Animal-assisted therapy and the severely disabled child: a quantitative study - Graduate Literary Award Winner - Abstract

Journal of Rehabilitation, Oct-Dec, 2001 by Kathryn Heimlich

Table 1
Description of Student

                      Group 1

Subject   Gender   Age   Diagnosis

   1        F      15    Severe M.R., seizures, expressive
                         aphasia, hearing loss, ataxic
                         cerebral palsy

   2        M      12    Severe M.R., cerebral palsy,
                         epilepsy, asthma

   3        F      13    Severe M.R., microcephaly

   4        M       7    Moderate M.R., autism

   5        F       8    Severe/Profound M.R., seizure disorder,
                         spastic quadriplegia, rickets,
                         visual impairment

   6        F       7    Moderate/Severe M.R., Apert's
                         Syndrome, behavior disorder

   7        M      17    Severe M.R., epilepsy, hypotonic
                         cerebral palsy, nonverbal

                      Group 2

   8        M      13    Severe M.R., cerebral palsy, spastic
                         deplegia, cortical blindness,
                         non-ambulatory, nonverbal

   9        M      14    Severe/Profound M.R., seizure
                         disorder, autistic-like features,
                         undefined etiology

  10        F      13    Severe/Profound M.R., Down Syndrome,
                         nystagmus, strabismus, myopia

  11        M      16    Severe M.R., Rubenstein-Taybi Syndrome,
                         Hyperactivity

  12        F      19    Severe M.R., Tourette Syndrome,
                         microcephalic seizure disorder,
                         cerebral palsy, spastic deplegia

  13        M       9    Severe M.R., pervasive developmental
                         delay, autism

  14        M      18    Severe/Profound M.R., seizure disorder,
                         mild cerebral palsy, asthma, nonverbal

Acknowledgement

I wish to thank Drs. Chrisann Schiro-Geist and Emer Broadbent for the guidance and thoughtfulness provided during the development of this manuscript. Their expertise and constant support helped make this article a reality. I would also like to express my deep gratitude to Cody, without whom this project would not have been possible.

References

All, A.C. & Loving, G.L. (1999). Animals, Horseback Riding, and Implications for Rehabilitation Therapy. The Journal of Rehabilitation, 65(3), 49-57.

Achenbach, T.M. (1995). Child Behavior Checklist. Burlington, VT: Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont.

Barba, B.E. (1995). The Positive Influence of Animals: Animal-Assisted Therapy in Acute Care. Clinical Nurse Specialist 9(4), 199-202.

Beck, A.M. and Katcher, A.H. (1983). Between Pets and People: The Importance of Animal Companionship. New York: Putnam Books, Inc.

Bernard, S. (1995), Animal-Assisted Therapy: A Guide for Health Care Professionals and Volunteers. Whitehouse, TX: Therapet L.L.C.

Bernstein, P., Friedmann, E., Malaspina, A. (1995). Pet Programs Can Provide a Novel Source of Interaction in Long-Term Facilities. In A. L. Ptak, Studies of loneliness: Recent research into the effects of companion animals on lonely people. Interactions, 13(1), 7.