Dr. Brian Muni, OTD, OTL is an occupational therapist with thirty years of experience treating adults and special needs children in schools, homes, clinics, hospitals, and institutional settings. He is a bilingual Spanish speaker and comes with administrative and managerial experience in educational, medical, and media settings. Brian is a graduate of New York University, 1993. MA, Occupational Therapy (Pediatrics and Technology Fellow); Brown University, 1979. BA., Honors, English and American Literature; and recently completed a clinical doctorate program at Chatham University in “Using Music with Students with Special Needs to Increase Engagement during Classroom Activities.”

Brian is employed by the New York City Department of Education, where he has served as a Senior and Instructional Occupational Therapist, treating autistic, intellectually disabled, learning disabled, emotionally disturbed, and multiply handicapped students.  He brings a wide variety of treatment approaches and modalities to his practice, including traditional sensory integration and neurodevelopmental handling, music and songwriting strategies, Get Ready To Learn yoga techniques, assistive technology, therapeutic horse riding, and aquatic therapies. Brian is also Executive Director of Theraplay Developmental Resources, LLC, where, as an independent practitioner and small business owner, he has evaluated and treated developmental, sensory-processing, neurologic and orthopedic concerns in Early Intervention, Pre-school and school-based populations.

Since 1993, Brian has specialized in using music to help clients of all ages reach occupational therapy goals.  He has presented these results through workshops he has conducted; in performances of inclusion choirs he has directed; and in instructional songs, videos, and curricula he has created. All attest to the efficacy and motivational powers of using music to promote new learning and assist with achieving a variety of therapeutic objectives.

In individual or group settings, Brian’s sensory-based MuniMethod  may utilize interactive drumming, strumming of guitar or ukulele, call and response singing, creating and writing of original rap/lyrics, individualized exercises and movements to address fine motor strengthening, manipulation, handwriting and written communication skills, improved attention, direction-following, turn-taking, increased coping with frustration, and use of relaxation techniques in order to promote success in school activities and improve functional independence at home. Brian recently completed a doctoral research study entitled “Using Music with Students with Special Needs to Increase Engagement during Classroom Activities,” December, 2022, Chatham U., Pittsburgh PA. https://chatham.bywatersolutions.com/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=116796