Dance: Ability and Opportunity
After Gia was born, one of the most common questions I received as a former dancer was whether I was going to enroll her in dance. My response concise and always the same, "Only if she wants to." What didn't occur to me was that she may not be able to dance. Or perhaps and more appropriately, that she may not be given the opportunity. Don't get me wrong, there was dance. As I navigated the unfamiliar landscape of special needs parenting, I did my best to support my child's neurodiversity in a way that felt natural and instinctual and so we danced, twirled, and toe-jumped around our home in our makeshifty studio, living room, and anywhere else we had ample room. And while I facilitated all-age inclusive dance in our community, I learned early on that Gia needed (needs) me to be "mom". Not an occupational or physical therapist, speech language pathologist, educator ... or dance teacher. While indeed, I do wear all of those hats, I pair them with my mama be...
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