If you’ve been reading all about the new Music Gym Hereford (or indeed the original Music Gym), and ever found yourself wishing your local area had something similar, this might just be the chance you’ve been waiting for!

We’ve been contacted by Adventure Unlimited of Brighton, who have a barely used Decodamaze that is for sale, owing to difficulty in storing the equipment. Due to a sincere wish to see this award winning equipment go to an organisation who will use it for it’s intended purpose they have got in contact with us and asked for our aid in getting the word out.  Find out more from Em Cooper at director@aultd.org Tel: 01273 681058

A new sensory environment designed to engage and entertain individuals with special needs and profound disabilities is set to open in Hereford on the 17th of this month.

Registered charity Aspire have teamed up with the Music Gym Ltd to produce a mobile sensory environment set to provide meaningful activities for individuals with special needs throughout Herefordshire. Equipment and training have already been supplied and the facility will be open throughout the summer.

Continually adapting to the ever shifting winds of government policy over the last 30 years, Aspire are committed to enabling those they work with to live their lives as independently as possible, as a part of their local community. Always seeking the best for those they care for, they have found the ideal partner for this project in the Music Gym Ltd, who draw upon their years of experience to provide advice, ideas and consultation, helping those they work with to make the most of increasingly limited budgets and to establish sensory environments that foster a sense of adventure and exploration in all who use them.

A Music Gym was chosen rather than a traditional, static sensory room, as it enables Aspire to take the facility to the service users rather than have them travelling to a central location (an important consideration as residents in care homes look set to lose their mobility allowance). As the name implies the Music Gym will bring health benefits too, turning passive observers into active participants as nothing happens in the Gym without the users interacting with the equipment.

The sensory equipment provided by the Music Gym Ltd includes interactive inflatables such as a musical bouncy castle and the NHS Award winning Decodamaze, PC’s to control the equipment, projectors to provide atmospheric lighting and effects and active camera technology that converts movement into sound and images. All the equipment has been designed to be easily transported and flexible enough to adapt to whatever purpose Aspire may set it in the future.

Speaking at the end of their final training session Tom Smurthwaite of the Music Gym Ltd said:
“At the end of our 5 days of training I left exhausted, yet inspired. I have no doubt that the Aspire Music Gym team will soon be making a huge difference to the lives of vulnerable children and adults of Hereford!”

—end—

Boiler Plate:
A Music Gym is more than a sensory room, using similar equipment – but with an emphasis on doing. Sound and images are triggered and controlled by movement, developing the relationship between the member and their supporter through fun and interaction. The combination of technology and physical activity allows users to express themselves however they choose and provides skills that can be transferred to solving problems at home, in communication and day to day life.

The Music Gym Ltd. doesn’t sell equipment, instead, they:

• · design interactive spaces to fit anything from a single room to a sports hall
• · offer training and consultation to individuals and organisations
• · develop cost-effective ways of using new technology

Notes to editors:

• An online press pack is available at : http://www.soundtherapy.org.uk/279/279/ containing high quality pictures, links to the afore mentioned organisations, relevant facts and coverage

For more information please contact: Matthew Saunders

We’re constantly looking for innovative devices which can help foster the spirit of creativity in those that use them at The Music Gym, and given the nature of our organisation it should come as no surprise that we pay particular attention to those which have a musical theme.

The other worldly Musii may look and sound like the denizen of a far flung alien planet, but its name actually stands for ‘Multi Sensory Interactive Inflatable‘, and it’s exactly the sort of device we’re constantly on the look out for!

Musii is a development of invisible beam instrument technology (such as the world renowned Sound Beam) which has been an effective feature of many multisensory environments throughout the years. What Musii does differently however, is to take this idea and encase it in a soft, physical form, allowing the user to perceive the changes they are producing not just through sound, but through touch and sight as well. This integration of the senses is something we always strove toward in our sensory gazebo (with it’s vibrating cushions, Soundbeam and underwater theme), so it’s very interesting for us to see how others approach the same issue.

Musii’s soft inflatable exterior emits sound and colour whenever it is touched and no musical ability is required allowing anyone to experience the thrill and satisfaction of playing a musical instrument accompanied by cornucopia of sound and colour, providing feedback to 3 of the body’s 5 senses. Another commendable feature is the speed at which it can be set up, with a single touch of a button the unit is inflated, lit up and ready to go! This ease of use is combined with an equally impressive level of functionality, an extensive library of musical instruments and sound settings are available and it’s impossible to play out of time or hit a bum note, unless as the company’s website points out, you want to! Finally, because of the devices unique (yet some how friendly) shape, a group of people can play together just as easily as a single individual. I contacted the Designs in Air team as soon as I discovered it and was informed that they’re available for under £2000.00 (Plus shipping and VAT for UK customers), however this was a few months back, so you may wish to contact them directly to confirm that price.

Tel: +44 (0) 7769662829

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	Each and every month we take the best content from our various sites and publish them in our newsletter. You can browse our archive or sign up to receive it yourself by clicking here.		If you’d like to get in touch, you can phone us on 01424-439192, email Tom Smurthwaite or visit our website www.musicgym.org

Sarah Teather, the current Children’s Minister (who spent much of her time in secondary school in a wheelchair following a viral infection) was recently interviewed by the Guardian, answering questions suggested by the readers on topics dealing with provisions for special needs children.

The central theme of the interview seems best summed up by the following extract: a lot of money is spent on special needs, “but it is not always spent well”, the example given being the tribunals that are all too often suggested in the event of local authorities and parents being unable to reach an agreement. If both sides were more flexible Teather believes this money could be better spent on the front-line. There is I feel, some truth in this statement, but at the same time you can never expect parents to stop pushing for what is best for their children!

When asked whether the government would step in to intervene in situations where local authorities make deep cuts to their service she points out that local authorities have a statutory duty to cater for children with special?? needs. (she does rather ominously however go on to say “These are issues for local authorities to take locally” and the lack of a firm definition of what these statutory duties are does little to help the feeling of apprehension).

When asked why she feels that some children with special needs are not diagnosed as early as they should be she provides a very informative answer with evidence that even in a time when budgets are being cut new provisions can be provided, and in doing so money can be freed up within the system! “There has been an unhelpful tendency in the past to discourage local authorities from giving children aged younger than 5 a statement of special needs … We are rolling out 4,200 extra health visitors so children should get an extra check aged two-and-a-half” By identifying the areas where help is required two and a half years earlier then speech and language therapy, physiotherapy & occupational therapy can all be provided at an earlier age. Areas where the individual will need the most help can be identified and parents have additional time to prepare before they have to “battle the system” to receive it! As she says in the interview “A six month wait for speech and language therapy can be critical; an 18 month wait can be really critical”.

Another question deals with Ofsted’s claim that a growing number of children are being misdiagnosed with special needs (something we covered in a previous post), I felt somewhat validated that her view of this situation was actually very close to my own! Teather explains that the problem in her view is the “… contextual value added didn’t help”, as the school league tables by which performance (and therefore funding) are determined currently awards points for ethnicity, number of children on free meals, the number with special needs, income deprivation and the like. It’s not any cynical ploy by the teachers, or Ofsted’s attempts to manipulate the figures to their own ends, but a genuine desire to see pupils given the help they require, sadly under the current system the most expedient method of doing this is to label the child as having special needs… “If a child is falling behind, that is a cause for concern and that child will need some extra support to help them progress. That is not to say they have a special need or not”. The answer she says is to “concentrate on why a pupil is falling behind”. Luckily there are extra resources available for certain conditions such as autism, but I somewhat imagine that over time these resources (such as personal assistants) will double up as general aids to teaching where possible, if the experience of those I know in the field is any indication.

When asked about the issue of Free Schools for special needs students she is quite realistic, pointing out that although the centrally funded model takes away some of the risk involved in setting up such a facility they are “… going to take longer than the other free school applications because it is more complicated to work through”, an excellent example of the difficulties of submitting such an application comes from Lincolnshire Councils recent refusal to support an application within their own jurisdiction.

One element of the green paper which I would have liked to see examined in greater depth was the way that personal budgets are to be handled. The plan is to provide parents a personal budget to spend on services and equipment which their children require. Anyone who has dealt with the NHS or local authorities will tell you that they do not always get the best value for money, simply because they can only purchase from approved suppliers. We’ve all heard tales of £5 biscuits and overpriced pencils, imagine what they pay for wheelchairs! Suppliers tend to justify the endemic overpricing by saying that it ensures they’ll be around for years to come, but in many cases the mark-up goes far beyond what you would ever expect. By placing the purse strings in the hands of the parents there is at least the chance that these essentials are bought for something approaching their actual price!

The final issue which was examined was the Achievement for All programme. The scheme works by giving pupils regular targets, set three times a year by teachers and parents and those involved are strongly encouraged to take part in school clubs and activities outside of lessons (potentially an excellent move toward inclusion). So far Achievement for All has been piloted in 454 schools in 10 local authorities since 2009, and the results seem very promising. Special needs students between the ages of nine and ten have been observed to learn essential reading, writing and maths skills up to three times faster than expected, and the progress of fourteen to fifteen year olds has been equated to them receiving an extra terms worth of lessons throughout the year! According to Sonia Blandford, director of the programme, it could reduce by as much as 10% the proportion of children registered as having special needs.

If you would like to read the interview in full you can find full details at:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/may/23/sarah-teather-readers-qanda
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/may/23/nhs-failing-vulnerable-young-people

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	Each and every month we take the best content from our various sites and publish them in our newsletter. You can browse our archive or sign up to recieve it yourself by clicking here.		If you’d like to get in touch, you can phone us on 01424-439192, email Tom Smurthwaite or visit our website www.musicgym.org

A Greek vase dating back to 525 BC depicts Hephaestus, the god of blacksmiths on the flying wheelchair legend credits him with constructing. Admittedly a Greek myth is not the best evidence, but it is interesting to note just how close to a modern wheelchair it is. The Romans too had wheelchairs, used to push disabled workers to the fields on which they toiled. But in general, the first widely accepted wheelchair seems to date from the 6th century, with an inscription depicting a three wheeled chair appearing on a sarcophagus in China. Later a wheelchair was constructed for King Phillip II of Spain, and France’s King Louis XIV is known to have had one constructed whilst recovering from an operation.

Very interesting I’m sure you all agree, but what does this have to do with the Music Gym I hear you ask? Well, given that they’ve been around so long, it is genuinely surprising how many places aren’t wheelchair accessible. In fact, if the questions I’ve been asked over my time at the Music Gym are any indication, even places specialising in working with the disabled are sometimes lacking adequate provisions.

Thankfully we’re proud to be able to say, the Music Gym is, and always has been about inclusion, and from the very start our Technical director Tom has attempted to ensure that our facilities are usable by everyone.

The first way this is expressed is through the amount of space available in a Gym.
Space is important: it means you never have to worry about bumping into someone or manoeuvring around obstacles, it allows people with confidence issues, those who like to observe and individuals who just like to do their own thing to take the time to stand back and concentrate on what they’re focused on.
It also provides the space to play games, and engage in group activities .
Because we always recommend as much open space as possible (not always the easiest thing when you consider just how much is in a Music Gym), no one involved feels constrained, so that’s one less thing to worry about!

We always recommend that facilitators are present to make sure members get the most out of the equipment. One of the points we always try to make, is that a Music Gym is not a drop in centre, but a meaningful activity for service users and facilitators to experience together. But that doesn’t mean the staff hang around doing nothing, quite the opposite in fact. The staff at a Music Gym are there to offer advice and assistance, helping make the best use of the facilities to engage and entertain those who attend.

This leads nicely onto the facilities that make up a Music Gym. Our technical director Tom is always devising new techniques and technologies to ensure that everyone who attends gets the most out of the Music Gym, and amongst the most wheelchair friendly pieces of equipment on offer are the switch table that can be adjusted to fit the user (and has wheels to for easy manoeuvring), the giant inflatable balls that are perfect for wheelchair games, vibrating cushions that slot onto the back of a wheelchair to improve and enhance the Soundbeam experience, and of course, the Health and Social care award winning inflatable Maze! This is a really good example of wheel chair inclusion, as this comment from a facilitator shows: “- the client was in charge & found their way out of the maze!”
Finally we have individual dignity. This is the most important aspect in my opinion, when you get down to it, it’s all about access and individual dignity and in many ways these are both the same thing. Because there’s no right or wrong way to use the Music Gym and the focus is always on engagement, however the client decides to use the facilities is the right way! In many ways the Music Gym is a group effort between the organisers and the service users, and they’re both learning from each other all the time, after-all what works for one client might work for someone else.

So, to answer the original question ‘Is a Musical Gym appropriate for wheelchair users?’ The answer is a resounding yes.

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	Each and every month we take the best content from our various sites andpublish them in our newsletter. You can browse our archive or sign up to recieve it yourself by clicking here.		If you’d like to get in touch, you can phone us on 01424-439192, email Tom Smurthwaite or visit our website www.musicgym.org

First off we have the breaking news that Gavin Harding has been elected as a Labour Councillor for the North Ward of Selby Town Council. Harding has been a tireless champion of the disabled, a representative of York People First and vice-chair of the National forum for People with Learning Disabilities to name but a few of his many activities. I had wanted to cover this in far more depth, because it is to my knowledge one of the first times an individual with learning disabilities has been elected as a Councillor! One quote that I think perfectly illustrates Gavin’s position comes from the national forum around 5 years ago: “People with learning difficulties have always been treated very differently by people in society, but not any more. They’re members of society and should be treated like everyone else” I had wanted to cover Gavin’s triumph in greater depth, but sadly details are exceedingly scarce at present, you’ll hear more when I do!

Our second inspirational tale is this excellent example of inclusion from the city of Chicago in the United States.
The Big Blast Project run by the Chicago Martial Arts center in Deerfield began offering Tai Kwon Do classes to special needs students four months ago, with many black belts from the school volunteering to attend each Saturday as ‘mentor buddies’ to the students. Those involved in the class learned the importance of self determination, respect toward adults and confidence in their own abilities throughout the project. “It’s about taking these things into your every day life and thinking about what and how you choose to live…”

The importance of activities within the local community cannot be overstated, as it allows those involved to make use of public areas, have fun and socialise with larger groups of people than they might normal be able. The physical aspect is equally important in the development of youngsters and providing what Tom likes to call ‘Exercise without the E word’ can certainly pay dividends. Janet Wadkins of the Big Blast Project illustrates this point perfectly saying “When we first started the class, none of the kids had any experience with marital arts, and balance, strength and staying focused were very difficult for them”. Four months later they would show how far they’d come. Assembling in ordered ranks, bowing toward their master, listening and responding with confidence before displaying their hard won skills, culminating in breaking a board with their bare hands!

Parents of the students, justifiably proud of their progeny held back tears as each student was awarded a medal and the all important Yellow belt. “The Big Blast Project martial arts program has given my boys a feeling of accomplishment and is helping to build their self respect and confidence. All the kids worked very hard and we’re so proud of them” said Connie Weinstock commendably summing up the feelings of those attending.

Our final example concerns a poet I’ve only just learned about, but I already have the utmost respect for by the name of Adam Bojelain. At just 11 years old Adam is blind, unable to speak following a tracheotomy and diagnosed with cerebral palsy and a host of other life threatening conditions (doctors advised his parents at his birth that he might not last beyond his first birthday), yet he still doesn’t let that hold him back! Describing their outlook his mother has said “Every second of Adam’s life is precious and treasured. Every day is a day we thought we would never have. Every day is special. Because we don’t know how long Adam will be with us, we endeavor to make every day of Adam’s life a positive and happy one.”

“Adam was about one when he went to a playgroup for children with disabilities, they used to sing If You’re Happy and You Know It Clap Your Hands. Adam couldn’t clap his hands, but I noticed every time they said clap your hands he blinked… Over time it became obvious that’s what he was doing.” Thanks to this realisation Adam was in time equipped with specialist software allowing him to communicate and even write by blinking his eyes. Despite it sometimes taking as long as an “entire day to write a single sentence and months to complete a whole poem” Adam has won numerous accolades for his work including one of the first Brit Writers Awards and a Gold Blue Peter Badge!

As if all this weren’t enough, Adam is currently planning a sponsored 1 mile ride on his specially adapted trike to support ‘Contact a Family Scotland’! (You can sponsor him by visiting www.virginmoneygiving.com/adambojelian Read his poetry at http://intheblinkofaneyepoemsbyadambojelian.blogspot.com/ and a really inspiring piece written by Adams mother is available here http://www.ukunitarians.org.uk/edinburgh/newsletters/42-3-April10.pdf

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	Each and every month we take the best content from our various sites andpublish them in our newsletter. You can browse our archive or sign up to recieve it yourself by clicking here.		If you’d like to get in touch, you can phone us on 01424-439192, email Tom Smurthwaite or visit our website www.musicgym.org

Matt.

How the Slo Mo Bump Balls Work

Normally there would be two ways of handling this, massive levels of supervision (which really negates alot of the benefits of allowing someone to explore and play as they wish), or not having balls at all…And that’s where Slo Mo Bum Balls come in. The soft material and knobbly exterior of the ball coupled with it’s unique semi inflated design lessens the speed at which the ball travels thus eliminating most of the impact caused when they hit (Having received a few in the face I can confirm they work!)

Why this interests us

The entire Spordas line (and the Bump Balls in particular)  are of great interest to us, because they fit in so well with the work we already do! We’re firm believers in adapting and modifying existing products and devices to fit the needs of our service users, as well as the importance of physical activities for special needs, far too many sensory environments are purely passive in nature, when with just a little work they could easily engage all seven senses (see our previous article on the 7 senses of a sensory room). A look through the Spordas catalog will quickly confirm they follow this philosophy down to a tee.
Another commendable feature of the line is they also lend themselves to teaching valuable skills whilst playing. For example many of their products come in primary and secondary colors which are always associated with the same numbers and multilingual words (something which we’ve found useful with more than one of our clients in the past!).
The line is also supported by an excellent and expansive series of activity guides available here, perfect for providing valuable ideas should you ever find yourself in need of inspiration!

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	Each and every month we take the best content from our various sites and publish them in our newsletter. You can browse our archive or sign up to receive it yourself by clicking here.		If you’d like to get in touch, you can phone us on 01424-439192, email Tom Smurthwaite or visit our website www.musicgym.org