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MoreChapel Hill, NC — April 28, 2026 — A new pilot study conducted by researchers from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro evaluating Voices Together’s (https://voicestogether.org) evidence-based Voices Music Therapy (VMT™) model has revealed significant developmental gains for preschool-aged children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
The study, conducted across six special education classrooms, found that structured 30-minute, weekly music therapy sessions led by board-certified therapists significantly improved students’ social communication, emotional regulation, and self-advocacy skills.
Using the standardized AEPS-3 assessment, researchers observed substantial improvements over the 12-week program:
● Social Communication: A 7-percentage point increase in performance.
● Social Emotional: An 11-percentage point increase in performance.
The magnitude of these changes was characterized as "large," indicating that the growth was not only statistically reliable but also noticeable and meaningful in the children's daily functional skills.
Beyond standardized testing, the study tracked individualized goals using a 0-4 scale, where higher numbers indicate greater independence. The results were nearly universal among the 62 participating students:
● Communication: 98% of students improved their communication goal scores, which rose from an average of 0.30 to 2.39.
● Social-Emotional Learning: 97% of students showed measurable growth, with average scores increasing from 0.33 to 2.45.
● Self-Efficacy: 97% of students demonstrated higher scores, rising from 0.33 to 2.48.
The VMT™ model also received overwhelming support from participating teachers, who reported a 7.84 out of 8 satisfaction rate. Teachers observed that students not only engaged deeply during the sessions, but also carried the skills into their daily routines, such as using therapy songs to identify and express emotions outside of the music room.
"My students loved having the VMT™ therapist come in and would be filled with excitement every week," shared one participating teacher. Another noted that the program “helped with their [students’] emotions and identifying their emotion.”
While the study authors, Drs. Heather Coleman and Salih Rakap, note that these findings are "encouraging and promising" rather than definitive due to the absence of a comparison group, the results offer strong evidence that the VMT™ model can effectively bridge developmental gaps in early childhood education. The intervention led to "large" and statistically meaningful improvements across all measured domains.
“We now have continued evidence of the tangible self-efficacy, communication, and social-emotional engagement skills improvements as a result of Voices Music Therapy (VMT™),” said Voices Together’s Founder & CEO, Yasmine White, MT-BC, VMT™. “The preschool age is part of that critical, early childhood timetable where the potential for learning and growth is magnified.”
About Voices Together
Voices Together (www.voicestogether.org) is a North Carolina-wide leader in inclusive, non-directive therapeutic approaches and in shifting how we think about and serve individuals who think and process the world in unique ways. While long recognized as a state-wide leader, the organization is currently increasing its national scope by expanding its areas of programming and launching pilot programs in other states.
Through its VMT™ model, Voices Together offers individual therapy, school programs, community programs, vocational training, and virtual programming — not only for neurodiverse clients, but also in the areas of mental health, foster care, and substance use disorders.
Voices Together Media Contact:
Khaner Walker
khanerw@arcsenseconsulting.com
+1 (919) 412-1566