Music, Language and Autism

Adam Ockelford is a composer, performer, researcher and professor of music who has worked extensively with children with special needs. He gained a Ph.D. in music from Goldsmiths College, developing a theory of musical understanding and development. Adam is the Secretary for the Society for Education, Music and Psychology Research ('SEMPRE'), Chair of Soundabout, a charity that supports music provision for children and young people with complex needs; and founder of The AMBER Trust, a charity that supports visually impaired children in their pursuit of music. He lives in London, UK.

• Foreword by Francesca Happé. Introduction. 1. Reflections on Autism. 2. The Challenge of Language. 3. Making Sense of Music. 4. How Musicality Develops. 5. Music, Language and Communication. 6. Exceptional Early Cognitive Environments (EECEs). 7. Teaching the '1 in 20.' Conclusion. Bibliography. Index.

There is much that is fascinating in this book. Its message, that not all autistic children are visual learners and music should play a much greater role in their education, is important.