Establishing a radio station in a school for children withdevelopmental disabilities: A community-based project

Abstract

This article describes the establishment of a school radio station in a special education school with the goal of providing practical steps for those who want to  follow  suit.  Unlike  individual  and  group  music  therapy  approaches,  this project  wascommunity-oriented  with  the  goals  of  enhancing  a  sense  of community and encouraging students' communication abilities and emotional expression.  Implemented  as  part  of  a  PhD  study,  three  practical  steps  are described (1) Pre-evaluation in which students and staff members were asked about the idea. This step indicated that a school radio may indeed be beneficial for  the  school,  and  four  specific  program  formats  were  recommended  with music  being  an  integral  part  of  each  format:  a  school  newscast,  holiday-themed  broadcasts,  morning  exercise  routines,  and  a  talk  show  with  music; (2)  Running  the  radio  station  based  on  the  suggested  formats  while  taking careful  measures  to  accommodate  the  work  to  the  diverse  needs  of  the students,  many  of  whom  experience  intellectual,  verbal,  communication, and sensory disabilities; (3) Post-evaluation in which students and staff gave their  feedbacks  on  the  pilot.  Responses  indicated  the  positive  impact  of  the school  radio.  It  fostered  musical  thinking,  interdisciplinary  collaboration, and   a   supportive   community   wherein   students   experienced   personal expression and social connection through spontaneous musical interactions. Additionally,  students'  communication  skills  were  enhanced,  especially  for those  with  limited  verbal  abilities.We  provide  practical  recommendations for music therapists who want to implement a radio station in their school.