April is Autism Awarness Month.
The age-old practice of animal-assisted therapy takes place when an animal with specific characteristics becomes a fundamental part of a person’s treatment. Today, for instance, trained therapy dogs are increasingly being used to interact with children with autism. In some cases, the results are nothing short of wonderful. For instance, a New York Times article dated November 10, 2010, reported that therapy dogs from the Good Dog Foundation in Brooklyn, New York, are being used at the Anderson Center for Autism in Staatsburg, New York. Unlike service dogs that live with people with disabilities, these dogs visit treatment centers and residential schools. The dogs have a unique ability to stay calm, and in fact, they are able to absorb much of the stress in these situations.
Children with autism have varying degrees of difficulty with social, communication and emotional skills. Often, the therapy dogs are able to help the child bridge the gap, easing the child’s anxiety and helping him or her to open up to humans. The Good Dog Foundation program is structured so that adult volunteers and their dogs can become a Good Dog Team, certifying them to volunteer for animal-assisted therapy in a wide variety of programs. Training involves 10 sessions that teach dogs and their handlers the skills and procedures to participate in the therapy. In addition, the Good Dog Foundation collaborates with researchers, healthcare professionals and other organizations to promote research studies. The goal is to document the effects of the human-animal bond on human healing and wellness.
For more information, visit www.thegooddogfoundation.org or www.andersonschool.org.
