William Carey University’s music therapy program has received a $57,000 grant from the Mississippi Council on Developmental Disabilities to improve the social skills of adults with intellectual disabilities through online music therapy sessions.
Associate professor Jim Pierce, board-certified music therapist and neurologic music therapist, is coordinator of WCU’s music therapy program.
“The grant makes it possible for William Carey students to teach social skills to people with intellectual disabilities by engaging them in live music-making. This is a rewarding creative opportunity, both for us and our clients, that would not be possible without the grant funds,” Pierce said.
A number of WCU faculty and students are taking part in the online sessions, including: Dr. Tony Lee, assistant professor of psychology; board-certified music therapist Rosa Gaines, an alum of the music therapy program; and senior Clark Castle of Hattiesburg, a current music therapy student.
“I’ve been working on the project funded by this grant for a year and it has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my undergraduate career,” Castle said.
“Before then, I had no idea the impact online music therapy sessions could have on improving social skills. Despite the distance, everyone smiles, laughs and learns – just like being in-person. It has allowed me to learn a new facet in my future career, and I look forward to working with the participants every week.”
This project was supported, in part by grant number 2001MSSCDD, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.
In the photo:Music therapy student Clark Castle, left, and Rosa Gaines, an alum of the program, work online with clients to improve their social skills.
