September 14 - December 6, 2026

Professor: Sandi Stratton-Gonzalez

Tuition: $550 member / $650 non-member

12 Weeks; 3 NDEO-Endorsed PDCs

**Optional add-on** College Credits through Oakland University: 3

Every child and teen deserves access to dance education and performance! This course empowers dance educators to create inclusive learning environments where students of all abilities can thrive. Whether you teach in P–12 schools, private studios, or community programs, you'll gain tools, strategies, and the confidence to support students with disabilities in your dance classes.
We’ll explore key topics for teaching dance to students with disabilities, including:

• Neurodiversity, sensory sensitivities and dance education
• Characteristics of disabilities and how they impact dance learning
• Effective instructional strategies and pedagogical approaches that provide access to students with a range of abilities and challenges
• Goal-setting and assessment strategies
• Disability justice and its role in shaping equitable dance education
• Legislation, historical context, and current issues surrounding dance education and disability

Through interactive learning and practical applications, you’ll learn to address the access needs of your students, discover resources, develop inclusive lessons and dance activities, and explore how to celebrate diverse movement styles. By the end of the course, you'll be equipped to offer dance classes that honor each student’s unique abilities, creativity, and voice. NOTE: The main focus of this course is on children and teens. 

To receive college credit for this course in addition to PDCs, you must register through Oakland University by scheduling an advising session and finalizing your registration through OU before the August 15 deadline.

Questions about this Course?  Email opdi@ndeo.org

"I learned new techniques for teaching students with a wide range of disabilities. This course opened my eyes to specific types of support required for different disabilities and how I have to adapt as a dance educator to respect and support my students with disabilities."

"I really loved the tangible and solid ideas and tactics for creating adaptations and modifications for people with disabilities, and the information about how to help students meet IEP goals through dance."

"I learned so much and my understanding of dancers with disabilities grew and changed in positive ways. I learned practical applications and learning amazing things. I'm excited I got to take this course it was wonderful!"

"It helped expand my awareness of the topic, and develop my confidence in teaching students with disabilities. It validated some of the things I was doing well, while also providing great insight on how I can improve my practice."

Sandi Stratton-Gonzalez, MA, is a dance education consultant with the Dance Education Laboratory (DEL), the Arnhold Support Program for Dance Educators (NYC) and Mosaic Education, among others. Sandi teaches OPDI 114: Teaching Dance to Children with Disabilities for NDEO and was a founding member of the NDEO Dance and Disability Task Force. For 20 years Sandi was the Dance Specialist at The Children’s School in Brooklyn, the first fully inclusive public school in the US. She is co-author (C. Gallant, D. Duggan) of Dance Education for Diverse Learners: A Special Education Supplement to the Dance Blueprint and has been published in Dance: Current Selected Research Volume 7 and Dance Education in Practice. Sandi taught Dance in Elementary Education at Hofstra University (2008-2018) and has mentored dozens of dance educators as a Cooperating Teacher. In her early dance career Sandi was the founding Artistic Director of Soundance Repertory Company in NYC.

How Courses Work

PC The Dance Education Laboratory/ 92Y