Laura is connecting diverse people through dance

Laura works tirelessly to help neurodiverse and disabled people access health, exercise, leisure and services through both her director role at Autek CIC and her freelance work which includes creative dance for people with learning disabilities. In addition to this, she is completing doctoral research into performing arts training to help neurodiverse people.

Last year Laura worked with a specialist school to deliver theatre classes to a small group of disabled young people who were interested in performing. These young people had never had a disabled dance teacher before and loved the fact that she wore ear defenders alongside them.

“I take pride in being a disabled person and that helps people I work with be themselves.”

Dance training is usually strict, with specific exercises that are not always possible for differently abled people. Laura translates dance instruction to include everyone and reassures them that failure is normal. Laura also provides sensory toys and ear defenders, ensuring that these are in adult classes too. Where the choreography asks a person to point their foot, Laura will ask them instead to extend and she delights in watching different interpretations from people who make the movements their own.

There is a strong community of disabled people coming to advanced classes now because they know they’ll be supported. People are owning the spaces, adapting the choreography which results in a beautifully unique performance.

For Autek, Laura has pioneered the creation and presentation of a documentary about anxiety and videos using Makaton signing for people with learning disabilities. These have ranged from exercise through complex technical topics such as cervical cancer screening which is so important as disabled people need accessible health checks.

Laura has taken on the role of Access Support Manager within Autek and for other neurodiverse colleagues, helping each person be their best within the workplace and understand each other. This has been a multifaceted role balancing the needs of everyone.

“Autek is a much more relaxed and productive environment since Laura has taken on this role with passion and expertise. And this allows the disabled staff of Autek to create videos and animation that help autistic people, people with learning disabilities and more generally people with high levels of anxiety access services they need to and places they want to. And this is only the start of her career!”

– Steve Bond, Autek Chairperson