On June 11th, OneBridge Center’s Medina facility was filled with something a little different — the sound of drums, maracas, a tambourine, a fish, and a group of people singing together. Musician Mary brought her collection of over ten instruments to OneBridge for a live music therapy session, and the whole group joined in.
More Than Ten Instruments, One Great Session
Mary arrived with a full collection — drums, tambourines, maracas, a fidget slug, a guiro fish, and more — and set up a session where every participant had the chance to pick up an instrument, join in a song, and simply experience the pleasure of making music in a group. The whole group sang two songs together, with instruments being passed around and tried throughout.
Music therapy sessions like this one offer something that is genuinely different from the computer training and life skills programming that forms the core of OneBridge’s Life N Tech adult day program. They engage participants through rhythm, sound, and creative expression — building social connection, sensory engagement, and joy in a way that does not feel like a program at all. It just feels like making music.
Nick, Christian, and Alex — Three Highlights
Nick was drawn immediately to the percussion section. He played the drums and the tambourine with genuine enthusiasm — and also got his hands on the fidget slug, which turned out to be a hit in its own right. Nick’s energy during the session was infectious, and he made the most of every instrument he picked up.
Christian found himself drawn to something more unusual — an instrument called a fish, formally known as a guiro, a ridged percussion instrument played by running a stick along its surface. It produces a distinctive rasping sound that is somewhere between a rattle and a scratch. Christian took to it immediately and held on to it throughout much of the session.
Alex came into the session with a personal connection to music — it brought back memories of his high school music class, and you could see the recognition on his face as the instruments came out. He played the drum and the maracas, and by all accounts had a thoroughly good time. The session clearly meant something to him beyond just the afternoon’s activity.
Why Sessions Like This Matter
At OneBridge Center, programming for adults with IDD is not limited to computer skills and vocational preparation — as important as those are. Sessions like Mary’s music therapy visit are part of a broader commitment to giving participants rich, varied experiences that engage different parts of who they are.
Music has well-documented benefits for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities — supporting social bonding, sensory processing, emotional expression, and memory. But beyond the research, the simplest argument for a session like this is visible in the photo: two people laughing while playing instruments, completely in the moment. That is worth a lot.
For more on what a full week of programming at OneBridge looks like — from computer training through life skills activities, community outings, and sessions like this one — read our post on day program activities for adults with disabilities at OneBridge Center. And if you are curious about our community day-out activities program that takes participants out into Medina County and the surrounding region every week, that post covers everything families need to know.
A thank you to Mary for bringing her instruments, her energy, and a genuinely memorable morning to OneBridge Center. We hope to have her back.
If you are a family in Medina County, Summit County, or Wayne County exploring adult day services for someone with IDD, we would love to show you what we do in person. Schedule a tour of our Medina facility or contact us at (330) 267-7556 or info@onebridgecenter.com.