Congratulations #KodiLee for winning Season 14 of #America’sGotTalent last night!! (#RollModels, #inspiration, #ThankYouAmerica). Kodi Lee is 22 years old with incredible vocal, piano, and entertainment talent; despite being blind and autistic.
Leona Lewis, who performed with Kodi in the season finale show, had a perfect quote: “I just love how many doors he has opened for people that are facing so many challenges and just want to show their talent and shine”.
Tina Lee, Kodi’s Mom, stated during his audition: “Through music and performing he was able to withstand living in this world, because when you are autistic it’s really hard to do what everyone else does. It has actually saved his life playing music.” She also said, it wasn’t just Kodi that won, it was the whole world that won”.
Following his audition, Gabrielle Union said: “You just changed the world”. During a “pre-internship music therapy internship” I had in 1998, I recall one of my projects was collecting examples of people with disabilities in the public spotlight. It was challenging to find examples. So proud of America’s Got Talent and America for voting 2 of the top 3 finalists this season as people with disabilities. Both were well earned. I’m so proud of how far this country has come. Yes, we have more work to do, but I’m glad to see change happening.
Thank you to the judges on America’s Got Talent for talking to Kodi respectfully and for narrating visual aspects throughout the show.
Kodi’s audition video:
Click below for an article and videos on Kodi’s journey:
To learn more about autism go to:
https://www.autism-society.org/
Do you know someone with autism? Music therapy can be incredibly helpful in for individuals throughout the autism spectrum to address a variety of challenges such as developing communication, social skills, and academic skills; decreasing behaviors; correcting physical and sensorimotor needs/abilities; and enhancing emotional regulation. To learn more about music therapy and autism go to:
