Kardon

 Four-year-old Mikey Flis of Holmesburg, born with autism spectrum disorder, didn't talk or communicate at all for the first two years of his life. Now, at age four, innovative Kardon Institute programs are helping him connect with others through music and dance. Mikey enrolled in the Family Music and Movement Circles program for children with ASD and their family members in September of 2008. His six-year-old brother Felix and mother Sally attended the classes with him every Saturday which helped Felix understand his brother’s needs more clearly. The boys are now interacting more at home and Sally sees that overall Mikey’s attention span is growing. "He loves music and we know he can connect with people through music," says his mother. "To be independent, he needs to be communicative with everybody." She appreciates how the program at Kardon is "different from other therapies.  It's free and fun. It balances with other therapies.” In June of 2009, Mikey began individual music sessions and currently sees Caryn on Monday evenings for thirty minutes. Sally feels the results of his music therapy are reflected in many ways.  Mikey “says what he wants now, whether its food or toys. He has become more vocal, even singing entire songs, instead of only finishing the end of lines as he did a year ago. He gets enjoyment out of this therapy as he explores all the instruments in the room and then continues playing on his guitar, piano or drum set at home.” For more about other Kardon clients and staff, please click here.