On Saturday mornings at the Peter Pan Center on Ayer Road, you will find a small group of local children and their parents doing the “Tootie-ta.” This is just one of several movement-to-music activities that make up Dancing with a Difference—a unique class that was specifically created for special needs children and children who have difficulty in traditional dance classes. The class encourages kids to practice skills such as circle time, listening and following directions, self and other awareness, and gross motor movement.

The Peter Pan Center offers skill-building opportunities to children with social, behavioral, and learning challenges. It initially opened in June 2002 to provide resources and support for parents. Now the center’s main focus is social learning programs designed to help kids make and keep friends.

The Center’s director, Donna Shea, is a behaviorist and parent educator holding a BA in Behavioral Science from Lesley University in Cambridge. She is also the parent of two children with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

When she is not doing the “Tootie-ta,” she is a consultant to local schools, parent groups, and human service agencies. Her classes and workshops are designed to address the needs of families struggling with their children’s social and behavioral challenges. Shea is also a competitive dancer. “I started out teaching line-dancing for a local community adult-ed program,” she says. “That has since expanded into a full-service dance studio with ballroom, line, swing, Latin, and country classes. My dance partner and I have competed all over the country.”

Dancing with a Difference has been going on for almost a year. Shea says, “It allows me to bring two things I love and put them together to help children with challenges. It thrills me to hear them say they look forward to dancing with Miss Donna!”

Dancing with a Difference is held on Saturdays from 9:15 to 10 a.m. The class is drop-in and the cost is $5. Donna can be reached at the Peter Pan Center & DL Dance Studio, 280 Ayer Road, by phone at 978-772-1255, and by e-mail at donna.peterpancenter@yahoo.com.