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Donations of drums needed for autistic children's music appreciation program . . . [REQ] (C)


Submitted via:  Alex Van Every <rap-rex@pacbell.net>

Subject: Nonprofit schoolkids rock on drums despite disabilities


A Better Chance School for kids with autism has a weekly
drum class that is providing music appreciation and enhanced social
interaction.

These kids have performed for other people with disabilities and
seniors.

We are currently borrowing drums- congas, bombos and doumbeks. 

Do you know of any companies that donate drums? 

If you do or you have any ideas please contact us at 

		wwlbr@earthlink.net

or call us at California Autism Foundation 510-758-0433. 

Our address is:

4075 Lakeside Drive 
Richmond, CA. 94806


Thanks! 

Matt and Thomas

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Better Chance School
Music and Art Education Program


History

The California Autism Foundation, a multi-program non-profit agency located
in Richmond, California, began a Music and Art Education Program for our
special education students in A Better Chance School one year ago. The
students came into the program with a variety of abilities and disabilities
and completed their first six-week classes with newly acquired musical and
artistic training and self-esteem from successful performances. We have
expanded and continued these programs to date.

The students performed a variety of world music for a Fall and Spring
concert. They have also scheduled ongoing performances at convalescent
hospitals and other day programs for disabled children and adults. These
experiences provide 'Service Learning' opportunities that teach our
students to help others as they themselves are helped.

Additionally the students work was exhibited at the Clarion Hotel, Oakland,
where 200 visitors signed the guest book. Two of the visitors were from the
Pixar animation studio. They expressed interest in one student's animated
drawings. This is now a focus for this student's vocational career
exploration. Additionally several of the paintings were purchased. All of
the students benefited from the process and the final product.

We began this program with future hopes to develop an ongoing Music and Art
Education program component that would benefit the students of the
California Autism Foundation and other students with disabilities in other
non-public schools. Currently, a Music and an Art teacher are providing
limited services to our students. 


Grant Purpose: Vision Statement

A Better Chance Music and Art Education Program is a non-profit teaching
program sponsored by the California Autism Foundation to include students
with developmental disabilities and other special needs students. The
students participate in these classes and benefit from the educational,
creative and therapeutic value. 

In our Music and Art Program we will strive to develop multi-sensory,
multi-media and multi-cultural means of Music and Art Education that are
individualized, choice- based and enhance self-awareness, self-image and
self-esteem. 


Number to be served, target population and age

A Better Chance School serves up to 24 students. With our outreach to other
similar schools for disabled children we would include spaces for 12
additional students. We have at least two other schools already interested.
The target population would include students with developmental
disabilities, autism, epilepsy, mental retardation, cerebral palsy and
severe emotional disabilities. Many of our students have come from
neglectful, abusive and disadvantaged backgrounds. Ages served in the
school are from 6 to 22 years.


Therapeutic Value

The therapeutic value of the program will provide the students with
psychological and learning benefits by enhancing their self-esteem and
personal creative expression. The program positively increases Music and
Art expression for hyperactive, hypoactive, sensory impaired and attention
deficit needs, depression and motor skills deficits by providing
opportunities for problem solving, encouraging emotional and learning
adjustment, social interaction and communication. With some students, the
sale of their Music and Artwork can create marketable vocational skills as
a bridge to real adult jobs. 


Access For All 

A Better Chance Music and Art Education and Therapy Program will be
accessible to students with special needs that want to work, play or visit
the Music and Art classroom. Successful innovative approaches to
accessibility for people with a variety of sensory and learning challenges
will be shared with other community school programs and disadvantaged youths.


Methodology: Teaching and Therapy Programs

A specific individualized instructional and therapeutic program is used to
teach Music and Art skills and expression to the children in our programs
no matter how severely impaired they may be. Music and Art Education is a
component for regular and special education curriculum in public and
private schools across California. Within each student's Individualized
Education Plan is an annual Music and Art goal, objectives and quarterly
benchmarks.

The program includes: planning and choosing the media they will participate
in, using Music and Artistic expression to convey hopes and fears,
happiness and sadness, displaying our Music and Art to the public to
promote individual Music and Artistic works and to develop a positive
community outlook for people with special needs. The program will be run by
a Music and an Art Teacher with school personnel support from the Special
Education Teacher, aides and most importantly peer tutors from the adjacent
Pacific Academy private high school.


Evaluation

When the Music and Art Education Program begins, each student is assessed
to ascertain their level of Music and Art competency using the California
State curriculum standards. The annual goals and quarterly benchmarks are
based on the individual student's assessment baseline, and portfolio
production. Written quarterly progress reports and annual evaluations are
completed on each goal.
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