SPECIAL NEEDS KUDOS 2010 -DAY TWELVE -CINDY LU EDGERTON & RICSTAR'S CAMP: I can never say enough about music therapy, a wonderful profession, which uses music to enhance and build social, emotional, physical and other skills in children and adults with a wide range of special needs, including autism.
According to the American Music Therapy Association, Inc. website, "music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music intervention to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program."
I just know it works.
For most of my son's life, Eric took part in weekly music therapy classes at Michigan State University and was composing music shortly before he died. Other than conductive education and inclusive public education, no program or professionals had as much impact on my son's life as did music therapy and its remarkably skilled and caring music therapists, especially music therapist extraordinaire, Cindy Lu Edgerton.
Edgerton is the founder of the Music Therapy Clinical Services Program at Michigan State University's Community Music School, and co founder/director of the Eric 'RicStar' Winter Music Therapy Camp (aka RicStar's Camp) named in honor of my son. This popular yearly summer camp is now in its ninth year.
I can never repay Cindy for the way in which she greatly enhanced my son's life and focused on and then nurtured his remarkable musical abilities. She is simply the best at what she does, and has a true gift and calling for working with those with special needs. She's a musical angel.
I could go on and on about this program, this marvelous profession, Cindy Lu Edgerton, and RicStar's Camp, but here are the important links to help you check it all out for yourself.
You'll be glad you did.
-Learn more about Cindy Edgerton here.
-Find out more about music therapy programs at MSU here.
-Check out RicStar's Camp here.
-American Music Therapy Association, Inc. here.
Top photo of Cindy Lu Edgerton at RicStar's Camp by Erik Taylor Photography 2010.
Judy Winter
Breakthrough Parenting for Children with Special Needs: Raising the Bar of Expectations
Winter Ramblings Blog
Flickr Page
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