Where to Find A Good Teacher for My Autistic Son?

by Karin
(Canada)

I am searching for a good teacher for my child, recently diagnosed Autistic at age nine. He has been learning to play piano for the past four years and encountered some problems in his progress.

Dana replies: I wish I could help you, but I don't know of any list of teachers specially qualified to teach autistic children.

However, I was interested to see a recent posting in a forum I watch at Pianoteaching.com, and I will give you the link:

http://pianoteaching.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=43201&Searchpage=1&Main=2436&Words=autistic&Search=true# Post43201

I have looked at the links posted on this thread, but didn't find them very helpful at the time. There appears to be a course called "Innovative Piano" written with special-needs students in mind, but I would have to see it and try it before recommending such a thing.

More helpful, I thought, were the suggestions by the mother (Mishee) with the boy who benefitted from singing his songs first before learning them on the piano.

I wish there was some kind of Teachers for Special-Needs Students List... good luck!