Ellen Vikestad

Through Vikestad's innovative program, "Switch on the Music / Adoptive Music", Claremont High School students with severe and profound disabilities are actively and independently creating music on their own. The program brings together a music therapist/teacher, speech pathologist and occupational therapist to work with students who are often viewed as dependent on others. Thanks to this collaboration, students are provided with materials that they can independently manipulate to create music. Instruments and musical toys activated by headtilt, wobble, oversize switches, and/or finger, hand, head, foot or torso motor movements, allow these students to successfully operate music equipment. This project shows staff and family members that these students are capable of doing more than was previously believed or expected of them. Vikestad resides in Essex.