I was excited to see the following video on CNN about autism therapy:
I think that unless someone has had a person with autism in his or her life, it is very difficult to fully grasp what it is like for children (and adults) with autism. Each child is very different and, in fact, some kids may not have the stereotypical behaviors that people expect and thus their needs are not taken into account. This video expands on the current popular treatment for people with autism: Applied Behavioral Analysis. ABA therapy can help children with autism because it gives them many hours of one-on-one attention from trained behavior specialists who teach them how to help themselves (i.e. ask for something or point instead of tantruming, brushing their own teeth, making eye contact and holding a back and forth conversation with others, etc.) As a behavior specialist, I see the benefits of this type of therapy every day. The great thing is that it can be incorporated in all activities and by many people in their lives, given that they have proper training in how to apply ABA techniques. For example, I often customize piano lessons for my students that have autism or Aspergers using the same techniques from therapy sessions with my other cases. It works wonders when the lessons are customized to the child's needs rather than expecting the student to conform to traditional piano lessons. I can see how many piano (or other music) teachers may give up on a student who has a special need or may refuse to take them altogether because it is very difficult to progress without proper training in teaching children with autism and other special needs.
If you are a parent or teacher who is considering music lessons for a child with autism or Asperger's and would like some tips, please feel free to post your question in the comments section and I will be happy to answer. :)
