Healing Thresholds Autism Therapy Topic Feed

Sisters Start Ride-On-Ranch to Provide Hippotherapy to Kids with Special Needs

scottie — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

Autumn O’Hara and Charli Wacker founded Ride-On-Ranch to provide equine assisted therapies to kids with autism and other special needs.

Body:

Sisters Autumn O’Hara and Charli Wacker, both horseback riders, founded Ride-On-Ranch to provide equine assisted therapies to kids with autism and other special needs. O’Hara is an occupational therapist and certified therapeutic riding instructor, which enables the center to offer hippotherapy – riding is a therapy tool as opposed to just fun. O’Hara explained, “Equine assisted therapy is an emerging practice area in occupational therapy and the use of the horse has multiple facets that make it an amazing therapeutic tool. For example, the natural movement of the horse mimics human walking.”

Original Article:

Ride-On-Ranch Rides into Lovettsville

Ranch Organized and Run by People with Autism

scottie — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

Erik’s Ranch and Retreat, located in Montana and Minnesota, offers people with autism a place to live as well as a place to work.

Body:

Erik’s Ranch and Retreat, located in Montana and Minnesota, offers people with autism a place to live as well as a place to work. Anyone can stay at Erik’s Ranch and take tours led by guides with autism who are specialists in their subjects. For example, the Ranch’s namesake Erik Nordberg, offers horseback riding events and teaches horse care. Another resident has an interest in crickets and grasshoppers and can teach visiting fisherman about the insect cycle. Other opportunities for work life include cooking group meals, coordinating recreational activities, and researching the local environment.

Original Article:

Ranch Seeks Tour Guides with Autism

Media Group and Stables Provide Horseback Riding for Kids with Autism

scottie — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 20:26:07 +0000

Teaser:

WOWT in Omaha and Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy have combined resources to provide 16 therapy horses for kids with autism.

Body:

WOWTChannel 6 in Omaha and Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy (HETRA) have combined resources to provide 16 therapy horses for kids with autism and other special needs. Studies have found that the horse's motion is like that of a child's, so that riding a horse increases muscle tone, coordination, and balance for riders. HETRA is a non-profit equine therapy center that has been in business since 1989; it benefits from donations and community volunteers.

Original Article:

Horse Therapy Offers Hope

Grand Cayman Equestrian Center Offers Equine Therapy for Kids with Autism

scottie — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

Can you imagine living in the Cayman Islands, much less having accessibility to equine therapy for your child with autism?

Body:

Can you imagine living in the Cayman Islands, much less having accessibility to equine therapy for your child with autism? Students from Lighthouse School attend the Equestrian Centre several times a week for therapeutic riding lessons. Equine therapy uses the horse’s movement to mimic a child’s walking. It helps with balance, self-esteem, and communication. The fees are paid by the Red Sail Group, a group of Cayman entrepreneurs, who also provide other benefits for children in the area.

Original Article:

Easy Sailing for Kids' Therapy

Horseback Riding Combined with iPads Help Kids with Autism Communicate

scottie — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

Southern Tier Alternative Therapies (STAT) has combined horseback riding and technology to help children with autism communicate.

Body:

Southern Tier Alternative Therapies (STAT) has combined horseback riding and technology, such as iPads, to help children with autism communicate. The STRIDES pilot program in Binghamton, NY, has enrolled 6 families whose children are predominately non-verbal. While on horseback, the kids’ muscles relax and they may be more able to receive sensory input. They each have an iPad, which displays different images; the child points to the picture of the way he or she feels. Parents say their children are more verbal after the lessons. One mom said of her daughter, “She's very verbal when she gets off the horse. There is more spontaneous language in terms of things she would like. If she would like to watch a show, she'll tell you she'd like to watch a show or what she wants to eat or drink. She also makes a lot more eye contact and is a lot more interactive when she gets off the horse.”

Original Article:

STAT Using Horse Therapy

Camp Teaches Children with Autism How to Ride a Bike

scottie — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

The Central New York American Society for Autism held a 5-day “Lose the Training Wheels” camp for kids with autism.

Body:

The Central New York American Society for Autism (CNYASA) held a 5-day “Lose the Training Wheels” camp for kids with autism. The 40 campers started with adapted bikes, moved to tandems, and then graduated to a two-wheeler. Camper, Michael Murphy, said, “It felt sorta like flying on a little hovercraft. I had to keep moving my legs, or else I’d fall.” Lose the Training Wheels is a national program that provides camps around the U.S. Bike riding can give a sense of independence, increase balance skills, and increase muscle tone.

Original Article:

Camp Helps Kids with Autism Learn to Give Up Training Wheels and Ride a Bike

Painting Horses as Autism Therapy?

scottie — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 16:51:58 +0000

Teaser:

We write stories on the benefits of equine therapy for kids with autism; today we’re talking about painting the horses rather than riding them.

Body:

We often write stories on the benefits of equine therapy for kids with autism; today we’re talking about painting the horses rather than riding them. Kicking Back Stables provided gentle horses for Georgia’s Spectrum Autism Support Group's campers. Many of the children have never been around horses and painting on them allows closeness, creativity, and social skills. The paint of course is non-toxic. Mary O’Connell, one of the Spectrum program consultants, explained, “They get to get close to the horses, and they have to learn that they must be calm and gentle. It may help children more severely affected by autism with the motorskills such as holding a paintbrush and painting with it.”

Original Article:

Children with Autism Paint Horses During Camp

Some Kids with Autism May Suffer from Cyber Addiction

scottie — Sat, 19 May 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

iPads and video interaction has provided a means for children with autism to communicate; it may also have provided addictive behavior.

Body:

iPads and video interaction has provided a means for children with autism to communicate; it may also have provided addictive behavior. Christopher Mulligan founded Groupworks West, which provides assistance when people with autism show a susceptibility to addiction to the Internet and video stimulation. He has found parents who used the technology because it helped their kids communicate, but found it also lessens their social interaction with other people. Mulligan explained one reason for increased dependence on technology, “One of the first things cut were all recreational services including summer camp. They had horseback riding, swimming – wonderful services – and cutting summer camp funding really added a lot of stress to parents. Almost all of the families I help are families where both parents are working.” The kids’ only means of stimulation and interaction are through the Internet.

Original Article:

Autistic Teens and Children Struggle with Cyber Addiction

Young Man with Autism Transitions from High School

scottie — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

Nick Llorens has autism and is about to graduate high school.

Body:

Nick Llorens has autism and is about to graduate high school. When he was diagnosed as a child, his parents immediately turned to Judevine Center for Autism for various therapies, including speech and applied behavior analysis (ABA). In order to always be increasing his potential, Nick receives equine therapy at Cedar Creek Therapeutic Riding Center and developmental education at Focus on Learning. In addition, his parents have found their lives changed in response to Nick’s autism – they have slowed their pace of living and communicating. Becky Llorens explained, “We used to think he just didn't get it, but he just didn't get the time to respond. So it's challenging, and we think about it every day — how to more effectively communicate with Nick.” Now that Nick is graduating, he and his parents are transitioning to a new life for Nick. He currently works part-time, but hopes to increase his job skills and build his resume with Boone County Family Resources. The goal is for him to be as independent as possible.

Original Article:

Graduating with Autism

Riding Therapy Organization Gets New Space

scottie — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

The Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy (SMART), which offers equine therapy to kids with autismhas moved to a larger space.

Body:

The Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy (SMART), which offers equine therapy to kids with autism and other special needs has moved to a larger space. The 15 horses have room to roam on 23 acres that includes two barns, a house, pond, swimming pool, and riding fields. At SMART, kids and adults are assisted onto their horses and then perform certain exercises. For example, riders might put their hands on their hips or grab a ring off a hook. All exercises are designed to help with strength, balance, and motion. One special trail is used for sensory work; horseback riders brush by chimes and ride by lovely smelling herbs. Plans for expansion include fishing in the pond, gardening therapy, and physical therapy space.

Original Article:

Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy Holds Open House to Show Off New Digs