On Monday, my kids had a choir concert. My daughter — who uses a wheelchair — rolled herself confidently to the stage, full of energy and a smile on her face. Then she took her place. Behind the piano. Completely out of sight. The other kids also took their place — on risers. 

I went to see my kid perform at her choir concert and I couldn’t. I had to walk to the front of the auditorium and sit on the floor so I could watch her. I felt angry. 

This is not the first time we have had issues with her placement in choir. Last year, with a different teacher, we had the same thing happen. New teacher, and we are dealing with the same “oversight.” I try to extend grace, but at some point these “oversights” are no longer oversights. I mean, students with disabilities have been participating in choirs for years. 

Related: I Shouldn’t Have to Fight for My Daughter With a Disability to Be Considered by Educators

Even before my daughter was in middle school, we attended a choir performance for my oldest daughter and a student in a walker was placed at the far end of the choir formation, on the ground level while all other students were on risers. The student was not truly a part of the choir, she was on the side, on her own. That’s not inclusion.

Inclusion means making sure everyone belongs, and pushing kids with disabilities to the side — or out of sight — is unacceptable.

When I posted about it on Facebook, several disabled adults (and other parents) shared they had similar experiences in choir. Why does this keep happening? Why is this a thing?

My daughter talked to her choir teacher after the performance (she is becoming a great advocate for herself). After she spoke to him I emailed him to make sure this never happens again. My email was not very friendly, but the teacher responded very well to an email from an “angry mom” and I am hopeful this won’t be an issue moving forward.

Related: Why Kids With Disabilities Are Left Out of Their Yearbooks, and Why This Needs to Change

There are simple modifications that can make choir a truly inclusive environment and experience.

If there are risers, consider the first row being on the main level, so anyone who uses adaptive equipment or who struggles with balancing on a riser is on the same row as peers.

Consider placement in relation to the piano and how the piano creates a visual barrier. No kid in a wheelchair should be hiding behind a piano.

Unless it is truly because of vocal arrangement, let’s not have the kids with disabilities always at the end of rows. 

There are many choir teachers who get it right. Perhaps they learned it. Perhaps they have a loved one with a disability so it is natural for them to recognize the things that create barriers for our kids. Regardless, every teacher can make the necessary changes to have a truly inclusive choir. 

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Photo by Felix Koutchinski on Unsplash