DST - Making SCD autism friendly

Caroline Brockbank tells us about a recent event held in Fife, addressing how we can make Scottish country dancing autism friendly..

'Early in 2021, the Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland made an offer of small grants under the theme ‘Getting People Dancing’, to encourage dancers back, especially those groups who face barriers to taking part in Scottish dancing. Catherine Coutts was awarded a grant to run two events for members of the autistic community. They took place in Dysart, Fife, on Saturday 16 October 2021; a series of presentations in the morning and a relaxed ceilidh in the afternoon. Cath invited me to participate in the morning by speaking about my experience of running a ceilidh with the Edinburgh-based autism charity Tailor Ed, and in the afternoon to help out at the ceilidh.

During the morning discussion, many diverse points were raised and as is always the case we came away with more questions than anyone could answer. Just like everyone else, no two people with autism are alike and so what works to help one person may not work for another. Some people are never going to want to come anywhere near music and dancing and that’s ok, but if somebody has bought a ticket to an event you can assume they are likely to want to give it at least a try. Ceilidhs and Scottish country dances are often full of things which autistic people may not like, such as loud noise, crowds, strangers, and unpredictability, but on the other hand, the dance floor etiquette, rules, patterns and formations may appeal a lot to somebody who thrives on structure.

It is probably fair to say that most people on the autistic spectrum can relax more into a situation if they know what to expect and what is expected of them. Publishing the programme in advance can help because participants can read the instructions and watch the dances on video. Before the ceilidh which I ran for Tailor Ed, the staff were very keen that we should film them doing the dances beforehand so that families could watch familiar people showing them what was expected. This probably works better for a country dance with a predetermined programme. Personally, when running family ceilidhs I much prefer to improvise and go with the mood of the crowd at any given moment so that idea, whilst entirely understandable, was a tricky one for me to take on board!

Cath in her presentation suggested providing a social story, video or at least some photos beforehand of the layout of the hall, including the toilets, the people who will be there, perhaps the bus route, and the expected procedure for refreshments, so attendees know what’s expected and won’t be disconcerted on the day.

It might help someone with autism to make sure that they always dance with the same partner or a in safe set of people who understand their parameters, and at an event which many autistic people attend it’s a good idea to choose dances where it doesn’t matter if a person or a couple drops out mid-dance, which obviously is easier for a ceilidh than at a country dance. Badges saying ‘please ask me to dance’ or ‘please don’t ask me to dance’ can let other dancers know the best way to help. Unexpected loud noises can be upsetting, so having music playing at a low level on arrival can be useful, and the volume can be increased gradually but never too much. Announcing changes (for example extras added to the programme) well in advance gives people time to prepare.

These ideas might not work for everyone, and might not be needed by everyone, but a conversation in advance might shed light on a few simple changes that can be made in order to accommodate somebody and help them enjoy their dancing.

After lunch, some local families arrived to enjoy the relaxed ceilidh, led by Cath, to the music of Sandy Brechin. Dancers and carers had been provided with tickets in the form of social stories with information and visuals, including a symbol for each dance which was displayed just before each dance began. The dances were adjusted to the ability of those attending, and a small group of us demonstrated each dance. When others joined in, we ‘demonstrators’ still partnered each other, so that there were always a few couples doing the dance as intended. Others could then copy and dance alongside if they wished, and nobody unsure had to be the first on the dance floor. Those who didn’t wish to dance clapped along, had plenty to watch and enjoyed Sandy’s fantastic accordion music.

Thank you to Cath for having the idea and for bringing a diverse group of people together for a fun and thought-provoking day.'

Many thanks for sharing this Caroline. If any Branches and Affiliated Groups have any insights or experiences they wish to share with RSCDS, please email info@rscds.org, we'd love to hear from you.