Millicent Spencer
Local dance company Spectrum and the Barre has secured a $1500 grant to help continue delivering classes to people living with a disability.
Vanessa Poon started the company which aims to train local dance schools in running classes for those with disability to increase access to physical activity.
“The reason why I started the program was because I wanted children to be more active in their community,” Ms Poon said.
“I want the children to be included in the mainstream community, and for kids and teachers at the dance schools to have contact with children with disability.
“My goal is that the dance teacher will feel confident and equipped to run a class for people living with a disability so we can eventually step back and allow them to sustain the class at their respective schools.”
Ms Poon said she has a background in speech therapy and uses her skills to make the classes more accessible.
“A lot of the families I work with say it’s hard to access sport and arts programs,” she said.
“I help the teachers to modify the dance classes so if the students can’t understand verbal instructions we will use sign language or picture cards.
“We also have a physio that comes regularly to help the dance teachers modify some of the activities.”
Spectrum at the Barre offers dance classes during the school term for children aged three to 12 with a disability such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Global Developmental Delay, genetic conditions, non-speaking, blind, and deaf children.
