I am pleased to have Ilene Fine guest blogging here at Acting Balanced as part of Autism Awareness month.
Pet Therapy and Autism
I wish I knew more about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)--the whys
and the what-ifs-- but, then again, so do the parents, friends, teachers and
medical professionals worldwide who know someone afflicted with it or who
tirelessly devote their lives to finding a cure or a best treatment. For two years, my husband and I, along with
our two dogs, Brandy and Val, have worked with children and young adults ages 7
- 20 who fall along the spectrum. I
learn as much from the sessions as I become puzzled by them. Why are some of the children non-verbal yet
social while others retreat behind noise-reducing headphones? Why is a placid young man now prone to
outbursts? What we have witnessed
first-hand is that, without exception, everyone has responded favorably in some
way to the pet therapy programs in which Brandy and Val participate.
The dogs get excited when we tell them we’re going to work and
see the kids; we know the feeling is mutual!
We’re now greeted with “hello Brandy”/“hello Val,” waves and smiles where
we once were met with blank stares. The
classes are more respectful of the dogs and focused than when the program began
and for many of the kids, just recalling the pups’ names from week to week is a
big step forward. These minor events may
not seem like much but to the aides and teachers who strive to “reach” their
students it’s a big deal. Maybe Brandy
and Val sense these kids as underdogs in some way as they, too, once were,
having overcome great obstacles to be the lucky dogs they are today. Both were shelter dogs, left abandoned and
homeless and Val is a Hurricane Katrina survivor. It’s amazing to watch their loving and
unflappable demeanors adjust to each personality and guide the kids along,
providing their own type of instruction.
Who knew when we began in the program that holding a leash and
walking Brandy and Val would become our most popular activity? Initially met with mixed reviews, about a
quarter of the kids (10 of about 40) would not participate for whatever
reasons--lack of self-confidence, lack of muscle coordination, fear of the dogs
or social interaction. We now have 100%
participation! Other accomplishments
include teaching the proper use of a fork through feeding the pups treats. Several children couldn’t handle the utensil,
would grab the food and either eat or throw it.
That never happens anymore. Many
can now even identify and choose among a carrot, strawberry or blueberry,
Brandy and Val’s treats of choice. We’ve
also progressed to multi-tasking exercises, a feat we never could have imagined
on day one. For example, a grouping will
include walking with the dogs to the end of the room, telling Brandy or Val to
sit, stand, and then walk back. These
require advanced skill sets which cover a variety of cognitive and muscular
disciplines as they instill a sense of self awareness and confidence.
While discernable strides can be slow or frustrating at times,
the end results are concrete and exhilirating to be a part of. Along with the other repetitive tasks we
practice, our hope is that “our kids” will use these skills outside of the
classroom to the benefit of their family, friends, community, and most of all,
to themselves.
Brandy and Val also star in their own
board book series: “Brandy and Val, Real Dogs with Real Tales” with
accompanying plush toys. Sales benefit animal rescues throughout the
country. Please visit or contact them at http://www.BrandyandVal.com.
Their mom, Ilene Fine, was inspired to create the series for a friend’s
child with special needs. Ilene has been tutor/mentoring inner city
youths and adults for over 20 years and is also involved with promoting
literacy in both adults and children. They currently live outside
Chicago.
