PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES OF DISABLED MUSIC THERAPISTS

Literature about disability often focuses on disabled people as recipients of professional services and there is scant literature about disabled professionals. Although music therapists work primarily with disabled individuals, there is little research on or from the perspectives of disabled music therapists. A growing body of qualitative research, grey literature, and media platforms provides perspectives from the disability community regarding music therapy. Disabled individuals both within and outside the profession critique common music therapy attitudes and practices that conflict with the expressed needs of the disability community. However, much of this literature contains the perspectives of one individual or a small group with similar disabilities and focuses more on philosophy than detailing professional experiences. The purpose of this qualitative thesis was to explore the professional lives and perspectives of disabled music therapists. The primary research question was: “What are the lived professional experiences of disabled music therapists?” Additionally, sub-questions were: “How do disabled music therapists describe their professional identity?” “What conditions enable and prohibit disabled music therapists from thriving in the profession?” and “What recommendations do disabled music therapists have for advancing the profession?” To answer these questions, I conducted an adapted qualitative multiple case study with four disabled music therapists. I used thematic analysis to analyze interview data, which yielded three themes: (1) Degree of Support Influences Disabled Music Therapists’ Professional Journeys, (2) The Music Therapy Profession Has a Lot to Learn, and (3) The Music Therapy Profession Reflects Broad, Systemic Ableism. Findings from this study reveal insights that disabled music therapists gained through both positive and negative lived experiences. Results also inform the advancement of the music therapy profession.