Hi Rickey

I echo Greg's comments. I have come to calling fairly recently, but worked professionally for several years with people with intellectual disabilities. Clear, concise, unambiguous communication is key. And if it doesn't work to say it one way, try saying it another, even more concrete, way. The old trick of using absolute rather than relative terminology is also helpful (eg "those nearest the kitchen" instead of "those on my right"). And a picture paints a thousand words, so demonstrating moves that require lots of language to describe works really well, eg ladies chain.

Good luck

Let us know how you go

Jeanette

 The piano - 88 little mistakes waiting to happen;  Peter Barnes



----- Original Message ----
From: Greg McKenzie <gregmck at earthlink.net>
To: Caller's discussion list <callers at sharedweight.net>
Sent: Tue, 26 January, 2010 5:31:08 AM
Subject: Re: [Callers] Dances for special needs folks at a public dance


There are many dancers with "special needs" at most contra 
dances.  When there are individuals with more profound mental, 
physical, or social disabilities present the primary job of the 
caller is, as always, to integrate those dancers into the dance 
community as quickly and as thoroughly as possible.  That is not easy 
and requires an emphasis on the most basic caller skills, such as 
clear pronunciation, setting up the mike properly, earning and 
holding the dancers' attention, calling with effective word order, 
and setting a generous and gracious community tone through 
programming and by example.

Basically, this is a situation that puts all of your calling skills 
to the test.  Other than that it is not that different from any other 
open, public contra dance, (as opposed to a camp, festival, or other 
event that is designed for contra dance enthusiasts).  This kind of 
gig is a great opportunity for any caller to hone their calling skills.

Good luck!

***********

At 06:45 AM 1/25/2010, you wrote:
>Hi,
>
>I am preparing for a public dance series where special needs folks, folks
>with some learning disabilities, have been present in the past. I have my
>share of easy dances but I am wondering if any of you have experience with
>the special needs of special needs dancers.  One of these dancers has been
>described to me as on the autistic spectrum.  Do you have experience
>teaching such dancers?  Were there approaches that worked well, or otherwise
>good teaching that in this situation did not work well?  Are there dances
>you would suggest? Have you found that dances that keep dancers physically
>connected are any better than those that do so less? Your help in giving as
>many dancers a good time as possible will be appreciated by all.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Rickey Holt
>
>P.S.  The rest of the dancers at this series are already used to easy
>dances.
>
>
>
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