Advocating for Music Therapy

Why does The Musical Autist.org care about Music Therapy Advocacy?

Because helping you to learn to advocate for Music Therapy in your community helps to lead your state in recognizing this most valuable service, which gives Musical Autists everywhere, access to services which they deserve. 

Since 2005, the American Music Therapy Association and the Certification Board for Music Therapists have collaborated on a State Recognition Operational Plan. The primary purpose of this Plan is to get music therapy and our MT-BC credential recognized by individual states so that citizens can more easily access our services. The AMTA Government Relations staff and CBMT Regulatory Affairs staff provide guidance and technical support to state task forces throughout the country as they work towards state recognition. To date, their work has resulted in 35 active state task forces, 2 licensure bills passed in 2011, and an estimated 10 bills being filed in 2012 that seek to create either a music therapy registry or license for music therapy. This month, our focus is on YOU and on getting you excited about advocacy.

 

So Logan and Ms.CJ are here to help you get inspired about advocating for music therapy!

Here at Musical Autist Academy, we like to prop our iPad up on the music stand of the piano, and record/watch ourselves talking and making music!   Enjoy!

**Please note** When I say to Logan, “Because it [music therapy] really helps you to be able to share your feelings, doesn’t it?”  I am referring to some of the personalized goals and objectives that Logan is working towards, on a weekly basis.

Here’s a great definition of Music Therapy, straight from AMTA!  🙂

“Music Therapy is an established health profession in which music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals. After assessing the strengths and needs of each client, the qualified music therapist provides the indicated treatment including creating, singing, moving to, and/or listening to music. Through musical involvement in the therapeutic context, clients’ abilities are strengthened and transferred to other areas of their lives. Music therapy also provides avenues for communication that can be helpful to those who find it difficult to express themselves in words. Research in music therapy supports its effectiveness in many areas such as: overall physical rehabilitation and facilitating movement, increasing people’s motivation to become engaged in their treatment, providing emotional support for clients and their families, and providing an outlet for expression of feelings.”

 

A large majority of our readers are also our friends in Disability Rights circles.  We know that our friends are GOOD at making things HAPPEN on the state level, for the benefit of us all.

Think about the ways you can advocate for Music Therapy services for Musical Autists in your own lives!  Ms.CJ sees so very often, in the public school system, that PARENTS and STUDENT SELF-ADVOCATES are the ones that can really get things movin’ and shakin’ – gaining music therapy services not only for themselves, but also starting an awesome ripple-benefit for the families that come along behind them.

If you live in Maryland, and you are interested in helping to increase Music Therapy services on the state level, for yourself or for a loved one, feel free to contact us at: themusicalautist@gmail.com.  Ms.CJ enjoys making trips down to Annapolis and chatting with her elected officials!

Or, if you would like to find a credentialed Music Therapist in your state, to learn more about advocating for Music Therapy Services, Ms.CJ can also help you connect with the right people.  Sometimes just asking is half the battle!  🙂.