“… it has been the first time by son has ever received a birthday card from a friend”
After the mother of an autistic teenager approached OKMT for help, the idea for CLUB OK was born. She told us that her son had no friends, yet he was aware that his siblings were getting together with their pals and which caused him to wonder why he was alone.
CLUB OK is a weekly music and arts club for teenagers with additional needs. It has been designed to help them improve their communication, social skills and self-confidence. Above all it is aimed at encouraging the group to make friends. Developed under the guidance of OKMT music therapist, Carmen Coles, it creates an environment which is fun and encourages club members to become aware of and make friends with their peers.
The creativity of the group has been inspiring. With this has come a greater level of interaction with each other and awareness of the connections they have made. Above all the members have enjoyed their time at the Club, and a module has been developed to enable OKMT to put it to use in other outreach areas.
EXPLORING SOCIAL ISSUES
Music is always used to create a unifying connection between the members of CLUB OK.
As the objective of CLUB OK is to try to encourage friendship and social interaction, emphasis is also placed in exploring social issues. These may seem nothing out of the ordinary for those who do not have any special needs, but to Club members they create a completely new experience.
Examples:
- Making Mother’s Day cards and understanding why
- Making cards for each other on an individual’s birthday. (One mother reported back that this was the first time her son had received a card from a friend. It remained on the wall throughout the year)
- When the grandfather who had played a great part in the upbringing of one of one the members died, the others made a condolence card for him. They were able to discuss death and its significance in this case. They understood the importance of the card they made as an expression of friendship and, in their own way, support.
