Changing Cultural Practices: Music Therapy and Autism Spectrum Disorders

I was delighted to attend the Great Lakes Region of AMTA Music Therapy Conference this weekend.  I shared a presentation entitled, “Examining Cultural Practices and Contexts of Development: Implications for Clinical Music Therapy Practices”.  The presentation highlighted many of the ideas that I have been sharing in this blog and explored how ideas about culture and development shape clinical practices. 

I shared Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Model of development as a guiding framework for the presentation.  His model emphasizes how each individual’s development is shaped by multiple layers of influence.  In short, we are never working with a client in isolation.  Each client is uniquely shaped by his or her family, community, prior experiences, ethnic identity, and larger social and political issues of the day.  Even the time at which an individual develops shapes his or her developmental trajectory.

 I worked with individuals with autism spectrum disorders throughout my career as a music therapist.  When I first entered the field there was very limited information available and the prevalence figures seemed to be a few individuals in 1,000.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released updated prevalence figures that indicate that 1 in 88 children are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.  These numbers are absolutely shocking.  In addition to the increased numbers, there is also a dramatic increase in the information available about autism and approaches for treatment and support.

Knowledge and beliefs change over time.  It is more likely now, that children with autism spectrum disorders will be accurately diagnosed and connected with appropriate services.     Music therapists and other clinicians can access a wealth of research and first person narratives to better understand how to best serve a client with autism.  Living at this time creates a unique set of circumstances which will impact the development of each person. 

Changes in the autism community represent one example of changes in culture.  These changes have tremendous implications for families, schools, communities, health care, legal systems, and larger social structures.  Additionally, these changes have tremendous implications for music therapists and other clinicians.

Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The Ecology of Human Development.   Harvard University Press.

“New Data on Autism Spectrum Disorders”. ( March 29, 2012). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/CountingAutism/.