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Can they exclude my child from dance class? help please...

sunshine1234sunshine1234 member
in Special Needs

Hi. My daughter is 4 and a half. She has hypotonia and lax joints. She has been in PT since she was 18 months old. She currently can walk and do most activities that other kids can do. She wears a knee brace on both knees due to the fact that her knees sublex.

So, I wanted her to take a dance class. I found one that was only 30 minutes. I like that it is short. I figure the shorter the better for her. So, before she came to class I told the director that she wore a knee brace. I also told them that i wanted to watch the 1st class to make sure that my daughter could participate and that she would not get hurt and that the dancing would not be too much stress on her knees. They were hestitant to let me watch. It is a drop off class where the mommies watch behind the small glass window. I explained to the teacher before the class and explained that i wanted to watch the class today so i could make sure she was safe. She said the other moms might want to stay too. but, i insisted and they said ok.

The class was fine and she was okay. So, the teacher asked me how it went. I said it is a great class and my daughter seemed fine. I only asked her to have my daughter do the warm up on the carpet since that was the only part of the class when they were stationery. Then, the teacher and director said that they were concerned that she could get hurt in the class. I told them that mara would tell them if she was in pain and that i would watch from the window.

Then, they said they need to check their insurance and they will get back to me. I also said that the pts and the doctors said it i was ok for her to do dance classs. I got the feeling thast they were going to come back to me and tell me that she could not do the dance class. I understand that they do not want to get sued and her to get hurt. But, can they come back to me and tell me that she cant do the class? Can they exclude my child from dance class? what do you think? what would you do?

Advice? I am going to call the doctor and get a note. what would u think or do if you were me and they tell me she cant do dance? ali

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Re: Can they exclude my child from dance class? help please...

  • pastaladypastalady member

    Well, that just sucks of them. I wouldn't want my kid in that class after that. Try another class. Our local dance school has a class for kids of all mobilities. There are ASD kids, kids in wheelchairs and kids with all kinds of abilities. We watched one class and it was a blast! Parents are encouraged to stay.

    Even just another typical class might be a better fit. Keep trying!

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  • realisticdreamsrealisticdreams member

    Sigh.

    Auntie is right, legally you probably can't make them keep her in the class.  I pulled P from a gymnastics class that was NOT a good fit and it was awful.

    I plan to try a dance class in the next few weeks though, it's a ways away but I called 5 or 6 dance schools, this one is fairly cheap by the month ($36, cheaper than our community based gymnastics program!) and it's an open gym setup, moms do not have to leave.  Which was the selling point for us, even at 3 P is in no way emotionally capable to separate from me yet.  

    I would probably have the attitude that I don't want my children around people who aren't open minded and who are only seeing $$ signs going out the window with the possibility of lawsuit,  when they should have been asking questions on how they could better suit her needs, etc.  

    That's just my opinion though.

    Welcome to the world of being treated differently because of what your child isn't physically able to do, IT SUCKS.  (I had a mom laugh at the gymnastics class at P because she couldn't jump--and she was trying--it was so cute--I wanted to throat punch her!)

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  • MrsBalletStar05MrsBalletStar05 member

    I am a dance teacher and similar questions get brought up on my dance board from time to time about children with different needs.  Legally, a private business is able to turn away your child if providing their service to you would cause them a lot of hardships and/or changes to their normal operation.

    I will say that it is very common for children to be dropped off at a studio and for the parents to wait in the lobby.  That studio is fortunate to have a viewing window.  Parents can often times be distractions for the children.  That is a normal rule you will find at most dance studios.

    They are probably nervous because they've not had someone in your DD's situation before.  If it doesn't work out at this studio you may want to try another because it sounds like she would be capable of doing it.  I will say, most studios will not have a carpeted area for dancing though and/or may dismiss the idea of your daughter standing on it during a class.

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  • gimmietimmiesgimmietimmies member
    Our studio offers inclusive classes, maybe if they are not able to accomodate your dd, another studio might have this. Ours has two classes for different age groups of mixed abilities.
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  • malcivarmalcivar member

    Like the others, if they're a private business, they do have the legal right to "refuse service" if it's too disruptive and your daughter's safety concerns could just be something they're not comfortable with - even if she's fine, it's the chance that she could get hurt, kwim?

    Also, I don't know that I would want my child in a class where there was any sort of "fight" involved in just getting allowed to attend.  I'd be paranoid that she wouldn't be treated well, most especially if I wasn't able to be there as is the case with most dance classes.  

    Have you asked your daughter's PT if they know of any class that might be a better fit (w/o all the insurance/liability concerns) for your daughter? 

     

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  • Rachel SonnierRachel Sonnier member
    Does your area have a Little Gym? I have noticed SN kids at ours, and seem pretty open and accomidating. They offer dance classes, as well as mommy and me, gymnastics, etc. At our location, there is a large windowed wall between the gym and where the parents sit, so you can clearly see your child and she can see you.
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  • StillharborStillharbor member
    They are just concerned for their business.  You could offer to sign a note that says they aren't liable if LO gets hurt during class.
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  • mommyof4boysmommyof4boys member
    It is my understanding that the ADA states that the business can't turn her away and have to make necessary accommodations and modifications as long as they are not a substantial monetary loss.  From what you are saying, it wouldn't cost them much.  Honestly, I wouldn't want them working with my kid if that would be their attitude.
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