Thanks to a generous grant from the Nick Vuono Charity Fund, the Olean Center will continue providing music therapy in collaboration with Hands in Harmony for local participants in our Children's Service Program!  Because of Covid-19 the therapy is right now virtual--giving children the opportunity to benefit from the safety of their homes.  

Fatima Abbott, Clinical Supervisor, LICSW, who has worked with children for over 25 years found music therapy extraordinarily helpful for children. She describes the benefits like this:

       "Through the years I have seen how music has helped children in a variety of capacities.
        For example, through the use of repetitive sounds in songs, I have seen children more
        engaged and working harder on their communication objectives.  With children who
        struggle with memory, I have seen how putting academic information into a song
        format  has helped them recall the information. I have seen gains in children's fine motor
        skills with the use of adaptive percussive instruments such as maracas.

        Music therapy groups also help children. I have used songs to help children identify feelings     
        and how to cope with feelings of frustration and anger.  I have also incorporated music in

        "safe/calm down zone" as part of self-regulation strategies. I have used musical activities
        to assist children with social skills building such as practicing greeting, tum taking,
        eye contact, and working cooperatively with other others.

        "There is no doubt that music affects our mood, and I love using it to get the outcomes I
         am looking for in the children we service.  Also, what is truly amazing about music therapy
         is that it is fun for children.  Therefore, they are working on the goals and objectives without                         realizing they are working on them.

         With this kind of buy-in from children, success is inevitable."

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