…which is not readily apparent when he’s in dance class. Mark is a kindergartener with autism, in a class of eight non-verbal 5- and 6-year-olds who are also not very responsive to visual cues yet. He rarely follows my lead in dance. When coaxed one-on-one by an instructional assistant, he’ll occasionally try a facsimile of an exercise or dance, but he also spends a fair amount of time examining the metal shelves that hold the CD player and props.
Recently, however, he had a rash on his neck that needed to be checked out. His teacher and an aid followed him into dance class, peering at his neck as he sat down with us. It was when I wondered out loud whether he should be seen by the nurse that I learned he likes dance. They couldn’t get him to go to the nurse when the class was headed for dance.
So the nurse came to dance class that day & examined him on the move — sometimes moving with us and sometimes to his own music. But it’s an amazingly heartening thought — that Mark likes dance!
I have worked with Autistic kids before and the ones I have had the privelage of teaching loved to dance. They like moving with music! It is so amazing to see them connect for brief moments. Thanks for this post.
Wow. Cool.