DMT plays a significant role in supporting people with disabilities by improving their communication, interpersonal and social skills, and assisting them to express their emotions verbally and nonverbally. Body and movement-based interventions can integrate body and mind in a safe, meaningful and nonjudgmental therapeutic space.
From movement to cognition/thinking, social connection, communication and self-regulation, Dance Movement Therapy plays a vital role in supporting people to achieve their therapeutic goals and brings change in every aspect of life (Meekums, 2002; Payne, 2008).
Dmts support people with a wide range of disabilities, such as
- Autistic Spectrum Disorder
- Down Syndrome
- Learning difficulties
- Physical disabilities
- Psychosocial disabilities such as anxiety, depression, and trauma
- Sensory Disorders
(this is not an exhaustive list of disabilities).
NDIS participants can access Dance Movement Therapy if they are
- Self-managed or
- Plan-managed
For agency-managed participants, the therapist needs to be an NDIS-registered provider. Regarding the fees, the DTAA members are advised to adhere to the NDIS Price Guidelines.
The DTAA has been advocating to the NDIS and public to recognise DMT as a profession and make DMT more accessible and available for people with disabilities. The DTAA has recently submitted and published a document titled Dance Movement Therapy as an Evidence-based Therapy for People with Disabilities 2025. You can download this document for free.
DMT Interventions and NDIS Goals
Language and Communication
For individuals with disabilities, playful and creative movements can significantly enhance more spontaneous and varied communication attempts and language development. DMT fosters understanding and recognition of nonverbal cues, such as facial expressions, posture, and gestures. Creating supportive environments that incorporate music, dance, and other forms of embodied expression, can enhance communication and interaction, supporting individuals such as people with dementia to feel more understood and connected (Dzwiza-Ohlsen & Kempermann, 2023; Hill, 2008).
Personal Care
DMT can assist individuals with disabilities to increase their level of personal care by strengthening their physical, emotional, and cognitive abilities. DMT encourages participants to build awareness about their own body and body connections. This awareness helps improve a participant’s ability to recognise sensations, to understand what their body needs, and to take the actions necessary for self-care.
Improvement of fine and gross motor skills through DMT supports participants in upskilling tasks like dental hygiene, dressing and grooming. DMT improves physical coordination and balance which can aid in activities like bathing, dressing and preparing a meal.
Mobility and Movement
DMT enhances mobility and movement for individuals with disabilities by combining therapeutic and creative movement techniques to address physical, neurological, and emotional requirements. It offers a holistic approach to improving motor function, body awareness, and confidence in movement (Albin, 2016; Berrol, 1992; Capello, 2008; Hackney & Earhart, 2010; Owen, 1999). As DMT interventions are body and movement-based, they support participants to improve both gross and fine motor skills, promoting better body control and coordination.
Rhythmic and repetitive movements used in DMT not only build muscular strength and cardiovascular endurance but also activate brain regions responsible for motor control and coordination. This stimulation supports neuroplasticity, supporting individuals to manage movement challenges caused by neurological conditions such as stroke, cerebral palsy, or Parkinson’s disease.
Interpersonal Interactions
DMT is an interpersonal and relational therapy that focuses on creating a safe and nonjudgemental environment. Dmts use mirroring and attuning techniques to enhance intersubjectivity with participants. This supports them to understand and practise interpersonal skills in a therapeutic space and transfer these skills to their day-to-day life routines. For example, one study of people with dementia demonstrated that DMT interventions focusing on their personhood and emotional wellbeing, improved interpersonal interactions among participants (Hill, 2008). DMT is also offered in group contexts where individuals are encouraged to interact with others verbally and nonverbally, observe social cues, and practise turn-taking and cooperation.
Functioning
DMT can assist improved functioning in physical, emotional and psychological aspects, cognition, and social contexts. DMT emphasises the connection between the body and the mind, supporting individuals with disabilities to feel more integrated and in tune with their physical selves. DMT supports not only the physical aspects of the individual (see the Mobility and Movement Section) but also supports emotional and psychological aspects. Nonverbal movement in space helps a person express feeling, and this is particularly beneficial for those with communication challenges. DMT supports participants to understand and regulate their emotions and reduce stress and anxiety.
Community Living
DMT can support people with disabilities to navigate community living by enhancing skills that promote independence, social engagement, and emotional wellbeing. DMT equips participants with social skills such as building relationships with others, and collaborating in play and stories. By experiencing a safe nonjudgemental relationship with the Dmt, participants can develop a sense of interdependency. Group DMT offers a unique approach that fosters a sense of belonging among participants in a therapeutic setting. DMT is a powerful therapy that fosters community engagement and increases personal wellbeing.
NDIS Required Reports
Dmts can provide NDIS participants with an NDIS-required report that evaluates the progress and development of an NDIS participant regarding their engagement in DMT. Dmts may use movement assessment methods to demonstrate their work with NDIS participants.
Responsibilities of a Dmt
All DTAA-registered Dmts comply with the NDIS Act (2013) and complete the Worker Orientation Module – ‘Quality, Safety and You’, prior to working with NDIS participants. All members cater to the requirements of diverse communities, including First Nations, culturally and linguistically diverse communities and LGBTQIABS+ communities. Dmts respect and respond to cultural, historical, and socioeconomic impacts on participants’ disabilities.
References
Albin, C. M. (2016). The Benefit of Movement: Dance/Movement Therapy and Down Syndrome. Journal of Dance Education, 16(2), 58-61. DOI: 10.1080/15290824.2015.1061196
Berrol, C.F. (1992). The neurophysiologic basis of the mind-body connection in dance/movement therapy. American Journal of Dance Therapy 14, 19–29. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00844132
Capello, P.P. (2008). Dance/Movement Therapy with Children Throughout the World. American Journal of Dance Therapy, 30, 24–36. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10465-008-9045-z
Dzwiza-Ohlsen, E. N., &, Kempermann, G. (2023). The embodied mind in motion: A neuroscientific and philosophical perspective on prevention and therapy of dementia. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1174424. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1174424
Hackney M. E. & Earhart G.M. (2010). Effects of Dance on Gait and Balance in Parkinson’s Disease: A Comparison of Partnered and Non partnered Dance Movement. Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair. 24(4):384-392. doi:10.1177/1545968309353329
Hill, H. (2008). Talking the Talk but not Walking the Walk: Barriers to Person‐Centred Care in Dementia. VDM Verlag.
Meekums, B. (2002). Dance Movement Therapy. A Creative Psychotherapeutic Approach. London: Sage Publications.
Owen, A. (1999). Using Laban Movement Analysis to assess progress in dance therapy. In Guthrie, J., Loughlin, E., and Albiston, D. (Eds.), Dance Therapy Collections, 2. 31-36. Dance Movement Therapy Association of Australasia
Payne, H. (2008). Introduction: Embodiment in Action. In Payne, H. (Ed.), Dance Movement Therapy: Theory, Research and Practice. 2, 1-16. Routledge.
