Community Highlights: Meet Michelle Hardy of Michelle Hardy Autism Services, LLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Hardy

Hi Michelle, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I am a board-certified music therapist (MT-BC), a Spelling to Communicate (S2C) Practitioner and a business owner. I am one of the lucky ones who knew what I wanted to do from a young age. I was drawn to working with people and hoped to have music somehow be part of that journey – so when I stumbled upon the field of music therapy when I was applying to colleges, I knew I had found it! It took one practicum in an autism classroom to find my true passion and I haven’t looked back…in fact, all signs and signals have strengthened my path. Music Therapy is the use of evidence-based music interventions to achieve NON=musical goals such as communication, motor skills, attention, regulation, etc. Basically, I get to make music in a fun and meaningful way in collaboration with each of my clients to build skills in functional areas…and the beauty of the work is that it is packaged in an intrinsically motivating and sensory-rich experience. I have been a music therapist for 30 years now (hard to believe as I don’t feel that old!) and in that time our understanding of autism has grown exponentially. I am a lifelong learner and have sought to expand my understanding and knowledge through a variety of opportunities (formal education, learning from autistic individuals themselves, and specific professional development trainings) which led me to S2C. It was the perfect blend of presuming competence through understanding the sensory and motor differences and challenges experienced by autistics, and gave the cognitive and sensory tools to coach and guide individuals to take communication out of difficult fine motor demands and instead utilize gross motor. Not to mention the strong, rhythmic component that I could relate to! It brought all of my loves together!! I have worked in a variety of settings- school environment, a private music therapy practice, a large scale multi-disciplinary clinic to name a few, and while I have grown from all of these experiences, my true inspiration has come from building my own business in a way that allows me to truly collaborate with my clients and their families, supporting their preferences, values, and goals. At the risk of sounding cliche, I truly love the work I do and am grateful every day for the opportunity to have a positive impact on the families I serve.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
In general, I try to view obstacles as opportunities for growth and out of the box thinking, but the last few years have really pushed me to reflect on how my personal challenges impact my values and goals in my work. For 25 years I have had the most supportive partner who not only believed in my work and commitment to the autism community, but lovingly spurred me when I doubted myself or felt defeated. We have four beautiful children together (current ages 12, 16, 18, and 20). Very long and painful story short, in the the midst of COVID and all six of us crammed together learning and working virtually, we discovered that my husband was sick. After two years of intense tests, various treatments and misdiagnoses, we got a definitive diagnosis of Young Onset Alzheimer’s disease. All of this was happening while I was getting my business off the ground. Needless to say, it caused me to reevaluate in real time my priorities, goals, and direction- both personally and professionally. I share this deeply personal experience because it has shaped who I am and given me perspective in the ways that I support (and learn from) the caregivers of my clients. Obstacles will ALWAYS be present, and mine have granted me more perspective, empathy, and direction.

While I have learned to accept my new (and ever changing) normal, I have rekindled some of the goals I originally sought to achieve in my work. I have gradually grown a team of inquisitive, hard working therapists who embody my company’s vision for recognizing the potential and competence in our clients, while valuing the family as a whole. I continue to mentor other music therapists, practitioners, and students to identify their skillsets and realize their potential impact on the community. I also seek ways to educate others so that we can gradually deconstruct many deeply rooted, and harmful perceptions of autism.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I am the founder of Michelle Hardy Autism Services, LLC and am a full-time clinician and practitioner. I have a growing team of therapists who provide telehealth and in person sessions (both in clinic and community based). I am known for being an out of the box clinician- and a collaborative partner with families to find what supports and accommodations are best for enhancing autonomy and competence. As a board certified music therapist, I am creative in the use of music to build experiences that promote regulation and purposeful motor control, as well as encouraging authenticity and fun in what we do! I am able to seamlessly combine therapeutic music experiences with communication practices to integrate my client’s goals. My brand is a work in progress…at this point, I am proud of my business name being eponymous, as my referrals are mostly word of mouth, and it means a lot to me that families associate my company/name with a positive impact on the community.

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success means different things to different people, as it’s deeply personal and shaped by individual values, circumstances, and aspirations. As I consider success in my life, I focus on progress, connection, and authenticity.
Success may be achieving short-term goals that act as stepping stones toward larger, overarching goals. Completing a project, learning a new skill, or making consistent small improvements are all wins that build confidence and momentum. Success also, in my opinion, lies in building meaningful relationships. Creating a safe space where they and others can express their authentic selves and foster a sense of belonging. Ultimately, success can be defined by someone staying true to their values and passions. This means pursuing goals that resonate with their core beliefs, even if it takes time or requires overcoming challenges. Being able to look in the mirror and feel proud of who you are is success.
In my practice, I hope to incorporate all of these components and support a blend of moments that reflect growth, connection, and fulfillment.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hardyautismservices.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichelleHardyAutismServices?mibextid=LQQJ4d