Over the past years, there have been a lot of studies proving the therapeutic benefits of music. It affects our minds, emotions, and our bodies. It has the power to change the emotional state, well being of a person. Music is no stranger to the disability community as it has been one of the enablers for addressing challenging behaviors or just simply boost someone’s confidence or develop some skills. This article will talk about Music therapy, its benefits, and the NDIS.
The NDIA acknowledges how music therapy can be of great benefit to its participants that is why it is included in the NDIS under Therapeutic Supports. It is important to note that the NDIA emphasized that the service should be delivered by a registered music therapist (RMT) who is professionally trained at a university and has studied the relevant relationship between music and improvement of one’s health, functioning, and wellbeing Music Therapists are specifically named as therapists registered to deliver Early Intervention Supports for Early Childhood [Early Childhood Supports] and Therapeutic Supports. This means that non-therapeutic music teachers and other entertainment-based musical activities are not directly funded by the NDIS.
According to the NDIA, therapeutic supports such as music therapy is defined as supports that assist the participant to gain skills and improve independence related to identified needs in areas such as:
language and communication,
personal care,
mobility and movement,
interpersonal interactions,
community living to support positive changes in the person's functioning, development, and well-being
What are the benefits of mucid therapy?
· Helps people with special needs to express and verbalize their emotions through the use of tempo, melody, and sound quality
· Helps in concentration
· Encourages communication
· Helps increase sentence length and fluency
· Helps address issues of poor coordination and balance
· Helps express and experience emotions
· Helps learn the right pitch and volume to be used when speaking
· Encourages interaction and cooperation
· Helps boost self-confidence and self -esteem
· Helps increase social skills
· Helps improve cognitive processing
· Learn appropriate behavior in groups
· Helps in mood regulation
· Helps in memory recall
Music therapy can take many forms, such as singing, playing instruments, active listening, rhythms, and games. The type of music therapy is subjective as it depends on the area of the participant that needs to work on. Some of the music therapy methods used are the following (but not limited to ):
· Expressive methods
· Improvisational methods
· Creative methods
· Receptive methods
Music Therapy sessions may take place in a rehabilitation center, residence for the developmentally disabled, training center, school, or private residence. If you want music therapy to be included in your plan, you need to provide the reasons why it will be beneficial towards achieving your goals. You may state that part of your goal is to improve your social skills and boost your self-confidence in interacting with other people and you strongly feel that joining group music therapy sessions will help you achieve this.
Just like any other funding, you need to substantiate your request for funding, you just have to be clear on what you want to achieve and how music therapy will act as an enabler to achieve your goals.
Do you have an NDIS plan and in need of RMT? Get Plan Managed with Yogi Care and access both NDIS -registered and non-registered service provider.
