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 ALL-STAR KIDS REHAB NEWSLETTER
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Animal Assisted Therapy The goal of All-Star Kids Rehab is always to effect positive developmental change and progress in its clients. One of the ways we are doing it is through Animal Assisted Therapy done by “Star”, a golden retriever. Dog Therapy is not a billable treatment service but simply a modality used such as a swing, a pool or a ball might be used to stimulate certain muscle groups, challenge certain coordinated skills or stimulate verbalization among other things. The human-animal bond has been extremely strong since the beginning of mankind. Whether used as companions, hunters, herders, guardians, or workers, dogs have been valued by people all over the world. We have a relationship that benefits both species when handled in a healthy way in a positive environment. Dogs are used to motivate and inspire people with all levels of challenges including intellectual, physical, emotional, sensory and social abilities. In rehab centers there are dogs being used to assist clients working with occupational, physical and speech therapists. The dogs have an innate ability to decrease stress in an environment. This has been researched and documented where it was proven that a dog in the environment decreases blood pressure of adults in the room even if they do not interact with the dog. That effect alone improves a child’s ability to focus, regulate their sensory system and improve their attention span. Dogs are not the only animals used therapeutically. Other facilities certify guinea pigs, dolphins, hamsters, birds, pigs, monkeys and more as therapy animals.
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Terapia Con Asistencia Canina Las metas de All-Star Kids Rehab consisten siempre tener un efecto positivo en cambios de desarrollos y progresos de los pacientes. Unas de las maneras de nosotros hacerlo, es a traves de la terapia con asistencia canina, con la ayuda de "Star" nuestra nueva mascota. Este tipo de terapia canina no es biliable como servicio a ningun seguro, pero simplemente es una modalidad usada, como columpiarse, jugar con una pelota en la piscina, y esto puede ser utilizado para estimular ciertos grupos de musculos, con el desafio de coordinar habilidades o estimulacion de la verbalizacion, entre otras consas. El enlace entre los humanos y estos animales a sido extremadamente fuertes desde los comiensos de la vida. Si estos son usados como companeros, cazadores, pastores, guardianes o trabajadores, los perros hand sido valorados por las personas alrededor de el mundo entero. Nosotros mantenemos una buena relacion que a ambas especies nos beneficia, cuando se trata de manejar la salud en un ambiente positivo. Los perros en muchos casos son utilizados para motivar e inspirar personas con alto nivel de desafios incluyendo intelectual, fisico, emocional, sensorial y social. En centros de reabilitacion los perros han comenzado a asistir a las terapias ocupacionales, fisicas y de el lenguaje. Se ha demonstrado que los perros han disminuido de forma natural el estress en el ambiente. Esto ha sido rebuscado y documentado, donde fue probado que los perros en el ambiente de un cuarto ni si quiera interactuando con el paciente ha diminuido la presion alterial. Solamente este efecto mejora la abilidad de un nino a enfocarse, ya que regula su sistema sensorial y mejora su atencion. Los perros no son los unicos utilizados terapeuticamente. Otros centros de terapia certifican cerdos, delfines, curieles, pajaros, monos y otros animales.
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Benefits of Animal Assisted Therapy with Dogs: Decrease blood pressure and the effects of stress Regulate sensory systems *Stimulate the under aroused child *Relax the over aroused child *Increase attention to task *Tactile stimulation *Proprioceptive (pressure) Increase emotional/social skills *Empathetic awareness *Dog is non-judgmental and accepting of all people *Inrease eye contact *Responsibility skills such as being given chores to care for the dog (feed, train groom, etc.) Improve cognitive skills *Remembering obedience training tasks *Remembering how to give commands *Teach new tricks *Problem solving Increase communication skills *Verbalization of commands to dog *Physical cue of commands to dog *Receptive language when learning from dog handler how to work with dog -Increase motor skills *Obstacle courses/motor planning *Walking on treadmills *Balance Activities Increased Fine motor skills *Using scissors to cut up Star's treats for training *Child writing activities regarding dog stories, plan for next training session, doggy scrapbooking, etc... Visual/Perceptual *Visual tracking *Eye hand coordination *Dog themed perceptual tasks Increased ADLs *Dressing dog with training collar or harness *Grooming dog *Manipulating fasteners on dog leash/harness *Vocational training as a veteranary aide VIDEO EXAMPLE OF A SESSION: Temple Grandin, PhD Dr. Grandin has professional training as an animal scientist and her history as a person with autism have given her a perspective like that of no other expert in the field. Standing at the intersection of autism and animals, she offers unparalleled observations and groundbreaking ideas about both. See her website where there are web videos, DVDs and books to learn more about how this unique individual has bridged the social gap between animals and humans. She states that autism has made growing up and school difficult but animals easy for her to understand. She claims that animals and autistic people often perceive the world in similar terms. Therefore, she understands their behavior more readily then non-autistic people would. This has lead to a successful international career in designing livestock handling facilities. www.templegrandin.com Breed: Golden Retriever Birth date: May 2, 2009 Adoption date: June 17, 2009 Donated by: Joy Outreach Community Center Favorite Treat: Apples Favorite Game: Frisbee Favorite Trick: “Sit Pretty”
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