Animal Assisted Intervention and Education

The presence of our animals makes a profound impact on our community – and opens up levels of communication and connection previously unimaginable.

We have had a year of re-imagining, evolving, and expanding our Animal Assisted Intervention & Education (AAIE) program to every level and corner of The Center.

As we worked to redevelop our Equine Assisted Therapy Program, we began to involve our miniature horses in new and exciting ways like in occupational therapy sessions, yoga classes, and to assist those more physically challenged in playing interactive games.

Through our new Bunny Buddy program, our adult residents learned how to care for new house pets. Our therapy dogs and goats remained favorites too, but this year they had competition in Miss Puff, who is literally a lap chicken.

As we explore additional professional development training and new avenues for involving our animals in our Day Habilitation program and Discovery Health Center, our team regularly pauses in awe at the relationships built, even in the most hesitant and anxious. One such student moved from arms-length interaction with one of our therapy dogs, to playing games and grooming her- to being generally calmer around sudden movements among friends.

By Sarah Merrick, MS, OTR/L, CPDT-KA, Clinical Director of Animal Assisted Intervention and Education, Occupational Therapist, & Certified Professional Dog Trainer

48

AAIE Program Animals

675 Therapeutic Sessions in 2022