Music therapy to support the wellbeing of young people with intellectual disability

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We intend to engage a group of young people with intellectual disability who are transitioning from school, as co-researchers in an action research project to examine, develop, and describe the therapeutic potential of group music making with this population. The developmental period of transition from late adolescence to young adulthood is a time of significant change, bringing new opportunities coupled with uncertainties, challenges, and risks, all of which can be intensified for young people with disabilities. Music making is a nonverbal creative medium that is accessible to all, and it is a popular activity with young people. It promotes interaction and collaboration, and can support their efforts to develop individual mastery, independence, self-esteem, and autonomy, and to forge strong connections with each other and the wider community. Action research, like the community music therapy approach in which we will be grounding the work, is highly collaborative and empowering, and by its very nature will contribute to the self-determination that the young people will be seeking. Action research methodology is rarely used with this population, although it appears to be particularly enabling for young people. The young people who will be involved in the sessions are likely to experience improvement in overall wellbeing and to develop skills that that will increase their potential for self-advocacy and their prospects of engaging in other meaningful activity or work. Moreover the articulation of their aspirations and goals in various forms through the research process will inform service providers about what is needed to implement the best services now and into the future, for people of this age.

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