Everyone Deserves to be Heard

 

Skoog

Originally published by Skoog

 

Skoog gives the gift of music!


Samantha E is a singer songwriter from Edinburgh. By that description, she sounds like so many other millennials. But Samantha’s story is different. Samantha learned to sing before she learned to talk.

 

Being on the autism spectrum and living with a pervasive communication disorder, music has been crucial in letting Samantha connect with the world and have people hear her voice. Despite doctors telling her parents that she would never speak, as a toddler, she began humming along to her favourite songs. Then, when she was 3, came that moment her parents thought they’d never experience. 

 

They heard Samantha’s voice for the first time as she sang along to Tina Turner’s Wind Beneath My Wings.

It wasn’t until the age of 8 that Samantha began talking to other people, yet against all the odds, today she is an award-winning singer-songwriter. 

 

How has Samantha E used Skoog to be heard?

At Skoog, we believe that everyone should have that gift of music; giving them the ability to connect to the world and be heard. That’s why we’ve worked so hard on developing our electronic musical instrument, one that’s easier to use than traditional instruments. Samantha has been using Skoog for many years and it plays a key role for her in composing and performing her own music.

 

How does Skoog work?

For many people, one of the greatest barriers to making music is the dexterity required to play a traditional musical instrument. Skoog removes that barrier. Now anyone can join a band and take part in a range of music-making activities. The instrument helps to build confidence and let people express themselves in a fun and creative way.

 

Suitable for Autism, MLD, SLD and PMD, Down’s syndrome, cerebral palsy, children with global delay, genetic conditions or sensory impairments.

 

  • Helps children express themselves and build confidence.
  • Skoog connects wirelessly to iPad using the free Skoog app.
  • Fun, tactile, expressive, robust and intuitive.
  • Lightweight and portable.
  • Underside works with a suction mount for securing it in easily accessible positions.
  • Built-in guided access mode to hide on-screen menus and enable users to focus on playing.

 

What has been the impact of the world hearing Samantha E?

Samantha now has a host of awards to her name, including the Young Scotland’s Got Talent Certificate of Excellence and being a performing arts winner at the International Naturally Autistic Peoples Awards. We’re very proud of the part our instrument has played in enabling and supporting her development.

 

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