SPROUT film festival

The Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities is hosting the SPROUT Film Festival at Tri-C's Black Box Theatre on Saturday, March 31 at 10:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.  

What better way to celebrate Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month? 

The SPROUT Film Festival features films by, for and about people with developmental disabilities.  The poster on the left is from one of the featured films, Up Syndrome.

You can register by going here and printing the form.  Tickets will also be sold at the door.  

 

Music Therapy on the IEP

Yes, Music Therapy IS a related service too!

	Music therapy is a related service: this was originally stated in the congressional report on IDEA and it has been affirmed by the Federal Office of Special Education.
	The only way for music therapy to be placed on an IEP as a related service is through an assessment conducted by a qualified music therapist.
	Music therapy may be provided as an educational consult service to a group of students (early childhood or autism programs, for example) -- and this may provide more children with service and teachers with materials they can use on a daily basis - but it should not be listed as a related service on any student's IEP if that student has not received an individualized assessment.
	An assessment for music therapy as a related service should, at minimum, include a review of the student's current IEP, interviews with key IEP team members, and an assessment process/instrument that provides specific data as to whether or not music therapy makes a significant difference in a student's ability to benefit from his or her IEP. Many music therapists utilize the SEMTAP assessment tool, which is the Special Education Music Therapy Assessment Process.  The SEMTAP determines if a student receives a significant motivation and /or assist from music therapy in achieving IEP goals and objectives.  Are you considering music therapy for your child?  If you answer yes to some of these questions, music therapy in the schools may be worth exploring.

	Is the student motivated to attempt tasks through the use of music?
	Is the student motivated to complete tasks through the use of music?
	Would the student benefit from the use of additional communication modalities?
	Does the student initiate interaction with music or musical instruments in the classroom or in the home?
	Does the student retain information conveyed in songs more easily than information conveyed in spoken interchanges?

© Kathleen Coleman & Betsey King, 1996-2006.

I/DD Awareness Month: Music therapy in Schools

MTEC works with the I/DD population in a variety of settings.  MTEC's team of therapists travels to many school districts in Northeast Ohio to work with this community.  Music therapy in schools can be for an individual student or for a group of students.

Did you know?  Music therapy does not have to be listed on an IEP in order for a school to utilize music therapy services.

However, music therapy can be listed as a related service on a student's IEP.  This means that the school is required to provide music therapy services for that student.  The IEP could indicate individual music therapy, group music therapy or both!

Look for more details soon about how to get music therapy on your student's IEP!

Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month! Intellectual Disabilities and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) includes but is not limited to: Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Fragile X, Mental Retardation, Rett Syndrome, Seizure Disorders, Williams Syndrome, to name a few. 


MTEC works with the I/DD population in a variety of settings, including:

• Schools and Preschools
• Group Homes
• Adult Workshops
• Private Homes
• At MTEC

Music therapy at these facilities may include individual or group sessions.  At MTEC, we offer individual and group music therapy sessions, as well as adaptive lessons for guitar, piano, voice and more!

Look for more blog and Facebook posts regarding music therapy and I/DD throughout the month of March!

Solon Fun Fest

Join MTEC at the Solon Fun Fest this Saturday, March 3 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Solon Community Center, located at 35000 Portz Parkway in Solon.

This festival designed for kids with special needs and their families features dancing, music, games, clowns, food, bingo and more!

Tickets are $3 dollars per person if purchased in advance or $5 dollars at the door. Call (440)248-5747 for more information.