Casey Depriest Email & Phone Number

Casey has been working as a board-certified music therapist (MT-BC) since 1995. Casey started her private practice in 2002 and began hiring additional therapists in her practice . She has experience with Traumatic Brain Injury, Stroke, Parkinson's Disease, Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Casey is the Chair of the Indiana Music Therapy Task Force and has presented at state, regional, and national music therapy conferences. Casey has also offered testimony during legislative commission meetings for the purpose of increasing recognition of the MT-BC credential and increasing access to music therapy services in Indiana.As the founder of Optimal Rhythms, Inc (501c3) and ACCESS Academy, Casey is a sought after presenter on topics of autism spectrum disorder, neurologic music therapy, movement and sensory difference in autism, alternatives to behavior therapy in autism, and supported communication strategies for students with sensorimotor differences.In October 2011, Casey was inducted into the Robert F. Unkefer Academy for Neurologic Music Therapy after completing her training at the Center for Biomedical Research in Music at Colorado State University.In November 2013, Casey founded Optimal Rhythms, INC., a not for profit organization. In Fall 2014, Casey became the administrator of Evansville's ACCESS Academy - an innovative choice for education for nonspeaking/unreliably speaking students with severe autism. In the summer of 2020, Casey and her team responded to the challenges of COVID-19 by developing an innovative Virtual CAN-Do Summer Camp, a Virtual ACCESS Academy, and a therapeutic homeschool program, ACCESS2Academics that is now supporting nonspeaking students all across the country to word toward an accredited HS diploma.Specialties: Autism, Developmental Disabilities, Early Intervention, School IEPs - eligibility assessments and Related Service music therapy , Rehabilitation Services for Stroke, TBI, and other neurologic impairments, Corporate Team Building, Drum Circles for Health & Wellness, Support Groups, Family Interventions, Supported Communication, Non-profit Development, Neurologic Music Therapy, Public Speaking."The brain that engages in music is changed by engaging in music." - Dr. Michael Thaut, PhD.

Listed skills include Developmental Disabilities, Music Therapy, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Adolescents, and 46 others.