Packers Tunes Provide Therapy For Disabled Residents

Updated: 9:48 am CST January 19, 2008

Packer fever isn't just pumping up fans for Sunday's championship game -- it's also providing therapy for some disabled residents.

Laurie Farnan, the first music therapist hired at the Central Wisconsin Center for the developmentally disabled, has combined therapy with music for more than 30 years.

Twice a week, residents at the center have therapy. And over the last two weeks, Farnan has composed some unique, Packers-themed songs to help develop the skills of the severely disabled residents.

"We're really working toward functional skills and we're using music as the vehicle to get there," Farnan said.

"What I have seen, more importantly, is just the socialization, the enjoyment the comradely that they feel," said Dr. Jeffrey Seltz.

Farnan said that many of the residents will be watching Sunday's game, and because of the name recognition used in the songs, they might remember names like Brett Favre.

Farnan said she is also looking for a win, so much so that she has already looked up the lyrics to Glenn Campbell's "By the Time I Get to Phoenix."

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