Autistic individuals are gifted and amazing. Sometimes, sensory processing, social anxiety, and limited communication skills overshadow those abilities. Unfortunately, these challenges can result in frustration and difficult behaviors.
What can parents and caregivers do to help their autistic loved ones? How can you help their abilities shine?
ABA therapy is an effective way to teach autistic individuals the skills they need to communicate. ABA also teaches kids with autism academic and social skills.
But your loved one can’t be in ABA all the time. How can your child get help and assistance during unstructured times as well? Therapy dogs can be a great help to autistic individuals.
Keep reading to find out how therapy dogs can help autistic children.
Therapy Dogs Vs. Service Dogs
Therapy dogs are helpful for their humans but shouldn’t be confused with service dogs. Service dogs are specially trained to perform tasks for their owners.
Service dogs help individuals with blindness experience independence. A service dog may also help a person with limited or no mobility by opening doors and reaching items.
Therapy dogs improve the lives of those around them. They may help an owner with anxiety by sensing an attack and staying close by. Hospitals sometimes bring in therapy dogs to comfort and bring a smile to patients.
Therapy dogs do not have the same legal rights as service dogs.
Therapy Dogs and Autistic Children
Therapy dogs help improve their owners’ lives by addressing individual needs and issues. Services are unique to each individual because no two kids are the same. The CDC’s autism diagnosis definition has a list of characteristics found in most individuals with an ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) diagnosis.
Social Skills
Many autistic kids have a difficult time in social situations. Some kids aren’t sure how to initiate or carry out conversations. Others have anxiety around groups of people.
Some kids may not understand boundaries or “bubbles” and invade personal space without realizing it. Social difficulties can become barriers for autistic individuals.
How Therapy Dogs Can Help
Therapy dogs are a great way for autistic kids to enter social situations with support. A dog provides a draw for almost all kids. After all, what child doesn’t want to play with a dog?
Therapy dogs can also help calm an autistic owner by staying close by. They can also help to cue their owner by standing in between him/her and other people.
Therapy dogs can be a great way to initiate social situations. After all, how many children wouldn’t want to come up and pet a dog? This creates a natural way for autistic kids to make friends without having to initiate conversation.
Transition Trouble
Some autistic individuals may also have a tough time with transitions. Going from mealtimes, bedtimes, and errands can be very difficult. Traveling to and from therapies and appointments feels impossible some days.
Kids can feel overwhelmed by multiple-step tasks of washing hands, putting on shoes, or getting into the vehicle. These feelings manifest themselves differently in each individual.
Some autistic people experience emotional or physical outbursts if overwhelmed. Many times, autistic individuals know when they’re overwhelmed but can’t communicate it.
How Therapy Dogs Can Help Someone With Autism
Therapy dogs can make transitions easier for children with special needs. A therapy dog can sense when its owner is about to have an outburst. The child’s four-legged friend can sit beside (or on) them to distract or help them calm down.
Therapists and caregivers can train therapy dogs to help children get ready for transitions. If an autistic child struggles with the task of getting ready to leave home, a therapy dog can provide prompts. The dog may sit next to the child’s shoes when it’s time to get shoes on, next the dog could walk to the door when it’s time to open the door.
This reduces the number of auditory cues or picture schedules the child has to follow. Following their therapy dog will feel more natural and enjoyable.
Sensory Skills
Another hallmark of autism is sensory differences. Some individuals are extra-sensitive to light, sound, and textures. Some autistic kids and adults might also enjoy squeezing pressure on their heads and/or bodies.
How Therapy Dogs Can Help
Each autistic person has unique preferences and sensitivities regarding sensory input. Therapy dogs can learn how to best calm their owners by appealing to their sensory needs. Kids may enjoy the way their therapy dog’s fur or tongue feels on their skin or face.
Therapy Dogs Can Help With Something Is Different
Those with an autism diagnosis often have trouble when routines or schedules are different. When life happens, therapy dogs can help keep kids calm. Just the presence of a constant companion provides at least one thing that isn’t changing.
ABA Therapy and Therapy Dogs Help Those With Special Needs
Autistic kids and adults are unique and gifted. Unfortunately, communication and sensory challenges can inhibit their daily lives and relationships. Transitions, social situations, and new environments can overwhelm autistic kiddos.
These challenges often result in emotional outbursts or impossible transitions. ABA therapy can improve communication, teach transition skills, and prepare children for real-world situations.
Therapy dogs can help autistic children work through these challenges when they’re not in therapy. Therapy dogs can provide everyday support with transitions, sensory needs, and social skills.
Enrolling in Therapy at Path 2 Potential
At Path 2 Potential, we believe autistic children are gifted and amazing. Our individualized ABA therapy programs equip each child to navigate the challenges autism can bring. We celebrate each child’s uniqueness and abilities.
Fill out our contact form or call 1-833-AUTISM2 and schedule your free consultation today.