None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This project will explore the use of assistance dogs as the primary therapeutic tool in occupational therapy sessions for children and young persons with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Five individual therapy sessions with an occupational therapist, an assistance dog and an assistance dog trainer will be conducted with 75 individuals with ASD. The content of the therapy sessions will be analysed to investigate the assistance dog as a tool to facilitate social engagement, communication and play in children and young persons with ASD. Interviews will be conducted with parents and caregivers of those involved in the sessions to understand their perceptions of their child’s experiences and outcomes of the sessions. This process will develop a shared understanding of the role of assistance dogs in supporting individuals to engage in the social and practical tasks that they want to, and are expected to, achieve. Enhanced insight into the unique role of assistance dogs will enable the development of occupational therapy sessions targeting the specific needs of children and young persons with ASD.
Interventions
Participants will take part in an occupational therapy session designed to promote engagement in play activities to meet behavioural and social goals set by the parents and occupational therapist. The assistance dogs will be used in the sessions at a variety of levels depending on the responses on the participant: at a basic level the dog will just be in the room, or the dog may sit close or next to the participant, or the dog may be actively involved in an activity (such as brushing the dog, or
Participants will take part in an occupational therapy session designed to promote engagement in play activities to meet behavioural and social goals set by the parents and occupational therapist. The assistance dogs will be used in the sessions at a variety of levels depending on the responses on the participant: at a basic level the dog will just be in the room, or the dog may sit close or next to the participant, or the dog may be actively involved in an activity (such as brushing the dog, or touching it in some way) or the dog may be fully involved such as putting a lead on the dog and walking it through an obstacle course, or taking the dog for a walk outside. Each session will last for an hour, and participants will be offered five weekly sessions. An Occupational Therapist will run the sessions Sessions are run on an individual basis with the dog trainer and a parent present, and will take place in a treatment room at the Assistance Dogs Australia centre. Records will be kept of participant's attendance
Sponsors
Assistance Dogs Australia
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Single group
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
5 Years to 20 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Participants aged between 5 and 20 years Participants to have had a diagnosis of ASD for over 12 months Parents and participants to have attended a PAWS workshop (run by Assistance Dogs Australia) Participants to be comfortable around dogs and to have a positive view of dogs. Parents/caregivers to be available to attend all sessions.
Exclusion criteria
Participants who do not fit the inclusion criteria Participants who do not wish to participate in the session/s Participants or parents that do not communicate in English
Outcome results
None listed