FUSION LAB AS MODEL OF COMMUNITY THERAPY FOR SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS

Abstract

This paper discusses the use of community therapy among special needs students in the Fusion Lab through music and performance intervention which include Dikir Barat and Kuda Kepang. Special needs students with Autism, Syndrown Down and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have different level of cognitive function and commonly neglected by community to explore their potentials. Thus, it is creates problems to special need students such as low self-confidents, lack of self-worth, have limited social communication skills and also been expected as wastage of human capital of the country. Therefore, underlying the theory of Social Learning theory by Bandura which individual learns from social and environment through observation, imitation and modelling, community has use as method of approach or therapy. Special need students in the Fusion Lab are taught to use the peer community through participation, observation, and interaction with others to change thoughts, feelings and behavior patterns. As the result, they improve significantly in the confident level and optimist to perform the performance in front of the crowd. The finding suggests the need of creating supportive ecosystem to explore their potential and become productive members of society.