Autism and the Benefits of Dance

Dance can mean many different things to different people. It can be artistic and technical, a creative outlet or form of self-expression, a way of connecting with others, a competitive sport, a way to improve flexibility and mobility or even just a way to entertain and have fun. Dance has evolved over the centuries with influences from different cultures and regions worldwide, providing a way to gather communities, celebrate an event or honor a tradition. Today, dance is practiced by millions of individuals around the world of all ages, abilities, and skill-levels. For many of those individuals, their reason to dance is rooted in the health benefits including physical, mental, and emotional health. For example, individuals who participate in dance are less likely to develop dementia later in life (Ducharme, 2018), and those with mobility diseases such as Parkinson’s Disease have been shown to see improvements in their mobility, self-esteem and memory (Earhart, 2009). In addition to memory support and physical health and wellness for older adults, dance can also benefit individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities including those with autism spectrum disorder.  

April is Autism Awareness Month. To honor this month, we’re taking a closer look at how those with autism spectrum disorder might benefit from physical activities such as exercise and dance.

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, and nonverbal communication. According to the Centers for Disease Control, autism affects an estimated 1 in 36 children in the United States today (Autism Speaks). While autism varies from person to person, research suggests that physical activities that do not require verbal communication can prove beneficial to some children and adults with ASD. While more research is needed to determine the overall effectiveness of physical activities as a form of treatment for those with ASD, the currently available research does appear to be promising. For example, in a 2018 article published on the Autism Speaks blog, guest writer Dr. Sean Healy (assistant professor in the Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition, at the University of Delaware who authored a study of The effect of physical activity interventions on youth with autism spectrum disorder: A meta-analysis - PubMed), shares that his research findings demonstrated that “…physical activity programs for youth with autism produced moderate to large benefits in a variety of important areas including improving motor skills, skill-related fitness, social functioning and muscular strength and endurance” (Healy, 2018). To ensure the best outcome, the article cites the need for a regular routine with these types of activities as well as visual aids such as task cards, video instructions and/or other physical instructions to help reinforce the routine. A Visual Support toolkit with step-by-step instructions on how to use the tool, can be downloaded from the Autism Speaks website.

The Benefits of Dance

In addition to general exercise and activities such as horseback riding or hiking, studies have also shown that dance may provide benefits to individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Here are some examples of the potential benefits*:

1. Provide Structure and Routine. The practice of dance provides a structure and routine through repetitive movements helping to improve motor skills, coordination, memory, and concentration.

2. Can be Taught via Different Modes of Communication. Dance can be taught to individuals who require nonverbal modes of communication including through visual instruction, props used during class, flash cards, etc. 

3. Improved Body Awareness and Social Involvement. A study published in the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine concluded that dance practice may contribute to body awareness and social involvement using techniques that provide mirroring, synchronization, rhythm, and reciprocity in adults with normal to high-functioning ASD. (DeJesus, 2020)

4. A Sense of Belonging. Dance can help provide a safe space for individuals to feel a sense of connection with others.

Autism Friendly Environments for Dance and Other Activities

When looking at classes or programs focused on dance or other physical activities, it is important to ask the staff/instructors of the program questions so that you can determine if the program will fit your individual needs. For example, it might be helpful to determine if a program or class is autism friendly. Here are examples of some things you may want to consider asking to help decide if a program or class is autism friendly*:

1. Instructor Experience. Ask if the organization/school has instructors that are experienced in working with individuals with autism spectrum disorder including the ability to adjust their teaching methods, the sensory experience of the class (volume of music, lights, etc.) as well as mode of communication to fit each student’s needs.

2. Tools to Prepare for Class. Ask the organization/school if there’s a video or outline that might help the individual with ASD prepare for the class by knowing what to expect in advance.

3. Join the Class. To help provide a sense of familiarity, you might want to ask if you or another caregiver can join the class to help the individual with ASD feel safe and comfortable. 

4. Individual Needs. Each person may require different types of support such as adjustments to a class structure or teaching style to meet their individual needs. If you know what these specific needs are, ask the organization/school if they are able to accommodate them.

Feel the Beat: Inclusive and Accessible Dance Classes for All

At Feel the Beat, our focus is to ensure that no one feels left out of the experience of dance and music. We do this by providing those who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, as well as those with or without disabilities a way to engage in dance and music through an inclusive curriculum that honors each individual student’s mode of communication. We integrate our customized curriculum, vibrating dance floor, sign language friendly environment to remove barriers and connect students from all backgrounds to make dance and music education accessible to all. Feel the Beat’s one-of-a-kind bone conduction vibrotactile dance floor allows users to feel sound through vibrational energy which can provide individuals with disabilities such as ASD the ability to have a fully immersive dance and music experience that’s both inclusive and accessible. Our dance instructors care about your journey and will customize your educational experience to meet your needs, while cheering you on, one beat at a time. Our classes and programming include weekly classes, group classes, school programs, events and more! For more information or to see if one of our classes or programs might work for you or your student, feel free to give us a call at 303-816-8683 or email us at info@feelthebeat.dance.

Conclusion

Physical activities such as dance and other forms of exercise are activities that can provide a host of benefits for individuals of all ages including physical, mental, and emotional health benefits. While physical activities including dance certainly show promise in terms of benefiting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities including those with ASD, it’s important to consider that these activities might not work for everyone and additional research on the topic is still needed to determine overall therapeutic benefits for those with ASD. To determine if dance or other forms of exercise are right for an individual with ASD, consider the specific needs of the individual and what might work best for them and if necessary, consult a medical professional for additional advice or recommendations.

*DISCLAIMER

This blog post is not intended to diagnose, treat, or provide medical advice of any kind and is meant to be educational only. For additional information, resources, tools and support for parents, caregivers and individuals with autism spectrum disorder consult your doctor or another licensed medical professional. Resources and tools can also be found on the Center for Disease Control’s website: Autism | CDC

References

Autism Speaks. (n.d.). What is Autism? Retrieved from Autism Speaks: https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism

B. DeJesus BM, Oliveira RC, de Carvalho FO, de Jesus Mari J, Arida RM, Teixeira-Machado L. (2020). Dance promotes positive benefits for negative symptoms in autism spectrum disorder (ASD): A systematic review. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 2020 Mar;49:102299. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102299. Epub 2020 Jan 7. PMID: 32147081.

Ducharme, J. (2018, December 2018). Dance Like Your Doctor Is Watching: It's Great for Your Mind and Body. Retrieved from Time: https://time.com/5484237/dancing-health-benefits/

Earhart, G. M. (2009). Dance as therapy for individuals with Parkinson disease. European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, 8.

Healy S, Nacario A, Braithwaite RE, Hopper C. (2018). The effect of physical activity interventions on youth with autism spectrum disorder: A meta-analysis. International Society for Autism Research. 018 Jun;11(6):818-833. doi: 10.1002/aur.1955. Epub 2018 Apr 25. PMID: 29693781