Why are disabled students not allowed to participate in school dances?

Question

Why are disabled students not allowed to participate in school dances?

Answer 1

Um, they should be. The school can get in trouble for not letting people with disabilities participate in everything the rest of the students get to do.

Answer 2

That's...ummm...illegal, actually

Answer 3

They are allowed to be at school dances at all schools I have ever heard of. I did my student teaching in a high school life skills special education class a few years ago, and we (the teachers and I) took a group of about 18 students with disabilities out to dinner and then to Prom afterwards. We all had so much fun, and many of the students would not have had the opportunity to go. There's nothing like arriving on a big yellow school bus when all the other kids are arriving in limos and convertibles! They all loved it, and could care less that they came on a bus. If the students aren't there it may be because the parents are unable to take them or do not want to put the effort into taking their student to the dance. If your school does not allow special education students to go to the dances, then it is definitely illegal.

Answer 4

I am a high school counselor.  Disabled students ARE allowed to participate in school dances.  

Schools cannot legally discriminate against anyone, even though some schools try to discriminate against g**s going to school dances together.

Answer 5

This is why we have the 'Disibilty Act'.

Answer 6

Says who? They can attend but nobody may dance with them...but hey nobody dances with the geeky kids or the kids with bad acne. They can go and hang out. A school barring them from doing so is asking for one h**l of a big lawsuit

Answer 7

That is illegal. Contact a Disabilities advocacy group in your community.

Answer 8

I worked at a school where a special needs child was not allowed to participate in a school dance if a personal aide/ or parent could not escourt them.  (they had a personal aide with them at all times during the school day, and it was in the IEP that an aide or adult supervisor would be with them at all school functions.)  

There were 2 situations that I can think of... one the student had an emotional disturbance (that was his label) and there was a fear that he would cause harm to others if his anger got out of control.

THere was another situation of a Down Syndrome student with limited abilities including speech and motor issues, and there was a fear that she could get hurt at the dance without supervision.  (she also had limited control of her bathroom needs)

Answer 9

That would be illegal in the US.

Answer 10

It depends largely on behavior. If the child is well behaved, they should have the right to attend dances regardless of the severity of the disability. In fact, almost all IEP's written for disabled children actually have the phrases, "attend lunch, specials and school assemblies," under the section where it is asked how they will be included with regular education students. if they are not allowed to attend, it is a violation of LRE or least restrictive environment as outlined in IDEA.

I would check the IEP's of the excluded students and see what they say. If they don't say something like that, a new IEP meeting should be schedules so that this can be in place.

Answer 11

That is very illegal to discriminate so they are allowed to unless there is a rule set in place about behavior or grades and that person did not qualify for the dance.  At our school, students must have passing grades, not have been in trouble (In school supension, our of school suspension, not even detention)  Dances are special times and if a student will not behave at school, then they don't need to be at the dances.

Answer 12

Disabled students should be allowed to go to the dances at school. At my school everyone is allowed to go, no matter what. I would talk to the school and see the reason why they wouldn't let disabled people into the dance. That is discrimination and should not be allowed.

Answer 13

They are not allowed to deny any disabled students the right to participate in any activities, this includes dances.