The DAD Program is a Revolutionary 501(C)(3) non-profit organization, that helps children and adults with Autism, Dyslexia, ADD, ADHD, Tourettes, Asperger’s, OCD, and ODD, to develop and expand retention, coordination, self-esteem, and physical and cognitive functioning. DAD was originally launched in several New York City schools and communities, and is now featured in numerous schools and communities throughout the world. DAD also features lectures and workshops on the latest research, advice, and teaching methods, to help parents and teachers raise and teach special needs children.
DAD is certified by the State Department of Education, as an official teacher-training provider curriculum. Psychologists, School Systems, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Teachers, and Music Therapists throughout the world, use the DAD Program, to help participants develop and expand retention, coordination, self-esteem, and physical and cognitive functioning.
Numerous Celebrities, Sports Stars, Politicians, and Major Corporations endorse the DAD Program. Some include Senator Anthony Bucco, The New Jersey Department of Education, the Star Ledger Newspaper, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, The Morris County Park Police, Coca-Cola, Chevrolet, The New Jersey Education Association, The WWE Superstars, the New Jersey Nets, the NJ Devils, The NY Giants, the Meadowlands Chamber of Commerce, Drum Magazine, The Buddy Rich Drum Company, WDHA Radio, and Vater Percussion, among others.
A main segment of the DAD Program is Drum Therapy,® which combines the principals of physical and cognitive functioning, and drumming. It is used as an intervention to provide the special needs community with the opportunity to participate in creative, verbal, and non-verbal expression. Psychologists, School Systems, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Teachers of all subjects, and Music Therapists throughout the world are licensed in Drum Therapy,® which can be conducted in either individual or group settings.
The DAD Program segments are comprised of both Cognitive Restructuring, and Social Skills interventions, and are a valuable diagnostic tool in expanding physical, mental, emotional, social, and cognitive development.
The DAD Program combines visual, rhythmic, auditory, and verbal approaches, and helps participants meet the goals and objectives for improvement in fine motor skill, physical, and cognitive functioning. Participants also grow both cognitively and emotionally, and gain self-esteem through the creative process of Drum Therapy.®
The DAD Program also helps participants to learn problem-solving strategies, improve patience and perseverance, develop coordination and retention, and nurture social skills, sensitivity, cooperation, and conflict resolution.
The DAD Program and Drum Therapy® are beneficial to all participants. The population targeted for these services are those special needs children and adults, whose disability has effected, impacted, or reduced their physical and/or cognitive capabilities. It’s non-threatening, fun nature, makes it appealing to all age groups.
A Participant's rhythmic arts ability and works are not graded, and program modalities are specifically tailored to meet the specific needs of each student. The DAD program does not require participants to have specific skills or talent. Every participant can, and does grow, from the DAD Program interventions.
Participants in the DAD Program might have experienced failure in their previous school classes, and/or social settings. Whether primarily because of behavioral problems, or a combination of their specific disability and a behavioral problem. As a result, these participants need to experience success, and will find success in the DAD Program.
As physical and cognitive abilities grow, participants are anxious to return to the DAD Program, and a trusting relationship is built between each participant and the Drum Therapist. This trusting relationship opens the door to communication, which becomes the foundation that allows for behavior modification and emotional healing to begin.
THE DAD PROGRAM HELPS ALL PARTICIPANTS TO:
1. Improve their ability to identify feelings and behavior.
2. Improve communication skills.
3. Channel cathartic release, or discharge strong feelings, safely through rhythm.
4. Gain valuable insight into their feelings and maladaptive thoughts.
5 Demonstrate improved fine motor skills, retention, and coordination.
6. Demonstrate improved psychomotor skills.
7. Demonstrate improved social skills through a combined group effort activity.
8. Gain self-esteem and self-confidence by being a major part of an artistic project.
9. Demonstrate improved frustration tolerance.
10. Develop personal expression through the creative art process.
EVALUATION TOOLS USED IN THE DAD PROGRAM:
1. Observations by the Drum Therapist.
2. Participant’s artwork, creative expression, and/or verbalization.
3. DAD Program Assessments.
4. Interdisciplinary conferences (Parents, Therapists, School Teachers).
THERAPEUTIC COMPONENT
The DAD Program is a psycho-educational intervention, which gives a participant the opportunity to express themselves in an emotionally safe, non-threatening environment. This process is in itself is highly therapeutic, but unlike participation in a school class or other social activities, participation in a DAD Program session allows a participant to express anger, sorrow, or other related feelings which are “unacceptable” in traditional classes or social settings. Cathartic release of strong feelings such as anger and fear, are encouraged. After or during a DAD Program session, a participant will usually discuss their feelings with parents, friends, teachers, and/or counselors. These classes are held in high esteem, and confidentiality is an ethically required part of the process.
The DAD Program also encourages children to talk with their parents and/or counselors about their feelings. When this occurs, the Drum Therapist is usually contacted by the parents and/or counselor, to find out how they can all work together to help the child. This positive interaction enables the Drum Therapist to recognize the issue(s) that the child needs to work through. The Drum Therapist will then design specific Drum Therapy® classes that meet a child’s individual emotional needs. As a result, the Drum Therapist becomes a friend, counselor, and trusted confidante of the child, and the DAD classroom becomes a “safe haven,” where a student can have fun, be relaxed, achieve great things, and be the best they can be.
ACADEMIC AND AESTHETIC COMPONENT
Although the primary focus of The DAD Program is to help the special needs community manage the symptoms of their disabilities, additional academic and aesthetic benefits should also be mentioned.
Whenever a special needs child or adult faces a creative challenge, (and especially when they are really invested in the process emotionally), growth occurs. The DAD Program helps participants to develop problem solving techniques, and helps them to learn how to deal with errors, how to make the best of an “error,” and to not simply give up. Participants learn that there are many answers to one problem, and that the answer to a creative question may be different from someone else’s. Participants also learn to respect the uniqueness of each person’s creation. These skills are invaluable in almost every other area of learning.
As a participant progresses in the DAD Program, they will learn how to integrate numerous skills into other areas of learning and social activities. The DAD Program teaches the elements and principles of self discipline, skill, and technique, and helps participants to integrate themselves into a standard learning and social setting. As a result, all skills that participants develop through The DAD Program will have deep meaning, and those skills will contribute to future success.
181 HOWARD BOULEVARD, SUITE M, #336 MT. ARLINGTON, NJ, 07856
P: 973-725-5150
WWW.DADPROGRAM.ORG
