Teacher noticed autistic student nervous about the first day of school— so he held an epic dance-off

Kids do get nervous about returning to school every new class year, and sometimes the anxiety becomes so overwhelming that it eventually delays their return. School refusal, more commonly known as jitters, during the first day comes with difficulty in adjusting to fresh routines, new teachers, and making new friends. In a similar case, a student with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) had his concerns, and his teacher came to his rescue with an epic dance-off to Taylor Swift’s tunes. The video capturing the classroom dance battle from Louisiana’s Ponchatoula, reshared by the advocacy group AATO (@autismawarenessto on Instagram), is winning hearts.

In the widely circulating footage, the teacher, along with the non-verbal student, can be seen shaking their legs to help the latter overcome his fears. The Ponchatoula-based educator, Timothy Richardson, encouraged Evan to break free from all his worries by grooving to the pop star’s classic from 2014, ‘Shake It Off.’ Additionally, the tutor took this step after he was asked by the kid’s parents to help them come up with a solution.

Richardson danced like there was no one watching; Evan embraced this welcoming change by following his teacher’s steps and adding his own new twist to them. Students sitting inside the classroom and those passing through the lobby were also cheered up looking at the heartwarming act. The two kept on dancing until it helped calm Evan’s nerves. The child with ASD, being a hardcore fan of Swift, as pointed out in the footage, was seen not missing a beat in this rare, wholesome classroom moment.

At one point, the video showed them twerking together, bursting the entire class into laughter. The school staff later acknowledged Timothy’s efforts and lauded the educator for showing compassion toward his students. They called this dance-off a way of demonstrating their teacher’s commitment to the students. The 41-second clip ended with Evan finally getting back to a normal state and showing no signs of fear of returning to school. Notably, jittery limb movements and other behaviors are common in people with autism when they are anxious or have sensory problems, according to the National Autistic Society.

Meanwhile, the dance-off battle between the educator and his student has amassed millions of views on social media, along with innumerable reactions from online scrollers who can’t get over it. Among them, @anilzalilcute wrote, “With more people like this, the world becomes beautiful once again.” Adding to it, @yannidequeens hailed, “God bless that teacher for his patience and willingness to make his student feel comfortable.” @me_reynabella_hcjewlery remarked, “Yes, that's exactly what we need in every school.” Others heaped praise on Evan for being able to remember the lyrics of the song. The rare sight inspired many to open up about their own mental health challenges without viewing them as a source of embarrassment.

You can follow AATO (@autismawarenessto) on Instagram for mental health and autism awareness-related content.

Disclaimer: If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, please reach out for help. It is important to talk to a trusted adult, counselor, or mental health professional. Resources are available, and you are not alone in this journey.