Using technology-mediated music-making at school with children with autism and intellectual disabilities: a participatory multidisciplinary approach

Abstract

Despite the existence of extensive literature on the benefits of either technology or music in children with autism and intellectual disabilities (ID), research studies exploring the impact of interventions combining the two are scant. This paper presents a collaborative multidisciplinary approach between school staff, university researchers and a business in their development of a technology-mediated music-making system (i.e. the Cosmo units) that aims to improve the quality of life of the former population. Data were collected via observations of individual pupils and focus group interviews with the school staff. The results, discussed in the light of relevant literature, incorporate both the changes applied to the Cosmo system and the benefits for school staff, university researchers and the business through being part of this participatory project.