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Giant Steps

Somatron Vibroacoustic Products
8503 N. 29th Street
Tampa, FL 33604

August 10, 1998

Dear Mr. Eakin,

The following is an explanation of the many ways that we use the Somatron Body Pillow in the Music therapy program at Giant Steps. As you know, Giant Steps is a private school for children with neurological impairments -- primarily Autism. Each child at giant Steps has an individualized plan including 1 on 1 therapeutic sessions in Occupational Therapy, Play Therapy, Speech Therapy, Activities of Daily Living, and Music Therapy.

USES FOR THE SOMATRON BODY PILLOW:

Relaxation:

Several of the children at Giant Steps have difficulty regulating their arousal levels. Often a child will enter the Music room needing assistance in becoming organized. Under the supervision of our Occupational Therapist, the student will be guided through a series of other techniques to reduce stress while sitting on the body pillow with calming music. The therapist has an opportunity to help the child to achieve a state of readiness before working. Many of our children have a tactile defensiveness however because of the encompassing design of the Body Pillow and the accompanying relaxing music, the students are generally very receptive to this "hands on" manipulation.

Note:
I have found that our students are more comfortable with the cassettes that are steady and predictable. The random music seems to set an uneasy tone and many students cannot tolerate the tactile input when it is not in a consistent and repeated pattern.

The SOMATRON as a Reinforcer

Often at Giant Steps we will use music as a contingent reinforcer. When I find a child that is highly motivated by the sound and "feel" of the Body Pillow, I will use this as a reward. Academic work is brought into the Music Room and with each correct response, the child is given a few moments of their favorite music. The size of the Body Pillow is ideal as it provides a work space with enough room for both the child and the therapist to work side by side. Language goals are addressed with our students with language delays or with those that are primarily non-verbal or echolalic. Because they are highly motivated by the sounds and vibro-tactile input, many of our students will produce approximations of "on" "more" or short sentences: "I want more music".

The Somatron has been a wonderful addition to the Music Therapy classroom. We have used tapes sent to us as well as other favorite children's tapes and classical music.

Note: there are some children that we do not use the Somatron with -- mainly those with seizure disorders.

If you have any further questions about our program or Music Therapy in general, please contact me at any time. I look forward to hearing from you.