(Formerly titled: The Music For Special Learners Committee)
Music for All
Welcome to the Neurodiversity & Accessibility page. Our focus is on creating accessible musical environments for all and providing all stakeholders with the support and tools necessary to implement this. The resources we have compiled can be applied to all types of music classrooms, ensembles, technology labs, studios, and more.
Brian J. Wagner-Yeung
NYSSMA Chair – Neurodiversity & Accessibility
Neurodiversity & Accessibility Committee
Brian J. Wagner-Yeung, Chair
Dr. Elise S. Sobol, Previous Chair
Procedures for Accommodating Students with Disabilities at NYSSMA Solo and Ensemble Festivals
For students who require accommodations for either the NYSSMA solo or ensemble festivals, a form must be completed by the teacher, parent or guardian, and principal. The form must be sent to the Festival Chairperson and the NYSSMA Zone Representative at least six weeks prior to the adjudication or festival. Accommodations should be documented on a student’s IEP or 504 Accommodation Plan, or they should be accommodations that are regularly used during the student’s instructional program.
Teachers can access to form here: Procedures for Accommodating Students with Disabilities at NYSSMA Solo and Ensemble Festivals Form
For a list of suggested and allowable accommodations, teachers can use this resource from New York State: Accommodations for Testing
Neurodiversity & Accessibility Sessions at the 2025 NYSSMA Winter Conference
This year, our Neurodiversity & Accessibility sessions at our annual winter conference will present a wide range of topics. Please take a look at our offerings.
One Size Fits None: Embracing UDL in Inclusive Classrooms
Thursday, December 4th, 2025 at 3:30 PM in CC Aqueduct AB
Presenters: Zachary Beard & Cody Messersmith
This session is intended to explore how Universal Design for Learning (UDL) empowers educators to meet diverse student needs in special education. Discover inclusive strategies that remove barriers, foster engagement, and support all learners in accessing meaningful, equitable music education.
Reach Every Student with Accessible Music Education
Thursday, December 4th, 2025 at 7:00 PM in CC Aqueduct AB
Presenter: Rhoda Bernard
As our students’ learning schemes become more diverse, including all learners becomes increasingly challenging. Accessible Music Education provides strategies that combine evidence-based practices from music education, special education, and general education. In this session, you will learn tools that you can use right away to reach every student in your classes, ensembles, and studios.
The Neurodiverse Music Classroom
Friday, December 5th, 2025 at 8:15 AM in CC Aqueduct AB
Presenter: Brian J. Wagner-Yeung
Neurodiversity recognizes that all students learn and experience the world differently and that the music classroom should be tailored around each student’s strengths. Using current language and terminology, this session will help us to learn more about who our students really are, and how to recognize each student’s strengths in order to create a more inclusive music classroom, full of a sense of belonging for ALL.
Kinetic Melodies: Movement Activities for All Children
Friday, December 5th, 2025 at 1:15 PM in CC Aqueduct AB
Presenter: Dr. Jason Jones
Movement is essential to responding musically in the general music classroom. However, students with mobility differences may feel excluded or othered during movement activities. In this session, Jones, a differently-abled musician, will guide participants in movement approaches and provide activities with built-in modifications that inherently include students with mobility differences.
Adapting Classroom Instruments for Students with Disabilities
Friday, December 5th, 2025 at 7:00 PM in CC Aqueduct AB
Presenter: Tracy Wanamaker
Students with disabilities want to participate in classroom and recreational music making, but sometimes their disabilities make this difficult. In this session, we will discuss ways to adapt classroom instruments and equipment to make playing accessible to all students and explore new technology that makes creating music accessible to everyone.
NYSSMA Academy Series 2.0
Join us for our second virtual series for the 2025 – 2026 school year, with a focus on Neurodiversity & Accessibility. CTLE credits will be provided for those who attend and request.
21st Century Practices: Strategies for the Inclusion of Neurodivergent Learners in the Music Classroom
Presenter: Cody Messersmith
Saturday, September 27th from 12:00 – 1:30
Planning for Inclusion: UDL Meets Assistive Technology
Presenter: Erik Piazza
Saturday, November 8th from 12:00 – 1:30
Sensory Safety for Students: Predictable Routines in Instrumental Music
Presenter: Krysta Mirsik DePuy
Saturday, March 7th from 12:00 – 1:30
Music for All: Engaging All Learners in the Accessible Music Classroom
Presenter: Brian Wagner-Yeung
Saturday, April 25th from 12:00 – 1:30
You can register for the workshops at this link.
Federal & NYS Education Laws & Information
Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act (1988)
(ADA) The Americans with Disabilities Act (1990)
(IDEA) Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (1997)
(ESSA) Every Student Succeeds Act (2015)
National Association for Music Education The Every Student Succeeds Act
Our Nation’s English Learners
U.S. Department of Education English Learner Fact Sheet
New York State Laws and Regulations Related to Special Education and Students with Disabilities
Music-Making, Accessible & Inclusive Ensembles, Programs & Studios
Daniel’s Music Foundation
Filomen M. D’Agostino Greenberg Music School
Hug Music
Just Accessible Music (JAM)
Music Academy for Special Learners
Sonic Arts for All (SAFA!)
United Sound
Urban Arts Partnership (EASE)
Organizations, Professional Development, & Resources for Educators
Arts for All Abilities Consortium
Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education (BIAAE)
CEC Division of Visual and Performing Arts Education (DARTS)
Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST)
Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL)
Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
Divas with Disabilities
ISME Special Music Education & Music Therapy
NAfME Accessible Music Education Special Research Interest Group (SRIG)
Access/VSA The Kennedy Center
Assistive Musical Technology & Adaptive Musical Resources
Artiphon
Beamz
Clarion
EyeHarp
Figurenotes
Jamboxx
Launchpad X
Makey Makey
Orba
Skwitch
Soundbeam
Specdrums
Applications & Websites
BeatBlocks
Chrome Music Lab
Creatability Experiments by Google
GarageBand
Incredibox
Keezy
Paint Melody
ThumbJam
Literature for Music & Diverse Learners
The Accessible Music Classroom for All
Brian J. Wagner-Yeung
Approach to Teaching Music to Diverse Learners: A Neuro-Inclusive Resource (Fourth Edition)
Elise S. Sobol
Exceptional Music Pedagogy for Children with Exceptionalities (International Perspectives)
Deborah VanderLinde Blair & Kimberly A. McCord
Including Everyone: Creating Music Classrooms Where All Children Learn
Judith A. Jellison
The Music and Literacy Connection
Dee Hansen, Elaine Bernstorf & Gayle M. Stuber
Music Education and Social Emotional Learning: The Hear of Teaching Music
Scott N. Edgar
Music in Special Education (Third Edition)
Mary S. Adamek & Alice-Ann Darrow
Special Needs, Community Music, and Adult Learning (An Oxford Handbook of Music Education, Volume 4)
Gary E. McPherson & Graham F. Welch
Spotlight on Making Music with Special Learners: Selected Articles from State MEA Journals (Spotlight Series)
MENC: The National Association for Music Education
Teaching Music to Students with Differences and Disabilities (Third Edition)
Alice M. Hammel & Ryan M. Hourigan
Universal Design for Learning in Music Education
Ryan Hourigan, Alice Hammel & Elise Hackl-Blumstein
Winding it Back: Teaching to Individual Differences in Music Classroom and Ensemble Settings
Alice M. Hammel, Roberta Y. Hickox & Ryan M. Hourigan
Literature for Inclusive Environments & Teaching
Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to Be an Ally
Emily Ladau
Disability Visability: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century
Alice Wong
Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences
Howard Gardner
Neurodiversity in the Classroom: Strength-Based Strategies to Help Students with Special Needs Succeed in School and Life
Thomas Armstrong
UDL Now! A Teacher’s Guide to Applying Universal Design for Learning (Third Edition)
Katie Novak
Unlearning: Changing Your Beliefs and Your Classroom with UDL
Allison Posey & Katie Novak
Publications by NYSSMA Chairs for Neurodiversity & Accessibility
Sobol, E. S. (August 1994). Music Success for Special Learners, Inclusion Buzzword
of Hope for the Future! New York: New York State Council of Educational Associations.
Sobol, E. S. (September 1994). “The Red, Green, Yellow, Song” in NYSSMA Notes.
Westbury, NY: New York State School Music Association.
Sobol, E. S. (January 1995). “Assembly Programs” in NYSSMA Notes.
Westbury, NY: New York State School Music Association.
Sobol, E. S. (March 1995). “Music Success for Special Learners.” in
School Music News. Westbury, NY: New York State School Music Association.
Sobol, E. S. (May/June 1995). “Music and the Mouse.” In NYSSMA Notes.
Westbury, NY: New York State School Music Association.
Sobol, E. S. (November 1995). “Magic Microphone and Awesome Video Camera.” in
NYSSMA Notes. Westbury, NY: New York State School Music Association.
Sobol, E. S. (February 1997). “It Depends on Y.O.U.” in NYSSMA Notes. Westbury, NY:
New York State School Music Association.
Sobol, E. S. (December 1998). “Loud, Louder, Loudest.” in School Music News.
Westbury, NY: New York State School Music Association.
Sobol, E. S. (October 1999). “Communication through Music: A Language beyond
Words” in School Music News. Westbury, NY: New York State School Music Association.
Sobol, E. S. (August 2001). “Is That Your Joanna There? The Musical Rhythmic Intelligence.
How Fantastic!” School Music News. Westbury, NY: New York State School Music Association.
Sobol, E. S. (December 2001). “Instructional Music Teaching for Special Learners”
School Music News. Westbury, NY: New York State School Music Association.
Sobol, E.S. (2001). An Attitude and Approach for Teaching Music to Special Learners
Raleigh, NC: Pentland Press
E. S. (2004). “Loud, Louder, Loudest-Teaching the Dynamics of Life.” in Spotlight on
Making Music with Special Learners. Reston, VA: MENC: The National Association for Music Education, 68–71.
Wagner, B. (2015). Engaging All Learners: Tools and Techniques to Reach Different Types of Learners in the Music Classroom. School Music News. Westbury, NY: New York State School Music Association.
Wagner, B. (2016). Making Connections for Special Learners: Using Repertoire to Enhance Lifelong Learning. School Music News. Westbury, NY: New York State School Music Association.
Wagner, B. (2016). Using Repertoire to Enhance Lifelong Learning. Music in a Minuet. Reston, VA: National Association for Music Education.
Wagner, B. (2017). Using a Differentiated Rhythmic and Melodic Notation System for Special Learners in All Musical Settings. Tempo. Lakewood, NJ: New Jersey Music Educators Association.
Wagner, B. (2017). Engaging All Types of Learners in the Music Classroom. Music in a Minuet. Reston, VA: National Association for Music Education.
Wagner-Yeung, B. (2018). Teaching Lessons to Children with Special Needs. Music in a Minuet. Reston, VA: National Association for Music Education.
Wagner-Yeung, B. (2018). Behavioral Supports for Students with Special Needs in Musical Environments. Music in a Minuet. Reston, VA: National Association for Music Education.
Wagner-Yeung, B. (2019). Related Service Providers in the Music Classroom. DARTS Newsletter. Arlington, VA: Council for Exceptional Children.
Wagner-Yeung, B. (2020). Distance Learning for Special Learners in the Music Classroom. Music in a Minuet. Reston, VA: National Association for Music Education.
Wagner-Yeung, B. (2020). Let’s Make Music! Engaging Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders in the K-8 General Music Classroom. Coralville, IA: Music ConstructED.
Wagner-Yeung, B. (2021). Neurodiversity in the Music Classroom: Using the Strengths of All Students During In-Person and Remote Learning. School Music News. Westbury, NY: New York State School Music Association.
Wagner-Yeung, B. (2022). Inclusive Strategies for Students with ASD in the Music Room. Coralville, IA: Music ConstructED.
Wagner-Yeung, B. (2023). What’s in a Label? An Inclusive Person-First & Strength-Based Approach. School Music News. Westbury, NY: New York State School Music Association.
Wagner-Yeung, B. (2024). How Many Ways? Incorporating Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in the Music Classroom for ALL. School Music News. Westbury, NY: New York State School Music Association.
Contact Brian J. Wagner-Yeung (NYSSMA Chair – Neurodiversity & Accessibility) at brianwagneryeung@gmail.com for handouts from previous NYSSMA conferences, articles, additional websites, and resources.