By Tori Conicello-Emery, MA, MT-BC

What’s happening in Ghana?

At the end of July, I went on a mission trip with my church (Hope Community Church) to the suburbs of Accra, Ghana. My church has partnered up with a Ghanaian church that just so happens to be named Hope Community Chapel. This church, founded by a man named Pastor Larry Lamina, is doing some amazing things for the special needs community, refugees, the homeless, the blind and the deaf community in Africa. This church also attracted the attention of an American, Christian organization called Handi*Vangelism, which strives to minister to individuals with special needs such as disabilities and medical and mental health challenges.  Handi*Vangelism partnered up with Larry Lamina and made it possible for Hope Community Chapel of Ghana to provide housing, education, recreation, vocational training, and spiritual growth for the people they serve.

Why was I — a music therapist — invited to serve this community in Ghana?

This year, a team of professionals serving individuals with special needs was formulated to go to Ghana and serve the people at Echoing Hills. Echoing Hills is the site Larry Lamina acquired for individuals with special needs. There are people there with cerebral palsy, autism, trisomy 21, mental retardation, and several other cognitive and physical challenges. I worked with an occupational therapist, a child life specialist, a case worker, social workers, a behavioral specialist, and a deaf interpreter. We were all invited to Echoing Hills to share our professional experience and do what we do best – therapy. We worked really hard to offer the caregivers of Echoing Hills an opportunity to take a much-needed break from their daily duties. We taught inservices on sensory integration, activities of daily living, and occupational therapy and behavior modification; and offered clinical assessment by reviewing charts and creating care plans for the clients in collaboration with the caregivers.

I personally had the opportunity to facilitate music therapy groups with the clients at Echoing Hills.  It was pretty amazing to be able to work in another country and know that music therapy has an impact no matter where I may be practicing. One of my colleagues from CHOP donated a carbon-fiber guitar that I was able to leave for the church to use for worship during their services. Music Together also donated 10 sets of teaching materials and 400 egg shakers. I ran a brief Music Together training for the caregivers at Echoing Hills. I think the entire nation of Ghana was shaking by the time I left!

What happens now?

This trip was not a one-time event. In fact, there have been four other teams in the pas,t but this team of volunteers has set a standard for how we can continue to support this church and their programs.  We are setting up a focus group at Hope Community Church USA to plan ways in which we can help Hope Community Chapel Ghana meet the needs of the people they serve. If you have any questions or are interested in learning more, please feel free to contact me at tori@tempotherapy.com.

by Angela Guerriero

I’m very passionate about the topic of inclusion:  inclusion in schools, communities, and especially music therapy groups! I believe that we all learn from one another – I know that I learn so much from my clients each day. They often possess fantastic talents and gifts. They always challenge me to look at something differently than I would have initially thought to look.

I see how children interact socially as well as in therapy groups, and I am fascinated by the often innate ability of some of the children. They just know how to best interact with peers with disabilities. Sometimes, it seems they just know to accept and include everyone, perhaps realizing that we all have more commonalities than differences. As I was thinking about what to write, a 9-year-old came in this evening for a piano lesson and told me about a speech that she is giving in school on Friday. I asked her to tell me about it, and she excitedly recited the entire speech. I believe it sums up the idea of inclusion.

“Include Me”

Today you will notice some people are wearing yellow shirts that say “Include Me.” You are probably wondering what “Include Me” means. “Include Me” means: accept people with disabilities and let them interact with you without hurting them or hurting their feelings. For example, people with disabilities may not have control of their body, may not talk, or may look or act a little different from us.

Anyway, if you see people with disabilities at the park, school, sports fields, stores, or anywhere else, you should say hello or play with them. Don’t be afraid to interact with them. Always remember that they’re still special inside — just like us.

– By Tatiana

by Angela Guerriero

Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend an event in Warren, NJ at Child Centered Therapeutics where NJ Governor Christie was in attendance. It was a small gathering of parents, therapists, and children with autism. The event was held to start off autism awareness month this April.

The governor spoke with a small group of parents, then came to join the larger group. He spoke about his budget. I found it exciting that he is proposing a new, separate, line item to fund programs for individuals with disabilities over 21 years old.  The governor said that he wanted to ensure funding for those who will “age out” of their school programs this year. He also spoke about bolstering the ”marriage” between public services and private services in the state to help to create more comprehensive programs for students with disabilities.

Many people in the room were talking prior to his arrival about the recent budget cuts in the NJ schools, interventions they have tried for their kids, and the other frustrations they are facing.  Teachers aides are being cut and experienced teachers are being laid off so that newer, less experienced (with lower salaries) teachers can move in.  I work in some of the NJ schools and I can see the frustrations and the cuts that are being made, and I too, have been wondering what will happen next year.  

One parent said that she had “done it all” when speaking of the therapies her child has tried.  Not all of the therapies worked for her child, but at least she can have some rest knowing that she tried everything.  Another parent found out about a food allergy her daughter was diagnosed with after 10 years of misdiagnosis, wondering if life would be different if they found out sooner.  Others wondered if they had more financial means how that could impact the course of their child’s life.

When the governor entered it became clear that he really had a firm understanding of the issues; he was listening . . . really listening.  He was calm and well-spoken, and interacted very well with the children, who were, at this point, having a bit of sensory overload.  He seemed really at ease and natural with the kids.  One of the kids was holding her ears, and as mom tried to put her hands down the Governor said, “It’s O.K., it’s loud in here”.  Another tried to eat one of the microphones held by the press, and again the Governor shrugged it off and made a joke about the child becoming a politician someday. 

After he spoke, some families went up to speak with him.  It can be difficult to get the governor’s ear since everyone is trying to give him a piece of their mind lately.  I went up and had my small bit of time to speak about music therapy and my work with children with autism.  My 30 second “elevator speech” plus a little more . . . and I handed him a brochure.  He thanked me for my work (which he probably does for a lot of people) but I honestly felt that he has a genuine care and concern for families dealing with autism and I felt that he really listened to what I had to say about music therapy.

I had thought about not attending the event, since I disagree with a lot of his budget cuts and policies, but then I quickly changed my mind.  I could sit back and complain about what’s going wrong and not do anything about it, or I could actually do something.  I had the opportunity, and when would that happen again?  I could hear it from his mouth, witness live  interactions between NJ residents and the Governor, and try to get an opportunity to speak with him in person to voice my opinion.  I succeeded in all of that and it was quite empowering.  I still disagree with a lot of  issues of the state, but I did something, and that’s what’s important.  I got up, shook his hand, and had a brief, 1:1 conversation with the Governor about what I do everyday, why it is important, and why he should care about it.  Who knows what will come next, but at least I can rest knowing that I did something . . .