The impact of a therapy dog program on children’s with ASD social skills, communication, and behavioral difficulties
Abstract
Recent research findings confirm the mediating role of animals, especially dogs, between a therapist and a child during therapy sessions. The presence of dogs has been studied in clinical studies. In cases of children with disabilities dogs facilitate the therapeutic session as they distract children from their real problems and make them feel relaxed. However, there is a research gap on the impact of a therapy dog in a school setting. The present study aims to explore the effectiveness of therapy dogs’ presence in an intervention programme for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Three primary school students with ASD, their teachers and parents, and a therapy dog with its attendant were enrolled in the study. Data collection was based on teachers’ and parents’ observations of students’ social responses and behavioural difficulties before and after the intervention, on teachers’ diaries, and on the micro-analysis of the six videotaped therapeutic sessions. Results show that the dog’s presence increased student response to social stimuli and reduced the symptoms of ASD, not only during the intervention but also in the post-intervention phase. No aggressive or self-injurious behaviours were exhibited during the sessions. The study highlights the healing impact for children with ASD when a dog is incorporated in a school setting.
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Karpoutzaki, C., Markodimitraki, M., Kypriotaki, M., & Charitaki, G. (2023). The impact of a therapy dog program on children’s with ASD social skills, communication, and behavioral difficulties. Preschool and Primary Education, 11(2), 284–317. https://doi.org/10.12681/ppej.32430
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- V. 11 N. 2 (2023): Νοέμβριος 2023
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Οι συγγραφείς των άρθρων που δημοσιεύονται στο ΠΡΟΣΧΟΛΙΚΗ & ΣΧΟΛΙΚΗ ΕΚΠΑΙΔΕΥΣΗ διατηρούν τα δικαιώματα πνευματικής ιδιοκτησίας επί των άρθρων τους, δίνοντας στο περιοδικό το δικαίωμα της πρώτης δημοσίευσης. Άρθρα που δημοσιεύονται στο ΠΡΟΣΧΟΛΙΚΗ & ΣΧΟΛΙΚΗ ΕΚΠΑΙΔΕΥΣΗ διατίθενται με άδεια Creative Commons 3.0 και σύμφωνα με την άδεια μπορούν να χρησιμοποιούνται ελεύθερα, με αναφορά στο/στη συγγραφέα και στην πρώτη δημοσίευση για μη κερδοσκοπικούς σκοπούς και με δικαίωμα τροποποίησης μόνον με παρόμοια διανομή (αν αναμείξετε, τροποποιήσετε, ή δημιουργήσετε πάνω στο υλικό, πρέπει να διανείμετε τις δικές σας συνεισφορές υπό την ίδια άδεια όπως και το πρωτότυπο). To Εργαστήριο Παιδαγωγικών Ερευνών και Εφαρμογών του Παιδαγωγικού Τμήματος Προσχολικής Εκπαίδευσης του Πανεπιστημίου Κρήτης και το Εθνικό Κέντρο Τεκμηρίωσης διατηρούν το δικαίωμα να δημοσιεύουν, να αναπαραγάγουν, να παρουσιάζουν στο κοινό, να διανέμουν και χρησιμοποιούν άρθρα που δημοσιεύονται στο ΠΡΟΣΧΟΛΙΚΗ & ΣΧΟΛΙΚΗ ΕΚΠΑΙΔΕΥΣΗ σε οποιοδήποτε μέσο και μορφή είτε μεμονωμένα είτε ως μέρη συλλογικών έργων, για όλο το χρόνο διάρκειας προστασίας της πνευματικής ιδιοκτησίας και για όλες τις χώρες του κόσμου. Αυτό περιλαμβάνει ενδεικτικά και όχι αποκλειστικά, το δικαίωμα δημοσίευσης των άρθρων σε τεύχη του περιοδικού ΠΡΟΣΧΟΛΙΚΗ & ΣΧΟΛΙΚΗ ΕΚΠΑΙΔΕΥΣΗ, αναπαραγωγής και διανομής μεμονωμένων αντιγράφων των άρθρων, αναπαραγωγής ολόκληρων των άρθρων σε άλλη έκδοση του Εργαστηρίου Παιδαγωγικών Ερευνών και Εφαρμογών του Παιδαγωγικού Τμήματος Προσχολικής Εκπαίδευσης του Πανεπιστημίου Κρήτης και του Εθνικού Κέντρου Τεκμηρίωσης και αναπαραγωγής και διανομής των άρθρων ή περίληψης αυτών με χρήση πληροφορικού συστήματος αποθετηρίου.
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