DANCERS WITH DISABILITIES
While all KDO programs are inclusive and serve children of all abilities, the Dancers with Disabilities programs offer further opportunities specifically designed for children with disabilities to thrive.
Programs Include:
- Adaptive Dance
- FLOW (Fueling Life on Wheels)
- IMAGINE Summer Camp
- PACES
ADAPTIVE DANCE
For children with Down syndrome.
KDO’s longest-running Dancers with Disabilities program, Adaptive Dance, gives children ages 8–13 with Down syndrome and similarly presenting diagnoses the opportunity to develop social, emotional, and physical skills in a safe, supportive environment through the art of dance. More than simply learning dance steps, students build confidence, connection, coordination, and self-expression while experiencing the joy of movement alongside their peers.
Interested in having your child participate?
Complete the inquiry form below, and we will be in touch!
FLOW
For children who use wheelchairs.
Fueling Life on Wheels (FLOW) is a collaboration between KDO and Skills on Wheels (IU Indy + Riley Hospital for Children). FLOW provides an opportunity for children who are wheelchair users to hone their wheelchair skills through a joyful dance experience that embraces every child’s potential.
Eligibility: FLOW is open to children who use a manual and/or power wheelchair and are ages 6-17.
2026 Session
Dates: Tuesdays and Thursdays – October 6-15; Showcase Friday, October 16.
Time: 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Location: IU Indianapolis Campus
IMAGINE
Summer Camp
A one-week camp in June that brings children with and without disabilities from across KDO programs together to learn, create, and move side by side. Through dance, music, creative activities, and shared experiences, the dancers work in teams throughout the week. The half-day program runs Monday through Friday and culminates in a celebratory showcase where dancers share what they’ve learned with family, friends, and our community.
PACES
School Partnership
KDO and Fox Hill Elementary School in Washington Township have an ongoing partnership that brings KDO’s Dancers with Disabilities programs into the school setting, serving children with disabilities in the PACES (Person-Centered Alternate Curriculum) classroom. KDO is thrilled to continue building and expanding this partnership to further integrate its programs into the school community.
Movement, Connection, and Growth for Every Dancer
KDO’s Dancers with Disabilities programs focus on:
- Increasing Dancer/Teaching Artist ratio;
- Focusing on peer-to-peer support, eye contact, building strength and mobility, spatial awareness, language skills, and self-expression;
- Leveraging supportive and engaging equipment, such as tambourines and chairs, to provide auditory and tactile feedback, and to improve coordination;
- Working with clinical partners and caregivers to ensure maximal student safety, support, and success.
Participation in inclusive creative movement can:
- Promote positive social interactions with peers;
- Develop gross motor skills (balance, coordination, endurance, rhythm, posture);
- Encourage sensory integration;
- Increase working memory, instill self-confidence, and improve mental health.
Have questions about our Dancers with Disabilities offerings?