Adjacent to Innisfree Village’s property is a therapeutic horseback riding program where many of coworkers enjoy riding.
Here is a video on the benefits of therapeutic horseback riding: Therapeutic Horseback Riding - YouTube
(source: http://www.asf-ev.de/fileadmin/Redaktion/LAENDERSEITEN/USA/Files/Newsletter/electronic_Newsletter/Newsletter_Vol._1__2010.pdf )
Indeed a rural environment can enable one to access opportunities involving the therapeutic power of horses…
When his son Rowan was diagnosed with autism, Rupert Isaacson was devastated, afraid he might never be able to communicate with his child. But when Isaacson, a lifelong horseman, rode their neighbor’s horse with Rowan, Rowan improved immeasurably. He was struck with a crazy idea: why not take Rowan to Mongolia, the one place in the world where horses and shamanic healing intersected?
The Horse Boy is the dramatic and heartwarming story of that impossible adventure. In Mongolia, the family found undreamed of landscapes and people, unbearable setbacks, and advances beyond their wildest dreams. This is a deeply moving, truly one-of-a-kind story–of a family willing to go to the ends of the earth to help their son, and of a boy learning to connect with the world for the first time.
The official trailer for The Horse Boy can be viewed here: THE HORSE BOY official US trailer - YouTube
(source: THE HORSE BOY )
An organisation that utilises farm animals to help people with Autism Spectrum Disorders is California-based Danny’s Farm :
…Danny’s Farm was founded by former Los Angeles Dodger Pitcher and current pitching coach for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Jim Gott and his wife Cathy in 2007, in honor of their son Danny, who is diagnosed with Autism. As a child, Danny was drawn to farm animals and out of his continued affinity to them, Danny’s Farm was formed.
…Danny’s Farm offers a safe and nurturing working farm and social environment for children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. Our mission is two fold – to provide meaningful employment opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities and to help them reach their fullest potential by developing special skills through their work and mentoring; and to serve children ages 5-17 years old on the Autistic Spectrum, by providing behavioral and social experiences through an individualized Specialty Autism Program…
(source: Dannys Farm About )
An organisation that utilises farm animals to help people with Autism Spectrum Disorders is California-based Danny’s Farm :
…Danny’s Farm was founded by former Los Angeles Dodger Pitcher and current pitching coach for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Jim Gott and his wife Cathy in 2007, in honor of their son Danny, who is diagnosed with Autism. As a child, Danny was drawn to farm animals and out of his continued affinity to them, Danny’s Farm was formed.
…Danny’s Farm offers a safe and nurturing working farm and social environment for children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. Our mission is two fold: to provide meaningful employment opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities and to help them reach their fullest potential by developing special skills through their work and mentoring; and to serve children ages 5-17 years old on the Autistic Spectrum, by providing behavioral and social experiences through an individualized Specialty Autism Program…
(source: Dannys Farm About )
Here is a short video on Danny’s Farm : Dannys Farm in Altadena - YouTube
Danny’s Farm includes two petting zoos…
It turns out that when owners pet their dogs, it releases oxytocin in both animals. Oxytocin in humans has been shown to strengthen social bonds, and reduce blood pressure, stress, and anxiety. It generally makes you feel better.
A Swedish scientist by the name of Kerstin Uvnas-Moberg recently studied the effects of owner-dog interactions by taking blood samples from owners and their dogs before and during a petting session (her phrase, not mine). The samples taken beforehand didn’t show anything, but samples taken 1 and 3 minutes in revealed increased oxytocin in both the owner and the dog.
I don’t know if similar research has been done with animals other than dogs, or with animals and people that haven’t met before.
So: we like petting animals because whatever social mechanisms we evolved for dealing with each other are evidently general enough to extend to our relationships with other species…
(source: Psychology: Why do humans like petting animals so much? - Quora )
Indeed, if petting animals helps to release Oxytocin, this should prove to be especially useful in people with Autism Spectrum Disorders…
…Autistic patients given oxytocin as part of a study in New York found their ability to recognise emotions such as happiness or anger in a person’s tone of voice - something which usually proved difficult - also improved.
Experiments by Dr Eric Hollander at the city’s Mount Sinai School of Medicine found a single intravenous infusion of the chemical triggered improvements that lasted for two weeks.
Previous research has revealed autistic children have lower than usual levels of oxytocin in their blood.
Professor Zak said: ‘Oxytocin does not cure autism, but it does reduce the symptoms.’…
(source: Scientists find childbirth wonder drug that can ‘cure’ shyness | News )
Recently Danny’s Farm has found a new home at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (aka Cal Poly Pomona):
…Cal Poly Pomona Professor Broc Sandelin reached out to Danny’s Farm after learning that the petting zoo lost a zoning dispute with county officials in January. He suggested a partnership: The university would supply animals and a location, and Danny’s Farm would provide staff members. With the campus’ agricultural legacy and open fields for farming and animal pastures, the collaboration seemed natural.
“We’ve wanted to have a petting farm on campus, but we didn’t have the manpower. They had the labor resources but didn’t have a place to put it,” says Sandelin, chair of the animal & veterinary sciences department. “This partnership is pretty much a win-win.”
The petting zoo moved to campus in October under the primary sponsorship of a student club, the Animal Health Science & Technology Association. Student volunteers help care for the animals.
…[Former Dodgers pitcher] Jim Gott says he never imagined that Danny’s Farm would experience such an outpouring of support or would expand its reach. With the mobile unit, the petting farm can visit inner-city schools and special-needs classrooms, giving more children the opportunity to be with animals and learn about agriculture…
(source: College of Ag Partners With Nonprofit Petting Zoo | PolyCentric | Cal Poly Pomona )
Here is a blurb on Danny’s Farm Specialty Autism Program:
…Life on the farm is dynamic and fun! Danny’s Farm offers a fun Summer Break experience. Each day the participants are actively engaged with our small animals (bunnies, guinea pigs, hamsters etc.) making this experience truly unique. Children learn about our animals through varied activities and cooperative play. The Specialty Autism Program at Danny’s Farm offers kids an opportunity to help take care of the animals, work as a team, engage in meaningful play, developmentally appropriate arts and crafts, simple cooking, music and learn general animal education. Each activity is designed to weave social skills into the curriculum and help promote the following.
-Making choices -development of friendships -respecting others -waiting and listening -following directions -spatial awareness -greeting and conversational skills -transitioning away from preferred activities -topic maintenance -self-regulation skills.
(source: http://edspec.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/SUMMER+BREAK++AFTERSCHOOL+PROGRAM+2011.pdf )
Keeping on the animal theme, the benefits of specially trained service dogs for kids with Autism Spectrum Disorders…
…Researchers from the University of Montreal, found specially trained service dogs could significantly reduce anxiety levels in autistic children.
…Throughout the experiment, parents were asked to complete a questionnaire addressing the behaviours of their children before, during and after the introduction of the dog.
Dr Lupien said: …‘Until now, no study has measured the physiological impact. Our results lend support to the potential behavioural benefits of service dogs for autistic children.’
(source: Dogs reduce stress in autistic children and help curb problem behaviours, finds study | Mail Online )
Another animal-based therapy for Autism is Dolphin-assisted therapy. Because of the expense involved and the fact that it is pretty impractical to utilise as a long term ongoing therapy, Dolphin-assisted therapy is highly controversial: Dolphin Therapy with Autistic Children - YouTube
…It’s perfectly plausible that some autistic children would become unusually lively and engaged around a dolphin, [chairman of the board of directors of the Autism Society and behavioral specialist, Jim Ball] says, but it’s hard to say that the emotional boost would last. “It’s not like they can swim with a dolphin every day,” he says…
(source: Debunking Dolphin Therapy For Autism | Care2 Causes )
Indeed some people with Autism Spectrum Disorders are said to have a special connection with animals. The highly accomplished Temple Grandin, probably the most well known person with Autism, is definitely an example of this…
…Temple has “always had a deep connection with animals.” It seems that many people with autism connect well with animals, but Temple professes to a deep connection. She cares so much for animals, especially cows, that she devotes quite a bit of time to them. About 1/3 of all livestock handling facilities in use around the world were invented by her. She has a PhD in animal science. Temple writes about animals and autism mostly, and many of her books combine the two…
(source: Temple Grandin and What She Means To Parents )
Temple Grandin on livestock handling (she is a champion of humane livestock handling processes)…
Reducing stress during handling will improve productivity and prevent physiological changes that could confound research results or lower productivity. Handling stresses lower conception rates and reduces both immune and rumen function. Handlers who understand livestock behavior can reduce stress. Livestock have wide angle vision and they are easily frightened by shadows or moving distractions outside of chutes. Solid sides on chutes will reduce agitation and excitement. Noise should be kept to a minimum because animals have sensitive hearing. When wild cattle or sheep are handled the handler should work on the edge of the fight zone to avoid agitation. Cattle, pigs, and sheep are herd animals and isolation of a single individual should be avoided. An animal’s previous experience with handling will affect its reaction to handling in the future. Animals which have had frequent gentle contact with people will be less stressed during handling than animals which have had previous aversive treatment. Livestock can be trained to voluntarily enter a restraining device. The restraint device should be gradually introduced and should not cause pain. Feed rewards will facilitate training. Training animals to voluntarily submit to handling procedures would be especially useful for valuable breeding animals and animals used for research.
(source: Behavioral Principles of Livestock Handling )
By noticing how cattle being branded in a squeeze chute at a relative’s farm immediately calmed down after pressure was administered to them in the chute, Temple Grandin invented the ‘Hug Box’ (aka the Squeeze Machine)…
…[the then teenage] Temple reasoned that the deep pressure from the chute led to an overall calming effect and thought it might be able to settle her ‘over-stimulated nerves.’ She then built her own device…
The ‘Hug Box’ is made of two padded side-boards which are hinged near the bottom to form a V- shape. The user lies down or squats inside the V. By using a lever, the user engages an air cylinder, which pushes the side-boards together. This action provides the deep pressure stimulation evenly across the lateral parts of the body. Some individuals prefer long squeezes while others prefer rather short squeezes.
At the present time, several programs around the country have utilized Temple’s ‘Hug Boxes’ and have observed similar changes in children and adults with autism, particularly a general calming effect…
Here is a webpage with some short videos showing the Squeeze Machine: BBC - Horizon - The woman who thinks like a cow Autism, PDD-NOS & Asperger’s fact sheets | Temple Grandin’s ‘hug machine’ )
Temple Grandin is a 2010 biopic directed by Mick Jackson and starring Claire Danes as Temple Grandin.Temple Grandin (Trailer) - YouTube
The film won seven Emmy Awards…
…But all of the classic symptoms [of Autism] … took second stage for Grandin when she was finally brought up on stage for Temple Grandin ’s big award, “Best TV Movie.” At one initially uncomfortable moment, she grabbed the microphone from producer Emily Gerson Saines, to pay tribute to her mother who was in the audience, and then, in the highlight of the entire Emmy show, Grandin grabbed Saines in a prolonged and heartfelt hug. She became her own “hug machine,” and broke all stereotypes of autism by exhibiting unbounding emotion. It was a classic, iconic moment, with an impact that most of the viewing audience probably did not fully comprehend and appreciate.
(source: Autism activist Temple Grandin was Best Moment (and Best Dressed) at Emmys | Psychology Today )
So would Temple Grandin fit into the category of High Functioning Autism or would she fit into the category of Asperger’s Syndrome…
…Having reviewed the literature, we may be able to answer the question, is there a difference between Asperger’s syndrome and High Functioning Autism? The reply is that the research and clinical experience would suggest that there is no clear evidence that they are different disorders. Their similarities are greater than their differences. We appear to be taking, particularly in Europe and Australia, a dimensional view of autism and Asperger’ syndrome rather than a categorical approach. (Leekam, Libby, Wing Gould and Gillberg 2000). At present both terms can be used interchangeably in clinical practice.
There is some talk that people with Asperger’s syndrome do not have a history of early cognitive or language delay while people with High Functioning Autism are likely to have had such a delay. In that case, Temple Grandin would qualify for High Functioning Autism as she had a significant speech delay.http://www.sacramentoasis.com/docs/8-22-03/as_&_hfa.pdf ; Does temple grandin have asperger’s syndrome or another form of autism? | Autism Blog )
Further to my above post, DSM V proposes to create one category of Autism Spectrum Disorder, thereby removing Asperger’s Syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) from the DSM.
This has upset some ‘Aspies’ - these people with Asperger’s Syndrome will now likely fall into the grouping of ‘mild’ Autism…
(source: DSM-V: Asperger’s Syndrome to Be Eliminated; Some Aspies Upset - Yahoo! Voices - voices.yahoo.com )
In addition to her animal-focused work, Temple Grandin does a lot of advocacy for people, like herself, with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Developing Talents - Careers for Individuals with Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism is a book by Temple and Kate Duffy which seeks to build upon Grandin’s own personal experiences with exploiting her talents in cattle facility design…
Many creative people are on the high functioning autism/Asperger continuum… This book will help smart people who are socially awkward to develop their talents and get into satisfying careers… Developing Talents provides many practical tips for developing skills that can be turned into a career and finding mentors who can help a young person enter an interesting field such as computers, engineering, designing, or journalism. Like me, many people on the high functioning autism/Asperger continuum have uneven skills. They may be good at drawing and poor in algebra or good with numbers and have poor drawing skills. Often their skills in their talent area are way above average.
(source: Developing Talents - Careers for Individuals with Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism )
Early last year, Temple Grandin was the keynote speaker at the “Autism and Employment” forum, which was sponsored by Cargill, 3M Co., Best Buy and the Autism Society of Minnesota…
…“You get the people who are kind of quirky, kind of different, and they’re very good at one thing,” celebrity author Temple Grandin, who has autism herself, told hundreds of attendees at 3M’s Maplewood headquarters. “Don’t try to de-geek the geek. You can’t make him something he’s not.”
(source: They’re assets at work ? and they’re autistic | Autism Support Network )
In February 2011, Temple Grandin was the keynote speaker at the “Autism and Employment” forum - one of the sponsors of the conference was 3M Co…
…3M’s commitment to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce extends throughout their organization. 3M’s Disability Advisory Committee (DAC) provides information and resources to employees and their families on disability issues, such as awareness and education, accessibility, accommodations, and employee recruitment and retention…
See the following link for more on this: http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/us-diversity/diversity/3M/employee-resource-affinity-groups/disability-advisory-committee/ http://www.ausm.org/supportServices/documents/Employment%20in%20Minnesota.pdf )
In early 2011, Temple Grandin was the keynote speaker at the “Autism and Employment” forum - another of the sponsors of the conference was Best Buy. Best Buy has a program called FACE –stands for Facing Autism in a Caring Environment…
…FACE is a Focused Involvement Network (FIN) at Best Buy. The mission of FACE is to build a community of Best Buy employees that will promote awareness of autism spectrum disorders … and support their families through networking, the sharing of resources and providing encouragement. The campaign was launched [in June 2010] at Best Buy [headquarters in Minneapolis]…
(source: FACE – Facing Autism in a Caring Environment. Autism Speaks Official Blog )