Spectrum Connections

A month or so ago, I ordered a DVD for Pablo from a series called Spectrum Connections. The series is designed for children on the autism spectrum, and each DVD is based on using music therapy as a way to connect with children and help them learn new concepts. The DVD we ordered was all about emotions, and it had some great songs about feeling sad and mad and happy and silly. Pablo communicates and understands fairly well through music, which I think is fairly typical for autistic kids. We really liked the DVD and I was planning to order more.

Anyway. Fast forward to today, when I was on my new favorite blog, Redefining Perfect, and discovered that this series is now being marketed under the name Bounce and is being shown on the cable channel Sprout, with LOTS of episodes available for free right this very minute on OnDemand! Dude! We are sitting right down and watching them all. These are FANTASTIC for autistic kids and for typical kids as well. The one we just watched helps teach a coping mechanism for when kids are feeling “scared because there are so many kids and noise” – holding up their hand and saying, “Break!” I think I might be able to teach that to Pablo fairly easily. Awesome show. Here’s the press release from the Spectrum Connections website:

Created under the guidance of autism professionals and leading family entertainment producers, BOUNCE is hosted by certified music therapist Elizabeth Balzano. “We created BOUNCE for children with autism and related disorders,” said Executive Producer David Snyder, President of Brandissimo! Inc . ”We quickly found that all children love and learn from the series.”

BOUNCE is a 5-title developmental series that encourages cognitive and social learning through music, fun and established teaching tools. Titles include “Let’s Go!”, “Let’s Talk!”, “Emotions”, “Body Movement”, and “Routines”. 8 additional titles are in development for completion in 2009.

Each episode of Bounce! finds host Elizabeth Balzano and her music class exploring a new preschool developmental topic through music. Every Bounce song is carefully constructed to be fun, engaging and contain numerous opportunities for repetition, modeling and practice. Song content is reinforced with quizzes and real world examples. “For each DVD, we carefully selected “building block” topics relevant to all early learners, but ones that children with autism and delays have especial difficulty with,” said Snyder. “For example, recognizing and understanding emotions is important for all children to learn – and especially difficult for children on the spectrum.”

The Spectrum Connections BOUNCE brand is the first to bring the concept of inclusion (the practice of educating all or most children in the same classroom, including children with physical, mental, and developmental disabilities) into children’s entertainment. “All children learn the same things, but at different speeds,” said Snyder. “BOUNCE is about exploring universal themes like Routines and Talking through songs and interactivity. It’s pure entertainment rooted in the science of music therapy and child development techniques.”

Currently in development of eight new titles under the Spectrum Connections’ BOUNCE brand, Bounce is the 2007 winner of the IParenting Media Award and is approved by the Dove Foundation and the American Music Therapy Association. This year, Elizabeth will be performing at Autism Speaks Walks around the country.**

You can also check out clips right on their website. And! You can win the entire set of DVDs right here on Sadie’s site! She’s been in communication with the creators of the series, and they’ve generously offered up a whole set of DVDs for a giveaway she’ll be doing soon. Ooooh, I hope I win. Go check it out!