Disability and Assumptions

Tonight, one of my former music therapists in training posted this video on my facebook page:

She seemed very surprised by the miraculousness of this video.

I was not surprised.

Does that shock you? Watch the video. Go ahead, I'll wait ...

It depicts the story of a young woman diagnosed with Autism who is non-verbal, yet can type and communicate via a laptop like most tween/teen girls. Did you know that many individuals with Autism have normal intelligence? Did you know that Autism is not an intellectual disability?

Do you know what shocks me? I'm appalled at the number of times I witness people talking about people with disabilities. While they are standing right there. Within listening distance. Individuals diagnosed with a disability can hear you (or lip read). And, even if they are diagnosed with Autism, it doesn't mean they can't understand you, have their feelings hurt, or have their relationship with you broken by the way you talk about them. They are not invisible.

I try to not make assumptions about my clientele. Everyone (including myself) has strengths, weaknesses, likes, dislikes... That's how I look at my clients. A great person with strengths, weaknesses, likes, dislikes...just like me. And, just like me, some people have bad days! I cannot imagine how I would react if I couldn't communicate my wants, needs, or deepest desires.

How would you feel, react, behave if...

• You could not say "I love you" to your family and friends.
• You could not indicate that you absolutely loathe the ugly sweater your Mom insists you wear every day.
• You could not raise your hand in class to get a bathroom pass.
• Your classmates and peers were scared of you because you scream in class.
• What if...

Please take time this week to reflect on your own assumptions about others. How is affecting your relationships? Rapport? Professional judgement? Please be brave and stand up for individuals with disabilities. Ask that professional conversations be done in a confidential setting. If talking about a client's deficits to another, either include the client or move to a confidential location. Stand up. Be brave. Shine.

Supportive Sundays

Supportive Sundays is a new series that I'm starting in order to voice problems, concerns, and difficult situations for others to help you with in this online community. Do you have a difficult assessment case? Out of ideas for a challenging client? Pulling your hair out over something with your own child or family member? Do you have writer's block and absolutely cannot crank out song lyrics about buttoning a shirt? You can share your story here, and maybe the community can brainstorm possible solutions.

How to participate:

1. Scroll down to the bottom of this post.

2. Type your story, problem, or brainstorming solution in the comment box.

3. Remember to be mindful of confidentiality!

4. Post your comment.

5. Read the comments of others and respond.

Let's support each other in the great work we do every day, even if it's challenging at times!

*This information is not a substitute for professional advice or consultation. The information in the comments section is opinion based, and requires your own research on the topic and the application of common sense.*

Bag of Tricks Friday!

When I was an undergraduate music therapy student at Maryville University, on of my beloved professors, Rosalie Duvall, told us that when we became professional music therapists to always have a strategy in our "bag of tricks." I didn't really know what she meant until I was in my internship and my first session did not go as I planned. At ALL!

So, let's share a new strategy or something that we keep in our "bag of tricks!"

1. Scroll down to the "comments" section of this post.

2. Type your strategy in the comment box and post.

3. Don't forget to be mindful of confidentiality!

4. Read and comment on other people's strategy posts.

5. Beg, borrow and steal strategies! Teachers are the best thieves known to man!

Thank you in advance for sharing! I hope you add something to your "Bag of Tricks!"

Storytelling

As musicians, music therapists, and educators, do we realize the amount of storytelling that happens in our classrooms and therapy sessions every day?

Literacy, history, journaling, song lyrics, songwriting...these are all forms of storytelling. Wikipedia defines storytelling as "the conveying of events in words, images, and sounds, often by improvisation or embellishment." The definition of storytelling *screams* music therapy and education to me!

Do you have a friend or colleague that can always gain your rapt attention by the way they tell a story? What makes it so grand? What keeps your attention? Really think about it...you should embody those characteristics in order to engage your audience. Maybe they include the following elements:

• Make eye contact
• Use natural, comfortable gestures and body movements/posture
• The story has a beginning, middle, and end
• The storyteller projects their voice and has an appropriate, pleasing tone
• The storyteller is sincere
• Tells at an appropriate pace
• Enthusiastic

Did you know that St. Louis has the largest storytelling festival in the world? That's right, St. Louis, the WORLD! The St. Louis Storytelling Festival is in May, and I encourage you to hear some stories if you have never been before. Now, I've been several times to this local festival, as my former art teacher (from Kindergarten!!) is a storyteller with this association. :)

Next time you are singing a song, writing a song, or relaying information to a student, remember to put on your storytelling hat! Make each moment worthwhile and engaging!

How do you use storytelling in your therapy sessions or classroom?

What's Going Well? Wednesday

I'm starting this new series to talk about the positives that are happening in regard to our practice, music therapy, education, wellness, personal goals...whatever! Even if it is a small success, share it with our Accent on Music Therapy community!

Here's how it works:

1. Think about your successes in the past week - big or baby steps.

2. Scroll down to the comments section.

3. Type a comment with your story. Don't forget to be mindful of confidentiality!

4. Submit your comment.

5. Read comments from others and respond to their successes!

I'm very excited to support one another in the great work that is going on in Saint Louis and beyond!

30 Minutes of Sanity

Sometimes thirty minutes can make the biggest difference. If you could just take 30 minutes a day to relax, heal, enjoy the quiet, and take some time to focus on yourself, what would that include? Here are some suggestions that work well for me:

--Hot bath
--TV on DVD that I have seen too many times (I have the dialogue memorized)
--Inspirational Reading
--Paint my toenails
--Listen to calming, inspirational music
--Take a leisurely walk
--Visit a park
--Write poetry
--Sit by a river or creek, listening to the water
--Swing on a swingset
--Visit the Art Museum
--People Watch
--Take a scenic drive
--Draw or paint
--Paper craft
--Improvise on the piano (play only the black keys, and it will always sound good)
--Pray
--Be still and listen

What will you do today for your 30 minutes of Sanity?

Music Therapy Tech[nology]-ies

This year, my employer provided all the music therapists with new technology to be used during therapy. We received a mac laptop with recording software: garageband, sound studio, and band in a box. We also received a midi usb keyboard, usb portable microphone, 120 gb ipod, external hard drive, and a class to teach us how to use all our new presents.

I like having better equipment to do multi-track recordings for consult materials, but I'm not completely sold on using more technology during my therapy sessions.

I'm using the recording software to take data/language samples during sessions, and students utilize behavioral incentive charts to earn "recording studio time" where they can make their own CD (while working on IEP related goals), and I'm using the ipod for recorded music, but when is too much recorded music and techno-spiffiness "too much?" And where do you draw the line between recording artist and music therapist?

I'm extremely picky when it comes to using recorded music in my sessions. If I'm using a recording on the ipod to teach a skill, I'm usually pausing the ipod and waiting for a client response, just like I would with my voice and/or guitar during a live music presentation. But I'm curious to know if my colleagues do the same thing...? I remember reading all the music therapy research journal articles about live versus recorded music presentation and how live music is usually the better choice. So, how do we, when presented with such wonderful technology, justify using it over live presentation?

Besides using the recording equipment for reinforcement and data collection, the only big change for me is how I do my consultative materials to colleagues. I'm recording more often. My recordings are of higher quality and I'm also doing enhanced podcasting for skills. Many of my teachers are making a "music therapy" center during their center time in the classroom and having students listen/watch podcasts created by me. But is that still the same as a live presentation or a teacher singing and waiting for a response? I don't think so.

Bottom line. If you want a student to be "exposed" to a topic, learn something by rote memory, or practice a social skill situation, then I think recorded music and podcasting can be effective. If you want to do direct learning with a student with decreasing response time or your hierarchy of prompting, then lay off the techie-geek stuff and do the more flexible, live presentation.