504/School Play

[Anonymous]

Is it too much to communicate with the theatre director at my child’s school about my child’s 504? DC did not take theatre as an elective but auditioned for the play, so the teacher is probably unaware of the 504 and I feel like she should take into account that she will have been anxious during the audition which the teacher should take into account when casting.

[Anonymous]

This is really beyond what a 504 can do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is really beyond what a 504 can do.

+1. I mean, no offense, but if she's anxious while casting, she's going to probably be anxious during the actual, you know, play aspect. The teacher wants the people who will perform best. Sorry.

[Anonymous]

But if anxiety is a disability, isn’t it discriminatory to not take it into account?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But if anxiety is a disability, isn’t it discriminatory to not take it into account?

Not really. They should provide reasonable accommodation and that does not include preferential auditions for a school play. IEPs don’t even really cover anything after school generally (although I got it into my kids MS IEP because DCPS is just like that). I get it though - my kid did the school play and I was very nervous. I would not have pushed for him to get a role that the director did not think he deserved. I did expect the director to talk a bit to me and keep an eye on him and let me know how he was doing.

if your kid does not get a role it would also be appropriate to see if they can work on the play in a different function

[Anonymous]

I hope this is a joke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But if anxiety is a disability, isn’t it discriminatory to not take it into account?

Maybe. At the same time, casting someone who will objectively perform worse is also discrimination to the people where were more skilled.

[Anonymous]

As a mom of a theater kid with anxiety, I can assure you that MANY theater kids have anxiety and many of them perform not as well at auditions due to nerves. My dd doesn’t have anxiety during a show after months of rehearsals, but auditions are terrible for her. You know what helped? Doing more auditions. Preparing. Getting older.

If your daughter knows you told the director about the 504, she might not feel that she actually earned a spot. Don’t take that away from her. Maybe she’ll be small parts for now, ensemble roles, background, tech crew. If she thinks she got a pity role or mommy intervened, it may not help her manage her anxiety, it may do the exact opposite of what you hope for.

[Anonymous]

Try outside theatre classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a mom of a theater kid with anxiety, I can assure you that MANY theater kids have anxiety and many of them perform not as well at auditions due to nerves. My dd doesn’t have anxiety during a show after months of rehearsals, but auditions are terrible for her. You know what helped? Doing more auditions. Preparing. Getting older.

If your daughter knows you told the director about the 504, she might not feel that she actually earned a spot. Don’t take that away from her. Maybe she’ll be small parts for now, ensemble roles, background, tech crew. If she thinks she got a pity role or mommy intervened, it may not help her manage her anxiety, it may do the exact opposite of what you hope for.

+1.

[Anonymous]

Isn’t the school play an extracurricular activity if the daughter isn’t taking it as a class? I don’t think 504s cover extracurricular activities.

[Anonymous]

I’m confused. Your child has no theater experience and you are expecting a lead role and going to use the iep excuse. Lots of kids have ieps and 504s. No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a mom of a theater kid with anxiety, I can assure you that MANY theater kids have anxiety and many of them perform not as well at auditions due to nerves. My dd doesn’t have anxiety during a show after months of rehearsals, but auditions are terrible for her. You know what helped? Doing more auditions. Preparing. Getting older.

If your daughter knows you told the director about the 504, she might not feel that she actually earned a spot. Don’t take that away from her. Maybe she’ll be small parts for now, ensemble roles, background, tech crew. If she thinks she got a pity role or mommy intervened, it may not help her manage her anxiety, it may do the exact opposite of what you hope for.

Good advice, plus she is not going to get a pity casting. Its just not happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it too much to communicate with the theatre director at my child’s school about my child’s 504? DC did not take theatre as an elective but auditioned for the play, so the teacher is probably unaware of the 504 and I feel like she should take into account that she will have been anxious during the audition which the teacher should take into account when casting.

99% of kids and adults get nervous at auditions. Its part of being an actor. Training will help but may not completely eliminate, but a 504 is not applicable to auditions for a show.

[Anonymous]

every child is nervous when auditioning, trying out for a sport, etc. this is developmentally appropriate. It is not in any kids best interest for a parent to try to snowplow a situation like this. Let your child experience failure