Children with special needs suffer from physical, emotional, cognitive, and expressive deficits which can make life difficult. Active engagement with music is a proven therapeutic technique for helping students with disabilities bolster and resilience, foster social interaction, and stimulate multiple intelligences. Mr. Neuman and Musicworks teaching artists have extensive experience leading programs at the JCC Manhattan (Kulam and Boost), 14th St. Y (Kol), Sowing Seeds Therapy Collective, Friendship Circle, Extreme Kids and Crew, iHope Academy, and Kicking the Spectrum.
We are in constant dialogue with parents and program administrators to develop the most effective adaptive strategies to serve a wide variety of symptoms. These include regulating aural and visual stimulation, addressing sensory tolerance, physically circulating around the classroom to maintain eye contact and physical proximity to children with limited mobility, alternating energetic with calming activities, and above all, encouraging students to give their all despite their limitations. As a member of the team at Hope Loves Company, Mr. Neuman brings music classes to weekend long retreats around the country for families dealing with the trauma of ALS disease. Our classes literally bring joy and compassion through song, dance, and play, to some very deserving families.
We are in constant dialogue with parents and program administrators to develop the most effective adaptive strategies to serve a wide variety of symptoms. These include regulating aural and visual stimulation, addressing sensory tolerance, physically circulating around the classroom to maintain eye contact and physical proximity to children with limited mobility, alternating energetic with calming activities, and above all, encouraging students to give their all despite their limitations. As a member of the team at Hope Loves Company, Mr. Neuman brings music classes to weekend long retreats around the country for families dealing with the trauma of ALS disease. Our classes literally bring joy and compassion through song, dance, and play, to some very deserving families.
"Amazing things happen during class--socialization, confidence building, acceptance, parents connecting, but to the child it feels nothing more than a major good time.”
-Caitlin Cassaro, executive director Extreme Kids and Crew
