The Way Critical Thinking Class Has Challenged Me To Analyze the Lenses I Use

During this semester, this critical thinking class has truly challenged me to analyze the lenses I use on a daily bases and how to somewhat alter them or create new ones. For this class we were required to participate in a music therapy or exercise science session. I chose to attend a music therapy session where the participants learn how to use sign language and they ultimately learn several songs in sign language. Prior to participating in this session, I was both nervous and excited about what was to come. I knew that I would be interacting with adults from the Life Enrichment Center but I had no idea what to expect from them or from the class.

Were they going to be dependent or independent? Was this going to be a very personal experience were we had to share about ourselves? I was also nervous because I did not want to say or do anything disrespectful so I made myself very aware of all the skills we had been learning in class about people with disabilities. On the other hand, I was excited to learn sign language and observe the atmosphere of a music therapy session because I had never been to one before. As soon as the adults walked in, I knew that this was a safe space where no one was judged, no one had to hide, and everyone was very kind and polite. I used my new lens on disability to view the whole session and I discovered that there was nothing to be nervous about.

When the session began, we were all sitting in a semi-circle and we went around stating our name and the sign that goes with our name. This sign was simply something you loved or something you do all the time so I chose the sign for dance which the leader of the group showed me how to perform. Once we introduced ourselves, the group sang and signed their greeting song which was precious. Before we could begin learning songs in sign language, one of the leaders of the group led us in an exercise to warm us up and wake us up. He pulled out one of those large colorful parachutes that we all remember playing with as a child and we all took hold of it while he pulled up a song of his choice on the computer. With music playing in the background, the leader threw a ball into the center of the parachute and told us that we were to try and keep the ball inside the circle of people. At the same time, he would ask us to move the parachute in the way that the music makes us feel. Because different participants could pick songs of their choice, the movement of the parachute ranged from frantic shaking, to gentle waves, to rotating in a circle, or to a medium roar.

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Everyone had a great time with this activity and there was even a point where people on opposite ends of the circle could run under the chute and switch spots. This brought a lot of smiles to everyone's' face and it definitely made me feel more welcome and comfortable in the session. The rest of the time we spent practicing old sings that the group had already learned and learning a new song. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to participate and learn how to sign some of the song "New York, New York" by Frank Sinatra. The session was closed with a goodbye song and happy, content faces. I did not get to spend any one-on-one time with any of the adults but there was a couple who really stood out to me. They were both adults from the Life Enrichment Center and they day of this session was the woman's birthday so the man came in ecstatic about it being her birthday and wanting to talk about her and only her. I would look over at him and he would almost always be looking at her with adoration. Neither of them required any sort of physical support to be successful in this setting, only occasional verbal guidance was needed. Just from observation, I could conclude that they both had trouble with speech, as did many of the other participants and this may be what led them to take a sign language music therapy class.

What surprised me most about this experience is how music really brought light into the eyes of everyone participating. Because I had never experience a music therapy session before, I had no idea how I would be affected or how everyone else would be affected but I came to realize that we were all there for the same reason: we find escape, safety, and happiness in theform of music whether it is simply playing the guitar, listening to music on the internet, or signing songs. Music was what brought us all together and there were no longer speculating lenses that tried to put two and two together but one observant and appreciative lens. If I could do this again, I would love to go to more events where people with disabilities have a larger role in the production and construction of a project.

I would also love to watch more sports that involve people with disabilities. I wanted to attend the wheelchair basketball tournament but was unable to. Luckily, I did speak with a coach from one of the teams and he stated that they were definitely going to return to GCSU for another tournament in the coming years. I look forward to those games when they do return and I will be keeping my eyes and ears open for the Special Olympics and Paralympics. Finally, I would love to have an opportunity to have one-on-one time with someone with disabilities so that I can see through a new lens and/or revise the lens I already have. This class has shown me that there are so many misconceptions about the disabled community but it only takes one correct representation to begin the alteration of society's views on this minority.

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