Thank you and HELP

by Angela Mickunas
(Peabody, Massachusetts, USA)

Hello,

I am the mom of a nearly 5 year old with Down syndrome from Massachusetts






. I do know about the adaptive dance program in Boston, MA with the Boston ballet and it is wonderful however, I'm looking to start a program for ages 3-7 using music, dance and even instruments for development. Our public schools just don't offer this stuff enough and I feel that we are missing HUGE opportunities for growth, communication, development and all the other benefits of the arts for our children.

I'm just so thrilled I found your site and the dance for health. My son is inspired by music and movement and can sing better than he can speak. I believe our kids need an flexible-structured dance/movement program to enhance their development. I will write a proposal soon to this effect and would welcome any advice and insight you have that can help START A MOVEMENT! I'll meet some mom's with autistic kids next week and plan to pitch the idea to them as I feel the communication benefits will be great.

I have tons of ideas and would welcome more supporting literature stories that I can use in my proposal (since I am not a professional in childhood development, dance or any medical profession). I am just a mom who KNOWS these benefits and I want to share this and infect every special (and non-special) needs kid between ages 3-7 when they are able then to move into a more main-stream or older child class (as the one at the Boston ballet).

Thank you thank you thank you just for being here! I'm now going to read through your stuff one link at a time.

My sincerely gratitude. Your words and wisdom are speaking volumes to me!