated that amateur theater is a means of creative development and self-development of a personality, that is, an environment where activities aimed at the personal development of adolescents with disabilities can be fully realized on the basis of the existing personal potential in accordance with the norms of morality and cultural context accepted in society. The pedagogical possibilities of theatrical art, realized in specific forms of work (trainings, sketches, effective analysis of a play, staged work, etc.) and used at various stages of organizational and creative activity of an amateur theater group, contribute to the development of appropriate skills of self-knowledge and self-organization, thinking, and communicative abilities of adolescents with intellectual disabilities (mental retardation).Conclusions. The application of the research results contributes to the development of new methods and means of pedagogical work with young people with disabilities, the formation of an effective creative environment for their creative self-development and social adaptation. 

creativity, creative self-development, theatrical art, adolescents with disabilities (intellectual disability), theatrical activity, theatrical pedagogy, community theater