David Eckel

Keywords
spatial awareness, vision impairment, children, contact improvisation, research, circle work

Educator David Eckel offers an excerpt from a literature review on his research centred on teaching dance for the visually impaired in special education settings. Core methods discussed include: instruction and language, verbal empathy in direction and the use of props, music, space and groups. Challenges in teaching creative dance to the visually impaired are discussed, with creative suggestions drawing on the special education field, dance therapy approaches and contact improvisation. (pp 22-24)

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Keywords
Special education, research, Espenak Movement Diagnosis Tests, LMA, KMP

This paper applies traditional dance therapy assessment tools to settings other than clinical psychology. Three assessment tools were evaluated for their suitability in the special education setting: Laban Movement Analysis (LMA), Espenak Movement Diagnosis Tests and The Kestenberg Movement Profile (KMP). Results conservatively suggested the application of Espenak Movement Diagnosis Tests and LMA and more confidently the KMP tool to assess children in a special education setting. The article concludes with a discussion on the benefits of movement assessment and further research within the field. (pp 17-22)

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Keywords
Sensory impairment, Special education, Vision impaired children, Dance exercises for blind children

In a succession of articles on visual impairment (see also Moving On Vol. 1, No. 2), this article features findings from research on teaching dance to the visually impaired in special education. The data was obtained from children either partially sighted or vision impaired using interviews and focus groups. This research contributes to various ways of adapting dance in special education and dance movement therapy, especially for visually impaired children. (pp 15-18)

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