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EVENTS

As part of my internship at The Music Therapy Center of California, I had the exciting opportunity to attend ACES grand opening of their Otay Ranch location which included a resource fair. ACES, which stands for Autism Comprehensive Educational Services, provides a range of services for individuals and families impacted by autism and other special needs, with a focus on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). They offer services in homes, centers, and the community, including early intervention, social skills groups, and support for students and educators. ACES also provides parent training and support. that supports neurodivergent children and their families by providing  

This event was a vibrant gathering of professionals from diverse disciplines, all dedicated to sharing knowledge and resources with the community.

I attended alongside Carly, our center’s Operations Coordinator, who was instrumental in organizing our presence and connecting warmly with families. While Carly is not a clinician, her role was vital in making the experience welcoming and efficient.

At our booth, I provided demonstrations of music therapy techniques, offered educational materials, and engaged with parents eager to learn how music could support their children’s communication, emotional regulation, and sensory processing. The event was an excellent opportunity to practice advocacy and community education, sharing the unique benefits of music therapy in an accessible way.

This experience reinforced the importance of outreach and visibility in the field. Beyond direct clinical work, showing up in community spaces to educate and connect helps build bridges and increase access to music therapy services

During my internship, I was honored to be invited twice as a featured musician and music therapist at Casa de Mosaic’s Adapted Story Time. Casa De Mosaic is an amazing non-profit in San Diego county whose mission is:

“to provide specialized training opportunities to adults with autism and other developmental disabilities requiring extensive support, particularly those facing significant language impairments and behavioral challenges.”

Adapted Story Time creates a supportive and inclusive space specifically designed for individuals with autism, helping them build social skills and feel a sense of connection and belonging.

Sessions typically include themed storytime led by a librarian, followed by a related craft or activity. Some sessions are also led by music and speech therapists, offering added opportunities for engagement and learning. Each session incorporated familiar songs, rhythmic activities, and opportunities for participants to contribute their own ideas. One example of an intervention I used at Adapted Story Time, was a friendship intervention. The book that was read was “What is a friend, and how do I possibly make one?” 

This book was all about how to be a good friend to others, and how you would want to be treated. After a hello song with the group, I asked what it meant to be a good friend. A participant raised his hand and said “to treat others how you would like to be treated”. I agree! That comment perfectly led us into our song “Count on Me” by Bruno Mars. Participants sang and filled in lyrics when prompted by the therapist.

I witnessed beautiful moments of connection as participants clapped, sang, and moved together, demonstrating the profound ways music can enhance storytelling and community.

What made these visits especially meaningful was the emphasis on choice and empowerment, participants were encouraged to lead, express, and celebrate their unique voices. The experience challenged me to balance structure with spontaneity, creating a welcoming space for creativity and joy.

These group sessions are a powerful example of how music therapy can extend beyond clinical goals to foster artistic expression and social inclusion. I am grateful for the chance to contribute to their community and inspired to continue exploring such collaborative, person-centered approaches in my career.

Amelia Elbendary

As part of my internship at The Music Therapy Center of California, I had the exciting opportunity to attend ACES grand opening of their Otay Ranch location which included a resource fair. ACES, which stands for Autism Comprehensive Educational Services, provides a range of services for individuals and families impacted by autism and other special needs, with a focus on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). They offer services in homes, centers, and the community, including early intervention, social skills groups, and support for students and educators. ACES also provides parent training and support that supports neurodivergent children and their families.  

This event was a vibrant gathering of professionals from diverse disciplines, all dedicated to sharing knowledge and resources with the community.

I attended alongside Carly, our center’s Operations Coordinator, who was instrumental in organizing our presence and connecting warmly with families. While Carly is not a clinician, her role was vital in making the experience welcoming and efficient.

At our booth, I provided demonstrations of music therapy techniques, offered educational materials, and engaged with parents eager to learn how music could support their children’s communication, emotional regulation, and sensory processing. The event was an excellent opportunity to practice advocacy and community education, sharing the unique benefits of music therapy in an accessible way.

This experience reinforced the importance of outreach and visibility in the field. Beyond direct clinical work, showing up in community spaces to educate and connect helps build bridges and increase access to music therapy services

  • Amelia Elbendary

 

All the cool things you never knew your keyboard could do!

Join MTCCA for a free training series demonstrating applications for using the  keyboard in a therapeutic setting or teaching lessons to clients and students of all ages with neurodiverse challenges. Hosted on Zoom.

Mondays in May at 11am PST.

Register here: http://bit.ly/mtccaworkshopreg

Who loves free trainings?

Need some new tips and music strategies for your toolkit?

Join MTCCA founders Angela Neve Meier, and Julie Guy for our new webinar series designed to give you the tools you need to be successful whether you are at home, the clinic or in the classroom.

To register for the LIVE version on Mondays at 11am in April (or to get the link for the recorded version if you can’t join live), register here: http://bit.ly/mtccaworkshopreg

Did you miss this training? We’ve got you covered!

You can download this series FOR FREE over in our Shop!