Lived Experience Perspectives on Ableism Within and Beyond Music Therapists’ Professional Identities

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Shaw, C. M., Churchill, V., Curtain, S., Davies, A., Davis, B., Kalenderidis, Z., Hunt, E. L., McKenzie, B. A., Murray, M., & Thompson, G. (2022). Lived Experience Perspectives on Ableism Within and Beyond Music Therapists’ Professional Identities. Music Therapy Perspectives, 40(2), 143-151. https://doi.org/10.1093/mtp/miac001

Publication date: 1 Sep 2022 Added to AutiHub: 6 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
10
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 10 (10.0%)
  1. Carolyn Martin Shaw
  2. Victoria Churchill
  3. Sarah Curtain
  4. Allison Davies
  5. Brede Davis
  1. Zoë Kalenderidis
  2. Emily Langlois Hunt
  3. Benjamin A. McKenzie
  4. Megan Murray
  5. Grace Thompson *

Abstract

Abstract The 10 authors contributing to this reflective essay are comprised of music therapy practitioners, academics, and students with lived experience of disability, neurodivergence, or/and chronic physical and mental health conditions. We will discuss the impact of ableism in our music therapy work, both for participants and for music therapists. Beyond outright discrimination of people with disability, ableism is typically linked to an agenda to normalize and cure. In contrast, music therapists working from a position of post-ableist music therapy seek to collaboratively provide conditions and musical experiences that are less disabling and restrictive through addressing barriers and facilitating connections. We will discuss how including post-ableist perspectives might also create safer spaces for music therapists with lived experience of disability, neurodivergence, and/or chronic physical and mental health conditions. In this critical commentary, we wish to move from a deficit understanding of therapists with lived experience that is often implicit in codes of ethics and standards of practice, to one that celebrates the richness and knowledge that our experience brings. To embed post-ableist perspectives into our profession at all levels, we will discuss the implications for student training and supervision when accessibility is centered in practicum and classroom learning activities. In conclusion, we aim to make apparent the fact that therapists can and do come in all forms and with all backgrounds and that recognizing health diversity in our profession benefits us all.

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Cited references
37
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
0 / 37 (0.0%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
0 / 45 (0.0%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 0 / 3 (0.0%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 0 / 42 (0.0%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
3 / 45 (6.7%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 3 / 42 (7.1%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
3 / 3 (100.0%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 3 / 45 (6.7%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 3 / 3 (100.0%).
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