By Gina Sideris | Development Officer
Kids with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) are often required to forego music class in favor of additional time with academic subjects – or to have music programs that are courses in “guided listening” or “hand percussion activities”. Not Jose.
Jose’s teachers decided to try "mainstreaming" him into a Little Kids Rock (LKR) class with other middle school students. Jose felt intimidated and scared, because whenever he came into contact with other kids in art class and in phys. ed., he could see that looked at him differently and might even tease him. He was really nervous, but he really wanted to play guitar.
When Jose entered his first Little Kids Rock class, the LKR teacher immediately put a guitar in his hands and showed him how to play a chord. Since it was a class ensemble and everyone played guitar together at the same time, he blended in! That was all he needed to get started. Over a period of about a month, Jose went from being shy and quiet to being one of the standout guitarists in the room. When Jose played, he played to rock the house!
By the end of his second month with Little Kids Rock, Jose became known around school as "The Rocker." Kids who had been unable to see past Jose’s challenges now were focused on his ability to play, and they wanted to be his friend. For the first time in his life, Jose was esteemed among his peers. Jose’s newfound confidence and the change in how he was perceived at school made his family become huge fans of Little Kids Rock.
The amazing thing was…nobody did anything special for Jose. The LKR teacher simply gave Jose the same tools and attention as he gave the other Little Kids Rock students – the opportunity to start something new together as equals.
Little Kids Rock helps break down the barriers that isolate children by providing them with free instruments, free music lessons, and a support system of teachers and friends who can appreciate them for who they are.
Please visit us at http://littlekidsrock.com/pledge-a-donation.html and click “Donate Now” to donate securely with a credit card, or return your donation in the enclosed envelope. Thank you for helping build a better learning environment for our children.
By Gina Sideris | Development Officer
By Gina Sideris | Development Officer
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