People with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often have what is referred to as ‘special interests’, which can be defined as the person having an interest in a topic that they ‘pursue with more than average intensity’ (Boven, 2018).

Research has shown that adults with ASD who engage regularly in their special interests were found to have higher levels of wellbeing and ‘satisfaction across specific life domains including social contact and leisure’ (Grove, et al 2018). Despite the link being made between improved quality of life and engagement in special interest topics, the DSM-5 still refers to ‘special interests’ under the ‘restrictive and repetitive behaviours’ umbrella, stating that people with ASD can have ‘fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus’ (APA, 2013).

‘Special interests’ can be a key feature of ASD, however there is very little existing research about their application to music therapy, and how they might be utilized to facilitate higher levels of engagement with clients. Research centred on resource-oriented music therapy, an approach that emphasizes a person’s strengths rather than their pathologies (Wagner, 2014), could be drawn upon to inform practice in this context, however no research could be found specifically linking this approach to ASD and special interests.

As an adult with ASD, who regularly engages in several special interests to manage stress, I have been able to draw upon this lived experience when working with my clients who also have ASD, and utilize their diverse array of special interests to create a thematic basis for their music therapy sessions. This presentation will include a first-person perspective on working in this manner, and examine 2-3 clinical examples where the inclusion of the client’s special interest topic has had positive effects on their communication skills, social skills and overall engagement levels.