Resources & references

This study presents a community music therapy program for adults with developmental disabilities combining instrumental/vocal group performance with American Sign Language (ASL) music interpretation groups. Results indicated the program was successful in fostering community engagement, social networking, and building friendships.

The purpose of this two-part study was to confirm the relationship between dyadic drum playing and social skills and to further develop a rhythm-mediated music therapy intervention for improving the social skills of children with ASD. Participants showed greater engagement in joint action following the intervention. This study supports potential benefit of the rhythm-mediated intervention using dyadic drum playing and provides preliminary evidence strengthening its use in the social domain for individuals with ASD.

This report tells how music therapists help the various needs of students in a school for the blind. Different music therapy interventions are described, and music therapists explain how they address goals based on their students' Individual education plan. 

This news report describes the impact of music therapy on blind/visually impaired children.

Music therapy allows children with visual impairment to reach their goals and develop their motor, cognitive and communications skills. Children who are part of the group explain why they enjoy music therapy. 

Learn how music therapy helps a young girl with cerebral palsy and a cerebral visual impairment. Access to music therapy in Northern Ireland for blind/visually impaired children is also discussed.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of caregiver-implemented music applications on engagement with their care receivers. Music therapy applications are effective in increasing mutual engagement in couples with dementia, and caregivers can effectively facilitate the engagement using music. Furthermore, once the engagement is established, it carries over into visitation without music.