Music Variety Show for Children with DisabilitiesMariah Horton, OTD/S

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sue Iliff, PhD, OTR/LExpert Mentor: Gloria Isaacks, MSOT, OTR/L, MT-BC

Purpose

• The purpose of my experiential component (EC) was to provide children with disabilities an opportunity to participate in an event to increase social engagement and improve social interaction skills.

• Providing experiences like the music variety show can help build confidence and facilitate participation in other functions in school and within the community.

• There are limited programs within the greater Nashville area that provide children with disabilities the opportunity to engage in a show that displays their talents.

• Social participation is included as one of the eight occupations within the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework (2014).

• “…providing environments where children and youth with disabilities can connect with other children and youth with disabilities may provide an opportunity to both interact with others and reflect on the attributes of themselves” (Willis et al., 2017).

Population and Agency

• Agency: Great Kids Therapy

• About: Great Kids Therapy provides occupational therapy and music therapy services for the pediatric population.

• Mission: To help families experience joy and to build confidence in the kids that they can be all they were created to be.

• The participants of the music variety show were between the ages 5 – 15 and of all abilities.

Outcomes

Goals

1. Develop and implement a music variety show for children with disabilities to participate in to increase social engagement and social interaction skills

2. Create a sustainability resource for the agency to allow for more efficient planning of future variety shows

3. Implement sensory-friendly strategies into the variety show to promote diversity and individualistic needs

Evaluation

Acknowledgments

References

• Gloria Isaacks, Great Kids Therapy• Dr. Sue Iliff, Belmont University• Lauren McHugh, Cross Point Church Franklin• Jamie Myatt, Cross Point Church Franklin• Shawn Gough, Audio Engineer

American Occupational Therapy Association. (2014). Occupational therapy practice framework: Domain and process. American Journal of Occupational Therapy.

Willis, C., Girdler, S., Thompson, M., Rosenberg, M., Reid, S., and Elliott, C. (2017). Elements contributing to meaningful participation for children and youth with disabilities: A scoping review. Disability and Rehabilitation, 39(17), 1771 – 1784. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2016.1207716

• Parents or guardians were provided a survey to complete after the event to determine the quality assurance of the variety show

• 7 out of 8 surveys were completed and returned

• The variety show provided 3 participants the opportunity to perform at a public entertainment event for the first time

Preparation for Structured Topic of Develop Opportunityschool activities environment discussion social skills to socialize

Parent Testimonies

”A chance to shine where he can”

“An opportunity to be recognized and celebrated”

“A chance to be brave”

Three parents or guardians indicated that their child’s participation in the show helped to build confidence in their child

1. Implementation of music variety show

• 8 participants with talents including vocal, piano, and drum performances, a comedy act, and an art display

• Sensory strategies used included calming sensory bottles, sand jars, dim lights, and foam ear plugs

• The participants had the opportunity to practice on stage before the main performance and they were provided with a visual schedule during the event

2. Sustainability resource for Great Kids Therapy

• Created a resource for Great Kids Therapy that includes research regarding social participation of children with disabilities, implementing sensory-friendly strategies, and all resources used for the event

Benefits of Music Variety Show