SoundBeam

In response to "Assistive Technology" in our Course Materials Online Reading:

I absolutely LOVE the idea of SoundBeam.  Children with special needs respond so well to music and the other arts, and this program introduces them to music and movement.  The fact that SoundBeam was created for modern dance performances in England, but scooped up by the music education world is really awesome to me as well.  That proves, yet again, just how connected all of the arts are, and how one program can be used in so many different arenas.  Special needs students, unfortunately, tend to get brushed off as "weird" or negatively "special" rather than as human beings.  I have heard people use the term "differently abled" to describe them, and I feel this program out lines that idea.  While students with special needs may not be able to create music in the conventional way, this program allows them to use the motor skills and talents they can perform to create music just like so-called "normal people."  This is a great  program, and I am very glad I was introduced to it.