New research and practical guidance around music education in autism resource bases
Music education is a curriculum entitlement for every child, including autistic young people, across all four nations of the UK. Research from the University of South Wales, indicates that music builds confidence and wellbeing and can be both a tool for communication and a means of building communication skills for autistic young people. But currently, many don’t receive the same access to music in school as their peers.
Live Music Now have developed the resource following four years of collaboration with autistic musicians, educators and young people, culminating in a participatory action research project with the University of South Wales, funded by the AHRC Hub for Public Engagement with Music Research at the University of Southampton.
The resource comprises an open-access guide and a series of policy briefings for Wales, Northern Ireland and England. The guide is designed for anyone working with autistic young people, whatever their musical background or budget. It is intended to be neurodiversity-affirming and grounded in the social model of disability, advocating for a strength-based understanding of autism.
The project involved autistic musicians and advisers, whose lived experience helped shape both the research and the final recommendations. The guide is accompanied by policy briefings for school leaders and decision-makers.
For schools seeking to strengthen inclusive practice, the guide provides practical approaches to making music education more accessible, meaningful and engaging for autistic learners.
