Many of you are checking out this blog for the first time… !!!!WELCOME!!!!
Since Ms.CJ works for Anne Arundel County Public Schools, as a home/hospital teacher for medically-fragile kiddos, as well as a sub in the spec.ed centers and autism cluster sites of North County, she sure does have a lot of friends on the spectrum! That’s why she saw such an immense need for something like a “sensory-friendly” concert in her community.
The first Sensory-Friendly Concert will be this Saturday at 6:30 and is geared equally for parents as much as it is for children.
“Autism-friendly artist” are successful jazz and classical musicians in the Bmore/Annap/DC area. In an environment where you do not have to worry about hushing your children, you can simply relax and enjoy the music, and have the opportunity to expose your child to music that their sensory systems could perhaps need so badly. We think it’s worth a try.
PARENTS ARE IN CHARGE OF THEIR OWN CHILDREN!
We welcome, accept and embrace children and adults on the autism spectrum to behave the way they normally behave.
Hand-flapping, rocking, hair-twirling, bouncing allowed! 😀
Vocalizing is even allowed. Speaking, as typical in a regular concert setting is frowned upon, but autistic vocalizations will be part of the musical experience. And like singing, will be respected as its own form of musical expression.
Yesterday Ms. CJ successfully finished distributing flyers at the special ed centers and autism cluster site schools of North County.
Everyone is invited!! All persons from the Bmore/Annap/DC area with disabilities, their loved ones and their caretakers – all invited. Jazz and classical musicians and fans in the area – all invited.
Parents are *most definitely* in charge of their own children.
Ms.CJ Diachenko, her volunteers, and Church on the Rock are not held responsible for the care of any person with special needs. The church is wheelchair accessible. A quiet, sensory room will be available.
Sensory-Friendly Concerts are for parents AND their children! Good music is universal and should belong to everyone, at every age!! Who knows the musical potential of a child with autism? The possibilities are endless…
More concert details will be posted in the next two days, including a video, so that people on the spectrum can SEE the environment they will be walking into… So stay posted!
Here it is folks:
~~!!! NEURODIVERSITY AT ITS FINEST !!!~~
see you there! bring your loved ones.
Hi, I’m not sure if this is the right place to leave this message, but I am interested in what you are doing. My name is Tom Ryan and I’m a musician from Long Island, NY. I have auditory processing language difficulties which I understand puts me in the category of Asperger’s Syndrome. I have a day job and I have been doing gigs solo and with bands for over 20 years. Back when I was in school, (late 70s and early 80s) the term learning disabilities was new and my first psychologist told my mother, “you’ll have to do it all, mother.” Those were the days! While I was still in school I wrote a song about wondering about my future and my gratitude to my mother. I recorded it on my computer and did all the voices and played all the instruments. It’s on my first cd and it’s called “The Hard Way.” It’s on YouTube at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZvNiWGk8vg
I perform this song for disabled and non-disabled audiences and I think it’s a good anthem for Autism causes. I’m also on facebook and I put a “like” on your page. If I can help in any way, or perform for you, please let me know. If I should join this site or post somewhere else, please tell me.
Tom Ryan
Hi!! So glad you wrote. totally cool to write here. This is Ms.CJ…I really appreciate you writing and would love to showcase your music on the site.
Maybe one of these days you could travel down here from NY, to perform at one of our Sensory-Friendly Concerts!! 🙂
It would be great if you would showcase my music on your site. I have five cds – 2 of original pop music, one of me playing classical guitar, one of me playing fingerstyle blues and another of me playing piano standards. I can send you the cds or the songs individually by email. I hope you will post my YouTube video “The Hard Way” on the site – I think it’s inspirational to musical autists and their moms. I would consider traveling to MD for a performance.