People with Down syndrome and other disabilities find their rhythm in
Indiana dance program
[September 28, 2026]
By OBED LAMY and MEAD GRUVER
FISHERS, Ind. (AP) — Finn Vester, who has autism and Down syndrome,
tried a martial arts class but it proved unsuitable because he learns
differently, his mother said.
Then he joined Dance Abilities, a program at Academy of Dance Arts in
the Indianapolis suburb of Fishers for people with physical or
intellectual disabilities.
Now dance has become his way to communicate and connect with others, his
mom, Nicole Vester, said.
Claire Graham, the founder of Dance Abilities, got the idea for the
program in high school after realizing while she was studying dance, she
was never able to connect with her sister with Down syndrome while she
took part in her own activities. The program has grown in three years
from a summer camp for eight youngsters to year-round classes for about
20 people.
Dance Abilities has separate classes for children ages 18 months to 4,
ages 4-7 and 8-12, teenagers, and for adults, too. A successful day for
Graham, who has a degree in dance and a master's in recreational
therapy, is when everyone has had fun and been challenged.
“I’m not looking for perfection of position and not looking for a
perfect performance,” Graham said. “Only a performance that they can
feel confident about.”
These dancers are not the only ones performing through challenges. Ezra
Frech, a two-time gold medal Paralympian, is competing on this season's
“Dancing with the Stars” on ABC. Frech, a track and field athlete, has a
prosthetic leg.
Classes build confidence
Finn's mom values her son’s confidence-building that will help him be
able to go into the world and learn new things, she said.
“Claire teaches him at his level. She teaches him a little slower. She
teaches him a couple more extra times. And he feels proud and he feels
accomplished and he feels like he’s part of a group,” Vester said.
Accommodations at Dance Abilities include slowing down, using more
visual cues than verbal instruction, and teacher “helpers” who
physically guide students through the movements.
“Sometimes, we’ll add something new that they can work on to make it a
little harder,” said one helper, Catherine Benko, 16.
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From left, Amelia Woods sits in front as Samantha Hatch holds Elsie
Bickett, while Maliyah Rider stands next to Claire Graham in front
of a mirror during a Dance Abilities class at the Academy of Dance
Arts in the Indianapolis suburb of Fishers, Ind., Thursday, Sept.
17, 2026. (AP Photo/Obed Lamy)
 Dance classes focus on specific
needs
Dance is good for the body, too, with different needs for different
students.
For students with Down syndrome, who tend to be naturally more
flexible and less strong, Graham emphasizes developing muscle tone.
Students with autism, she said, often need more help stretching.
Abigail MacGregor, who has Down syndrome, loves to dance through an
obstacle course and to perform her latest moves for friends and
family after she’s been practicing all week.
“I just love dance,” Abby said. “The best thing of dance is having
fun, being with all my dance crew.”
Tucker McGarrell, 13, who has Down syndrome, doesn’t walk but runs
into his dance classes, his mom Amanda McGarrell said.
“It’s not speech therapy or physical therapy or occupational therapy
appointments. This is actually something he enjoys doing,” McGarrell
said.
McGarrell loves to see her son have an accepting, accommodating
place.
“It’s just such a huge thing that Tucker’s given a space and a stage
to be himself and get to be with friends and learn new things,”
McGarrell said. “It just like fills me with joy knowing that he’s
getting to do something that he loves too just like typical kids
do.”
Whoever her students are, Graham said, “if you give them the chance
to succeed and meet them where they are, they can 100% grow.”
Seeing her students smile is the ultimate metric of success.
“It warms my heart to hear my kiddos saying, 'Look, Mom, I did it!'”
she said.
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Gruver reported from Fort Collins, Colorado.
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