Mrs. Y. Clements:
Musical Keys was the first place I accessed following my daughters diagnosis, I found a very friendly, warm group of people, not only offering music and movement to my baby but also support and inclusion for the first time. You see you don't fit in to Mum and Toddlers when your child is different. My daughter is registered blind and with going to Musical Keys regularly helped her develop social skills. When you are blind any noise is startling and unsettling, but with music and instruments whilst in a safe environment helps children prepare for the outside world. The support I received from staff and parents was a life line, you often feel very alone and isolated, but they gave me a sense of worth and I felt I belonged.

D. Sheppard:
My work involves considerable contact with professionals in special education, with vulnerable young people and their families. I am also the father of a young man with autism.
During the 14 years I have known about the work of Musical Keys I have witnessed so many occasions where young people have experienced sheer delight at being involved in the practical sessions. The value to the community extends beyond this principal purpose, however, Musical Keys is a desperately needed resource for the parents of children with special needs. Apart from the practical value of being an information sharing network, the opportunity to be with other parents who will understand the pressure of one’s situation and have experienced it themselves – simply to know that you are not alone – has been a major lifeline to many parents I have met. Furthermore, the beneficial effect also supports the siblings of any children with special needs. It is never easy for growing youngsters to come to terms with the fact that their brother or sister is “different” and they must frequently have priority in terms of attention. Meeting others in the same situation at Musical Keys has been a terrific support for my own family, and I know many others who would endorse this view.

S. Parish:
I have known Musical Keys for 15 years. Over the years we have worked together on a wide variety of projects and activities, ranging from the promotion of inclusive play and learning through to campaigning together. Throughout this time I have been impressed by Musical keys professionalism and willingness to work in partnership with other groups in order to ensure that children and their parents benefit fom our combined skills, resources and experience.
Musical keys sessions offer children with disabilities the opportunity to learn basic skills, improve their co-ordination and learn to express themselves through music and movement. The session leaders also offer a great deal of support to parents and other family members, helping to reduce feelings of isolation and allowing parents the opportunity to offer each other friendship and mutual support.

A Dad finds support for all the family:
I travel with my two small sons to Norwich from Thetford to attend the Saturday groups at Musical Keys. We have been warmly welcomed and I benefit by meeting other parents who have similar experiences and gaining from their advice. They encourage my son to join in even if he has a temper tantrum, nobody asks moans or asks me to leave the group, which we have experienced at other groups in the past. My son has grown in confidence, his motor skills and speech has improved. My older son also enjoys meeting other children and realizes that his brother isn't the only child with special needs and he also has lots of fun at the group.

A Parent finds friendship:
I greatly value the friendship and support I have found at Musical Keys, from staff, volunteers and other parents and carers. It is impossible to overemphasize the importance of being able to meet with, and exchange ideas with, people who understand and sometimes share the difficulties and social isolation encountered by parents of Autistic and other children with special needs.

Parents find understanding:
My son is twelve years old and Autistic. We first started Musical Keys when he was four at which time he was very distressed by any social contact with the outside world. Normal activities for small children such as going to the park were fraught with difficulty. His lack of understanding of normal social behaviour would cause disapproval from other parents, and any attempts to take him out invariably ended with me having to carry him away screaming. At Musical Keys, although his behavior is still very difficult, the staff and volunteers understand the difficulties faced by Autistic children, and other parents, having children with special needs themselves, were non-judgmental. Over the years, having met only with patience, kindness and perseverance, he has gradually come to really enjoy his music group. He joins many activities, interacts with other children and has recently even started joining in with singing, an enormous step for him.