ADAPT: Approach to Dance for Autism

It is well documented that motor impairments are associated with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Yet, appropriate therapies are scarce. Dance has been shown to not only promote fine and gross motor skills, but also psychological well-being, cognition, and social participation in neurotypical dancers. Little research has been conducted to gauge if these benefits translate to those with ASD. Ballet for all Kids (BFAK) is a recreational dance program that has been teaching ballet to children with ASD for over a decade, but has yet to be empirically studied. This study expands on the goals of former STUDY 24-00144, Approach to Dance for Autism (ADAPT), NCT06424366, to elucidate the impact of participation in a recreational dance program on children with ASD.

Inclusion Criteria:

- 6-12 years age

- understand English or Spanish

- Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis

- not currently taking ballet class

Exclusion Criteria:

- none

Conditions:
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Social Skills