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Original poster

Reasonable Adjustments. What is meant by this? How reasonable is reasonable?

12 replies

CwmYoy · 19/04/2023 11:40

I've just been reminded of something that happened years ago that still rankles.

One of my former students (C) was running a small scale drama club for children aged 11 - 16. It was at a community centre in a rural location - a former village school hall. It was run as a not for profit group the small fee was to pay for hall costs.

It was advertised as featuring physical theatre, contemporary dance and improvisation. At the end of each term there was an open sessions for parents and friends to attend to see what they had been doing. All very friendly, very informal.

There was a mixture of students in the class and a wide range of abilities and some with extra needs. When a new child wanted to join (if there was room) C invited the parents to observe part of a session to see if it would be suitable for their child. Sometimes parents thought it wasn't, which is fair enough.

The parents of a wheelchair using girl (12) asked for her to join the class. C explained that a lot of the exercises they did were related to physical theatre and dance and she may not be able to always fully participate in everything. The parents said they understood.

Then they complained that she was excluded and that C shouldn't do any exercise that she couldn't do as well. C explained that she had made some adjustments but the group was about dance and physical theatre and they knew that. She tried to be accommodating but she wasn't going to stop all the other children doing the very thing they went for. The father really kicked off and threatened to go to the press. So she stopped the classes.

The other parents had tried to speak to the parents but they were actually pleased that C had closed the classes and felt they'd won a victory.

She was very unhappy for some time and it really knocked her for six and took away her confidence.

I'm not sure what the parents expected - were they right to insist the group only did things their DD could do?

OP posts:
Idratherbepaddleboarding · 19/04/2023 11:48

I think a bit of both, the other students shouldn’t have to change their usually exercises but most things can be adapted so that the child who uses a wheelchair can take part in some way.

Nimbostratus100 · 19/04/2023 11:50

she needed to provide alternatives for the child in the wheel chair, and make sure she was fulluy involved.

Original poster
CwmYoy · 19/04/2023 11:53

Nimbostratus100 · 19/04/2023 11:50

she needed to provide alternatives for the child in the wheel chair, and make sure she was fulluy involved.

How exactly if it's crawling across the floor or on tiptoe reaching for the ceiling? or running and jumping - all usual exercises.

Not everybody can do everything. I am a wheelchair user now and have had to adjust to it - I don't expect the world to stop rotating.

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

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11 year olds
Nimbostratus100 · 19/04/2023 11:54

CwmYoy · 19/04/2023 11:53

How exactly if it's crawling across the floor or on tiptoe reaching for the ceiling? or running and jumping - all usual exercises.

Not everybody can do everything. I am a wheelchair user now and have had to adjust to it - I don't expect the world to stop rotating.

Show quote history

I dont know, becasue I dont know the child or their capabilities, but you cant give every child in the class an exercise and leave one out! They need to be fully involved, and fully occupied, as the others are.

Comefromaway · 19/04/2023 11:56

I had a wheelchair user in my drama school (which included dance classes). He took part in everything, his choreography was adapted.

Crawling across the floor (wheeling himself across with closed/crouching body position)
Reaching for the ceiling (you can do that in a chair)
Running and jumping (wheeling fast ,maybe a spin instead of a jump)

Whataretheodds · 19/04/2023 11:57

Surely the child in the wheelchair does an adapted version of the moment - sometimes that's going to look more similar to the movement the others are doing and sometimes less so. Eg crawling motion with their arms while stationery/stretching arms to the ceiling.

Closing the class was an extreme response.

Comefromaway · 19/04/2023 11:57

Look at performances from companies like Candoco to see what is possible.

SouthCountryGirl · 19/04/2023 11:58

I have a physical disability. I (and there's a chap with a different physical disability) attend a sports club. We (me and the other person) are always told to adapt the exercise we're doing.

You can't expect a group to do certain things only based on one person's needs

Original poster
CwmYoy · 19/04/2023 12:01

Comefromaway · 19/04/2023 11:56

I had a wheelchair user in my drama school (which included dance classes). He took part in everything, his choreography was adapted.

Crawling across the floor (wheeling himself across with closed/crouching body position)
Reaching for the ceiling (you can do that in a chair)
Running and jumping (wheeling fast ,maybe a spin instead of a jump)

These were all adjustments she made but it wasn't enough for the parents. If their DD couldn't fully participate they said it shouldn't happen. All the DCs should use arms only etc.

OP posts:
Original poster
CwmYoy · 19/04/2023 12:02

Whataretheodds · 19/04/2023 11:57

Surely the child in the wheelchair does an adapted version of the moment - sometimes that's going to look more similar to the movement the others are doing and sometimes less so. Eg crawling motion with their arms while stationery/stretching arms to the ceiling.

Closing the class was an extreme response.

It isn't extreme to withdraw from an aggressive man shouting in your face.

OP posts:
Comefromaway · 19/04/2023 12:08

In which case that is/was an unreasonable expectation

Marblessolveeverything · 19/04/2023 12:12

There are plenty of drama / dance organisations who have a number of participants who are wheelchair users. It might be an idea for C to contact them to ascertain their approach and then this may help them be confident in what is reasonable adjustment.

The parents sound a little eh confused as to what is reasonable accommodation.

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