RONNA S. KAPLAN, MA, MT-BC THE CLEVELAND MUSIC SCHOOL SETTLEMENT AUTISM TODAY SUMMIT CLEVELAND, OHIO OCTOBER 11, 2008 Structuring Social Successes through Music Experiences for Individuals with ASD and Their Peers

Structuring Social Successes through Music— Session Objectives Participants will be able to… 1. Provide a working definition for “social skills.” 2. Brainstorm examples of social skills beneficial for typically developing individuals and for those with ASD to use at home, school, or work and/or in the community. 3. Identify one or more uses of music in structuring social successes. 4. List one or more non-musical techniques/resources to enhance social skill development in tandem with music experiences. 2 Ronna Kaplan

Introductory Music Experiences “Roving Reporter” song (tune of “Chiquita Banana”) My name is _________ And I’m here to say Some of my favorite things today. My favorite TV show is _______, My favorite food is __________, And my favorite color is ______. 3 Ronna Kaplan

“Kids Together”–R. Davis (Kaplan) 1. Well, I’d like to tell you something, Something you should know, About the kid sitting right next to you And kids wherever you go, There are special things about us That make me me and you you, We’re different in a lot of ways But we’re really all the same too. 4 Ronna Kaplan

“Kids Together”-cont’d. CHORUS ‘Cause we’re just kids together, We can be what we want to be, We’re just kids together, Just kids, you and me. 5 Ronna Kaplan

“Kids Together” (cont’d.) 2. How we look on the outside Is really no big deal. What’s inside is more important, Like how we all think and feel. Sometimes we might feel angry or sad, But soon we’re happy again. It’s so nice to hear “I love you,” ‘Cause we all want to have a friend. CHORUS 6 Ronna Kaplan

“Kids Together” (cont’d.) 3. There are some things we are good at That are easy for us to do. Other things may be hard work But we have to try to do them too. Sometimes we still might need some help In our work or in our play, But we say that’s ok because We’re still growing every day. CHORUS 7 Ronna Kaplan

“Kids Together”-Coda We’re not so different, you and me, We’re the same, you and me, We have feelings, you and me, Sad or happy, you and me, We might need help, you and me, We’re still growing, you and me, Say “I love you,” you and me, Let’s be friends, you and me. 8 Ronna Kaplan

“Kids Together” Discussion Questions How are you the same as the person next to you? How are you different from the person next to you? What is one thing that makes you special? What is something you are good at? What is something that you need help with? What is one way in which you are growing? 9 Ronna Kaplan

Social Skills Defined Audience brainstorming 10 Ronna Kaplan

Social (adjective)--Webster 2a: marked by or passed in pleasant companionship with one’s friends or associates [leads a very full social life]; engaged in for sociability [social drinking]. b: sociable. c: of, or relating to, or designed for sociability [a social club]. 3a: tending to form cooperative and interdependent relationships with one’s fellows: gregarious [man is a social being]. b: living and breeding in more or less organized communities 4: of or relating to human society, the interaction of the individual and the group, or the welfare of human beings as members of society [social institutions] [social behavior] [social legislation] 11 Ronna Kaplan

Social Skills Beneficial at Home, School, Work and/or in the Community Audience brainstorming 12 Ronna Kaplan

Remember… People with disabilities are not necessarily disabled in their musical or artistic skills Participation in music experiences may give individuals with ASD or other disabilities who are not necessarily disabled in their musical or artistic skills a chance to excel. 13 Ronna Kaplan

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Experience in Relating to Others- William Sears 1. Music provides means by which self-expression is socially acceptable. 2. Music provides opportunity for individual choice of response in groups. 3. Music provides opportunities for acceptance of responsibility to self and others. a. Music provides for developing self-directed behavior. b. Music provides for developing other-directed behavior. 4. Music enhances verbal and nonverbal social interaction and communication. 15 Ronna Kaplan

Experience in Relating to Others-William Sears (cont’d.) 5. Music provides for experiencing cooperation and competition in socially acceptable forms. 6. Music provides entertainment and recreation necessary to the general therapeutic environment. 7. Music provides for learning realistic social skills and personal behavior patterns acceptable in institutional and community peer groups. 16 Ronna Kaplan

An Analysis of Music Therapy Outcomes for Clients with Autism Spectrum Diagnoses (Kaplan & Steele, 2005) 17 Ronna Kaplan

Suggested Possible Social Skill Areas (Music Therapy Assessment) Response to own name Awareness of others Engagement/joint attention Greetings/farewells Understanding of rules & structures Awareness of appropriate physical space Participation Tolerance of transitions Turn-taking/Play Attending Compliance Relationship skills Decision-making Leadership Eye contact to person Eye contact to task On-task Responses Independence Positive verbal interaction with peers Emotional Skills Other 18 Ronna Kaplan

Uses of Music in Structuring Social Successes Cues for transitions Carrier of information Activity for motivator/reinforcer Mood-setter Aid in practice of modulation of voice/body (loud/soft, fast/slow, etc.) Auditory cue Material for task Structure for task related to a topic Background, e.g. for relaxation Activity for developing responsibility Activity for project/performance Other 19 Ronna Kaplan

Music Experiences to Provide Opportunities for or Facilitate Development of Social Skills Singing Playing instruments Moving Listening Composing/creating Musical games 20 Ronna Kaplan

Results of MT Autism Outcomes Study (Kaplan & Steele, 2005) Most frequently selected specific music therapy interventions  Behavioral/psychosocial domain  Interactive instrument playing  Musical instrument instruction  Instrument choices  Interactive singing  Imitative instrument playing 21 Ronna Kaplan

Non-musical Techniques/Resources to Enhance Social Skill Development Social stories TM / social songs Problem-solving Temporal supports Procedural supports Spatial supports Assertion supports Structure Proximity Replacement behaviors Self-management or self-monitoring Specific feedback Use of peer models Other 22 Ronna Kaplan

How Can You Use Music? At home  To reinforce or facilitate social, communication, cognitive, motor skills  To promote positive interaction among family members  To expand play  To accompany rituals and holidays  As self-expression  To assist meeting of sensory needs  To assist relaxation  To accompany exercise  As a leisure skill  As a consumer (listening to music, purchasing recordings on line, etc.) At school  Assessments for eligibility for music therapy as a Related Service  Individual music therapy  Music therapy groups (in self- contained class or with reverse mainstreaming)  Inclusion in music classes or performing groups  On the playground  Performances  As an assist in special education or regular classroom  To assist meeting of sensory needs, relaxation, etc.  Consultation, co-treatment, or co- teaching with other professionals 23 Ronna Kaplan

How Can You Use Music (cont’d.)? At work  Headphones to decrease distraction with tasks  Music as an accompaniment to certain tasks  Topic of conversation with peers at work  Shared music time during breaks  Performing groups In the community  Family concerts  School concerts  Religious events  Sporting events  Music therapy in community setting  Co-treatment with other community therapists  Private lessons (adapted or traditional, with possible music therapy consult)  Performing groups  As a consumer (purchasing CD’s, music books, music on line) 24 Ronna Kaplan

References See attached 25 Ronna Kaplan