Gift of Musical Instruments to Help Children with Autism Learn and Communicate
Southborough, Mass. – May 10, 2018 – The New England Center for Children® (NECC®), a global leader in education for children with autism, announced today it received a grant for musical instruments from Music Drives Us, a foundation created by entrepreneur Ernie Boch Jr., to fund music programs designed to effect positive change for people of all ages.
The Music Drives Us grant will expand NECC’s music education program and includes donations of instruments including xylophones, glockenspiels, hand drums, triangles, tambourines, maracas, keyboards, shakers, rhythm sticks, and mallets. More than 200 students each year are expected to go through music education as part of their education at NECC.
“The New England Center for Children is delighted to be a grant recipient of Music Drives Us,” said Cara Lechleiter, MS, BCBA, LABA, Music Teacher at The New England Center for Children. “Like all children, students with autism find tremendous joy in music. When our students get to music class or chorus rehearsal, they are excited and motivated. Within this enriched environment, they work on communication and social skills, and learn to follow directions in a fun manner.”
NECC’s music curriculum includes chorus and music classes in the school’s newly renovated Dillon Arledge Student Center. Children with autism are given the freedom to sing, dance and learn about music. Music provides the opportunity for collaboration, as students work together toward a common goal. Not only are the students learning music, they are working on a number of very important communication and social skills. The chorus performs two school-wide concerts each year, and special events throughout the year such as holiday caroling.
Since its inception in 2006, Music Drives Us has helped hundreds of individuals, organizations, and schools throughout New England by providing Performance and Organizational Grants. Music Drives Us has donated more than $1,000,000 to help spread the power of music.
“Music Drives Us is proud to support The New England Center for Children with this grant to utilize music as a tool to better the lives of children with autism,” said Ernie Boch Jr. Founder of Music Drives Us. “We are happy to support such an outstanding organization and their extraordinary work providing children with creative outlets and opportunities.”
About Music Drives Us
Music Drives Us (MDU) is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that proudly supports innovators who strive to preserve and produce musical opportunities for all communities throughout New England. Through our grant cycle and generous supporters, MDU is able to support music education programs, supply schools with musical instruments, sponsor music therapy programs, and so much more. More information is available at www.musicdrivesus.org/about.html.
About The New England Center for Children
The New England Center for Children® (NECC®) is a world leader in education, research, and technology for children with autism. For more than 40 years, our community of teachers, researchers, and clinicians have been transforming lives and offering hope to children with autism and their families. NECC’s award-winning services include home-based, day, and residential programs; public school partnerships and consulting; the John and Diane Kim Autism Institute; the ACE® ABA Software System currently used by more than 6,100 students and teachers in 27 states and 10 countries; and ABAplus®, an online professional learning platform for educators. NECC received the 2017 Award for International Dissemination of Behavior Analysis from the Society for the Advancement of Behavior Analysis (SABA). A 501c3 non-profit, The New England Center for Children is based in Southborough, MA, and also operates a center in Abu Dhabi, UAE. More information is available at www.necc.org.
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Contact:
Michele Hart
The New England Center for Children
(508) 481-1015 x4049
[email protected]