AMTA Conference Poster Session

Here is my poster from the AMTA National Conference in Atlanta, GA (November, 2011)

National Conference AMTA 2011

Just returned from the National Conference of the American Music Therapy Association in Atlanta, GA. Here I presented my poster entitled “Musical Imitation and Non-Verbal Children with Autism”. I got some nice feedback concerning inter-rater reliability and additional inquiries as to weather girls imitated better than boys or if performances were better with pitch versus rhythm. This poster presented a pilot study that looked at 4 children (aged 4-11, three boys and one girl); a larger sample size would be needed to be more conclusive to broach some of these questions, however my initial findings in terms of ability to imitate musical sounds with voice and a musical instruments, when imitation is otherwise impaired, shows that these children with autism have the ability to imitate through music. Next would come larger sample followed by a comparative study looking at the role of imitation with other forms stimuli (non-musical of course). There is a lot more to consider!

I do plan to publish this pilot study – the manuscript is set to be finished sometime in the Spring 2012.

Reference:
Demaine, K. (2011). Musical imitation and non-verbal children with autism. Poster Presentation, American Music Therapy Association National Conference, Atlanta, GA

Film: Loving Lampposts

Last night I watched the film “Loving Lampposts” (Drezner, 2010), it is streaming on Netflix. This film is directed by a parent of a child with autism, whom has a special interest in lampposts – the child names them, hugs them, spends time with them - and his parents support his fascination with them. The film explores etiology, treatment, and history through interviews with parents, adults with autism, therapists, advocates, and both medical and philosophical experts in the field.

What I found most engaging was to hear form adults who were diagnosed with autism and are able to talk about it either through verbal language or AAC. Three adults shared their stories – two using AAC (text to speech) and the other, Stephen Shore, who as a child was non-verbal, but now was able to talk about how music, movement, and imitation helped him to engage in society and share his special skills interest. In Stephen’s case this was music, and his parent’s support / ability to help him allowing him to show them how he related to others.

Additionally I appreciated how experts and parents in the film highlighted neuro-diversity, and the need for accepting autism as something akin to how we except ones sexual orientation or religious beliefs. While humankind is still on the track toward the acceptance of many of these things I believe that Neuro-diverisity might be on the fast track – and is something that we could consider has been in development since the 1970’s when many of the educational acts and support for persons with disabilities came into more of an active light.

Reference:
Drezner, T. & Silver, L (Directors) (2010). Loving Lampposts.