# 'Agricultural specialisterne': rural employment revolution for those with Autism **URL:** \ **Category:** Lounge\ **Created:** [June 5, 2011, 5:40am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615 "2011-06-05T05:40:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 327
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2012, 9:07pm UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/327 "2012-06-22T21:07:30Z")
Joanne Lara is the founder of Autism Movement Therapy (AMT) and developer of the aut-erobics DVD. Lara graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Dance and danced professionally in New York City with the Louis Falco Dance Company. She has since earned a Master’s degree in Special Education and taught for over ten years, working exclusively with students with autism. Autism Movement Therapy is the first movement and musical therapy of its kind - incorporating innovative inter-hemispheric sensory integration strategies (neuro-plasticity) using movement and music. AMT is designed to unlock and improve communication, cognitive and academic skills as well as increase social and behavioral awareness skills in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. > [@](#): > > …AMT is an empowering sensory integration strategy that connects both the left and right hemispheres of the brain (interhemispheric integration) by combining **patterning** , **visual movement calculation** , **audile receptive processing** , **rhythm** and **sequencing** into a ‘whole brain’ cognitive thinking approach that can significantly improve behavioral, emotional, academic, social and speech and language skills. > > The primary goal of Autism Movement Therapy is that after 12 -14 weeks of two or three 12 minute sessions a week using the aut-erobics DVD, the individual will be more compliant when asked to complete on-task activities, will interact with typical general education peers more frequently, and will be using both sides of his brain for processing. Increased overall self-determination awareness, along with healthier, improved self-esteem is the ultimate goal. Here are some links to short videos on Joanne Lara, Autism Movement Therapy and the aut-erobics DVD… [![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/pheromonetalk/original/2X/2/2acc87cab6765888fdc583c880f8178d160d98cd.jpeg "Autism Movement Therapy Joanne Lara aut-erobics www.aut-erobics.com") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csUDgMAvNfM) [![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/pheromonetalk/original/2X/9/9810e44852b5d3000a96eead64740a647ce350e0.jpeg "Autism Movement Therapy Joanne Lara ABC 7 News") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0NvxkSspno) [![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/pheromonetalk/original/2X/8/88922c260e199b1d8be56a2a01fc1099566ecd52.jpeg "Autism Movement Therapy July 2009 Training Workshop") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_HN31MYaH4) [![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/pheromonetalk/original/2X/6/6985f0e8a927e8588d2b31b7b71744d2b531216f.jpeg "Autism Movement Therapy Joanne Lara MA July 18 2009 Class") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ftf7a7_CLrY) Indeed the intense mental (as well as physical) exercise work that AMT requires of participants in combining **patterning** , **visual movement calculation** , **audile receptive processing** , **rhythm** and **sequencing** , should definitely transfer into improvements in functioning in every day life for Autistic individuals. This is not unlike [my post on the success one Canadian program has had in utilising Capoeira for children with special needs](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/166) - Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art that combines elements of dance and music… > [@](#): > > …Dancing integrates several brain functions at once, increasing your connectivity. Dancing simultaneously involves kinesthetic, rational, musical and emotional processes… (sources: [The Autism Expert - Bio of Joanne Lara](http://theautismexpert.com/AutismExpertBio.html); [Autism Movement Therapy “Wakes Up the Brain” | SpecialNeeds.com](http://www.specialneeds.com/children-and-parents/autism/autism-movement-therapy-wakes-brain); [Dancing Makes You Smarter](http://socialdance.stanford.edu/syllabi/smarter.htm)) --- _[View the full topic](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615)._