ABOUT D.A.D.
ONE FOUNDER. ONE METHOD.
OVER 20 YEARS of DRUM THERAPY.
D.A.D. (Drums and Disabilities) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2004, built around the Healing Art of Drum Therapy® — a rhythm-based method used with special-needs children, adults, and veterans in schools, hospitals, and community programs across 15+ countries.
2004
Founded, NYC & NJ schools
15+
Countries in practice
NJ
Approved for teacher CE credits
Founded in 2004, with City and State Backing
D.A.D. was launched in 2004 when New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration and the New Jersey Department of Education Commissioner helped drummer Pat Gesualdo bring the program into school systems and communities across New York and New Jersey.
Advocacy for Special-Needs Families
Beyond drum therapy itself, Pat Gesualdo advocates for special-needs families as a free service of the program, and has led high-profile cases involving abuse or bullying of special-needs children. Senators and members of Congress have asked him to help develop state statutes protecting people with special needs, and he wrote what D.A.D. describes as the first U.S. law providing added protection for special-needs individuals who are bullied, discriminated against, or abused.
WWE, the NY Giants, and WrestleMania
Soon after launch, WWE and the New York Football Giants partnered with Pat to promote D.A.D. at WrestleMania and RAW. WWE Champion Booker T, Trish Stratus, NY Giants team members, and NYC school officials all took part.
International Reach
Under President Obama, the U.S. State Department brought Pat and D.A.D. to the Middle East to work with disabled Israeli and Palestinian children. The U.S. Pentagon has called on him to train and certify U.S. military health professionals in Drum Therapy® to help troops manage PTSD, and he represented the United States at the International Disability Festival in Europe. Sony Music also sponsored Pat and D.A.D. on the Warped Tour.
Publications and Recognition
Pat wrote a Drum Therapy column for Modern Drummer magazine and authored the instructional book and CD "The Healing Art of Drum Therapy" (Alfred Music Publishing), used by drum teachers, special education teachers, and special needs therapists. He's been nominated to Who's Who in America and is an artist/clinician for Pro-Mark Drumsticks, ProLogix Drumpads, Zildjian Cymbals, and Evans Drumheads.
Who the Program Serves
D.A.D.'s drumming programs are used with children and adults with autism, ADHD, and related conditions, as well as wounded veterans working through PTSD and physical rehabilitation.
Certified Drum Therapists bring the method into schools, hospitals, and private practice worldwide.
Bibliography
Peer-Reviewed Scientific Research
Gesualdo, P., Ciauro, D., & Topple, C. (2020). Drum Therapy: A Holistic Approach for Fighting Disabilities. Alternative & Integrative Medicine, 9(1), Article 285.
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Published: March 16, 2020
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Research focus: Drum Therapy as a complementary intervention for developmental, learning, and physical disabilities, including three practical studies on coordination, cognition, memory, and social skills.
Gesualdo, P., Ciauro, D., & Topple, C. (2020). Cognitive Drumming: Using Rhythm as a Therapeutic Technique with Individuals Diagnosed with Learning Disabilities. Journal of Clinical Case Studies Reviews & Reports, 2(6).
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Published: November 13, 2020
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DOI: 10.47363/JCCSR/2020(2)152
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Research focus: Cognitive Drumming techniques for children and adults with dyslexia, ADD, and other learning disabilities.
Books
Gesualdo, P. (2005). The Parent's Guide to Learning Disabilities.
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Educational guide for parents navigating learning disabilities and special education.
Gesualdo, P. (2010). Drum Therapy: Healing with the Drumset—A Powerful Resource for Drum Teachers and Therapists of Students with Disabilities. Van Nuys, CA: Alfred Music.
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ISBN-13: 978-0739069837
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Published: September 13, 2010
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Includes instructional curriculum and audio companion for educators and therapists working with students with disabilities.
Educational Publications
Drum Therapy Column
Pat Gesualdo authored the long-running Drum Therapy educational column for Modern Drummer Magazine, where he discussed adaptive music education, Drum Therapy techniques, and special education applications of percussion.
Educational Programs and Curriculum
Although not peer-reviewed publications, Gesualdo also developed several educational resources that have been used in schools and therapeutic settings:
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Drums and Disabilities (D.A.D.) Program
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Teacher training curriculum
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Adaptive drumming methods
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Drum Therapy educational materials
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Special education lesson plans
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Clinical workshop manuals
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Want to Become Certified?
D.A.D. trains a limited number of Certified Drum Therapists directly with founder Pat Gesualdo — he's the only person in the world authorized to grant this certification. See the certification path and current pricing.
