Autism Finally in the Media...

I was excited to see the following video on CNN about autism therapy:

"Autism Treatment Benefits, Limits"

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. :)

Microscopic Progress is STILL Progress...

"Do not fear growing slowly, so long as you are not standing still."

I am so excited about one of my students with autism and her progress with piano lessons. Now a regular teacher who is used to "normal" students may look at the months of lessons with this student and would probably say to me one of two things: "Wow, you're a bad teacher." or "This doesn't seem to be going anywhere, why bother?"

Thank goodness I'm not such a teacher and having experience with students with autism, I can recognize small small changes in their behavior or ability that signal amazing progress to me and to the parents.

The achievement I am bragging on her behalf about is that, although she hasn't learned "notes" yet (only letters) nor really learned her first song well in a couple of months, this amazing (and very positive and intelligent) girl has made a big transition on a couple of songs. I can now ask her to look at the paper herself and press the letters she sees without me pointing at each individual letter. And she gets it 95% right most of the time! (Sometimes her finger lands on the wrong key or she skips a letter.) But to me this is a FANTASTIC step in the right direction. It shows me that she can focus long enough visually and coordinate her hands with her eyes correctly to get through a song like Mary Had a Little Lamb. This creates independence and will allow her to practice on her own, not relying on an adult to point the way.

So I just wanted to share this wonderful experience with anyone who may think of teaching piano to children with autism. It's a reminder that you have to take them as individuals who show progress in their own unique way and the best teachers are super-attuned to it when it does happen. The worst is when such a student is trying their hardest (and making microscopic progress) but the teacher gives up and moves on to students that are more teachable.