379 STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES HAVE BENEFITED FROM THE MUSIC THERAPY PROGRAM SINCE 2013
Her Excellency Sheikha Jameela bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Director General of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services, was very proud of the graduation of the sixth batch of city staff, who completed their training within the Music Therapy Program, organized by the city since 2013, in cooperation with Iowa University from South Korea.
Her Excellency praised the efforts made by the city cadre of employees, specialists and supervisors within the program, by providing the best services for people with disabilities, to develop their motor, social, linguistic, educational and behavioral skills.
The director general of the city asserted that the experience gained by the cadre year after year reflects positively on the diversity of services provided to people with disabilities and the development of their skills.
Her Excellency Sheikha Jameela thanked the students of the University of Iowa and its specialists who had participated in the program since its inception and provided their experiences in working with persons with disabilities and the city staff to achieve the best results.
These words came after the graduation of the sixth batch of staff from Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services and the ninth batch of female students from the University of Iowa, South Korea, as part of the Music Therapy Program. The city organized the graduation ceremony remotely.
Thus, the number of city employees who graduated from the Music Therapy Program since its inception in 2013 becomes (95) employees. While, the number of graduate students from the University of Iowa who graduated in the program became 29 students, all of whom participated in training 379 students with disabilities in order to develop their motor, social, linguistic and educational capabilities. Providing opportunities to improve their quality of life, participation and inclusion in society.
The virtual graduation ceremony included presentations by graduates, which included recording of the music therapy sessions and evaluative notes of the work accomplished during the training period and the remarkable development in the skills and abilities of students during the implementation of the sessions.
In her speech, Professor Hyang Ju-chung, Head of the Department of Music Therapy at the University of Iowa, was very happy with the achievement of the graduates of city employees and university students. They were able during the Music Therapy Program to develop their educational skills and achieve fruitful results in working with people with disabilities in accordance with international best practices.
She explained that the cooperation with the city since its inception in 2013 is the first of its kind between the university and an Arab institution. It is not limited to the aspect related to serving people with disabilities, but includes training the city’s staff in order to achieve sustainability in the program and qualify specialists from the city who are able to use it in the best way.
She said, "We can note the remarkable progress that the team has achieved, especially this year, despite the circumstances caused by the COVID 19 pandemic”. She expressed her admiration for the results achieved by students and specialists, wishing success to all.
The professor spoke about new strategies and techniques in music therapy, which city staff receives training on frequently. Every year, a new batch of employees receives training to complete the program’s message. She praised the enthusiasm shown by city's specialists to learn new strategies and work to add and develop new skills during their work with students.
For her part, Khadija Ahmed Bamakhramah, General Supervisor of the Music Therapy Program and the Planning and Follow-up Officer in the city, emphasized the leadership of the city. It adopts the music therapy program within its curriculum and provide the appropriate environment for specialists and teachers to master music therapy skills to develop the capabilities of persons with disabilities in various fields.
She talked about the importance of the program in developing the skills of students with disabilities through music therapy techniques, as it is one of the best and most advanced treatment methods.
She also praised the trust and support provided to the work team of Her Excellency Sheikha Jameela bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, who achieved the continuity of the program. She stressed that providing services to people with disabilities in line with international best practices comes at the forefront of the city’s priorities, as it seeks to develop and strengthen its relations with institutions and the concerned authorities locally, regionally and internationally.