Past students have come to Berkshire Hills Music Academy from twenty states, Washington DC, Bermuda, and Canada. Though our programs are primarily residential, day students have been accepted. Students in the two year Certificate Program are between the ages of 18 and 30 years old and have a desire to achieve their potential for greater independence. Participants in the Summer Program are between the ages of 16 and 25. Children in the Summer Music Therapy Program are between the ages of 7 and 11. BHMA has successfully served young people with a variety of conditions that may accompany an intellectual disability, including, but not limited to:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • Asperger’s syndrome
  • Pervasive Developmental Disorder—Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS)
• Blindness & visual impairment
• Brain injury
• Cerebral palsy
• Cornelia de Lange syndrome
• Down syndrome
• Learning disabilities
• Non verbal learning disability
• Velo – Cardio - Facial syndrome
• Williams syndrome

Admission to Berkshire Hills Music Academy is open to young adults with intellectual disabilities, between the ages of 18 and 30 years old, who meet the following criteria:

• Verbal communication skills sufficient to participate in the school community
• Demonstrated basic self-care skills
• Ability to attend classes and manage a full day’s schedule
• Exhibits a love or talent for music and possesses the motivation to expand repertoire
• Readiness to live in a residential school setting

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Berkshire Hills Music Academy admits students of any race, color, sex, religion, and national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, and national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies and other school administered programs. Berkshire Hills Music Academy is an equal opportunity employer. All admissions are at the discretion of the Executive Director.