What is it?

Special Music by Special People is a program of the Chicago Park District for children, teens, and adults with developmental disabilities (such as Down syndrome).

Participants in the program use music - through performances, song writing and music writing - as creative and social outlets.

The program was created in 1989 by Joe Yost, a music instructor for the Park District, and is offered at Welles Park on the city's northwest side.

About 25 people are active in the program; through summer day-camp initiatives, as many as 40 people are touched by the program.

Each year, a benefit concert is held to support the program and broaden its outreach.

What's Up?

The Special People All-Star Band has accomplished a feat in 1996 that many bands without their challenges will not be able to do: record and release its first CD and cassette tape, entitled "What's for Lunch!" Special Music by Special People is a music program that allows people of all abitilites the opportunity to record, perform and compose original music. The program began initially for people with Down Syndrome, soon this band who called themselves the Special Music by Special People All Star Band, began to interact and connect with music enthusiasts and also professional and student musicians. The program began to invite all members of the community to come and join us in the music making. This Chicago Park District program is funded in part by sales of our Compact discs.

The All-Star Band features 10 to 15 special performers and between 6 and 10 professional musicians.

The Special Music All-Star Band sings a wild and funny assortment of songs like "Turkey Time" and "Donuts" on its debut CD, "What's for Lunch!" The Special Music by Special People group has released three compact discs of original music.

Once you listen to this music, not only will you be a little hungrier, but you'll likely join the Special Musicians in "screaming for ice cream" just like you did when you were a kid.

What's the Big Picture?

There are about 250,000 U.S. families affected by Down Syndrome, according to the National Down Syndrome Congress.

About one of every 800 to 1,100 births is marked by Down Syndrome, a chromosome disorder which usually causes delay in physical, intellectual, and language development.

Down Syndrome is one of the leading clinical causes of mental retardation in the world and is not related to race, nationality, religion, or socio-economic status, reports the Congress.

Contrary to stereotypical images of a life with Down Syndrome, many adults and young adults hold jobs, live independently and enjoy recreational oportunities in their communities.

What do People Say?

"Someone has finally decided to make some music about all the things that I love ... ice cream, Rocky the Squirrel, Christmas, and donuts. I have a brother who is a special musician himself."

Bill Shilling of Kingman, Arizona

"As a teacher of young adults with special needs, your effort is right in line with the creative approach to communication-skill development that I have been toying with ..."

Jack Hyde of Lyons Township High School in LaGrange, Illinois

About the Founder

Joe Yost, the program's founder, has been a music instructor with the Chicago Park District since 1989. A musician who is currently performing with rock acts The Twigs. Joe has toured nationally with Island Records' La Tour. Yost gives countless hours to the program and recruits other professional musicians like Latour, the Squids and the Twigs to also lend their talents to the program.

To review press coverage and more public response to the program, check out the Press & Feedback section of the site.