Music and dance are such universal parts of the human experience. They are fundamental to who we are. So, why is it that so many people assume the Deaf or hearing impaired community aren’t a part of these vibrant forms of expression?
I am deaf. But getting cochlear implants led me to explore more deeply what music meant to me.
Lia Seth, who was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome at age 23, speaks to the issue and lack of awareness for those with disabilities being able to have accessible seats at shows.
Chloe Meineck designed this Music Memory Box after studying the way that familiar music can help people with dementia connect with memories of their past. Meineck worked closely with her client, Barbara, to find and produce various objects that Barbara can associate with specific memories of different family members. Each object is outfitted with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, so that when an object is placed in the center of the box a corresponding piece of music automatically begins to play.