Note: this is for a class project most of the info is factual however please don't hold me acountable

 A Real Life Impact


Today I thought it would be important to share Chris's story one of healing and success. When Chris entered his third year of grade school it became apparent to Chris's teachers and mother that he had trouble fitting in with the other kids and he spent most of his time alone during recess and clung to his teacher. Very troubled by this Chris's mother took him to see a psychologist who suspected he had Asperger Syndrome and after running some tests confirmed it. Chris would later attend regular counseling sessions to help him make friends and learn social skills. Unfortunately Chris was not making as much progress as his mother and teachers hoped. That changed one day when he was paid by his neighbors to take care of their dog named Buster while they were away or the weekend. Chris liked to play with Buster and ask afterward if he could walk him and play with him a few times a week. After a few weeks Chris's parents noticed he was more friendly and confident with kids his age and was even starting to make friends with kids his age. Chris would continue to grow socially and even got a little bit of money from his neighbors for taking such good care of Buster. This may seem like a Small unimportant change but to Chris it made a huge difference and left him better equipped to deal with people and organize himself.

 



What is Asperger Syndrome?

Asperger Syndrome also known as "Asperger’s" is a disorder on the same scale as Autism. Asperger’s can affect anyone but is first discovered most commonly in children. Those with Asperger’s tend to be intelligent having IQ's from normal to very advanced range and is very hard to notice because its symptoms are so different from other disorders on the Autism spectrum. Those with this disorder often have trouble fitting in in socially and are quite often considered to be "weird" or "strange". People who suffer from Asperger’s lack many essential communication skills such as control of their body language, difficulty in reading social cues, and a difficulty in understanding others feelings. A full list of symptoms can be found bellow.

http://www.littlebitquirky.com/2010/07/12-most-common-symptoms-of-aspergers.html

 

What Is A Therapy Animal?

When most people talk about therapy animals they think about Seeing Eye dogs. In reality however therapy animals are so much more. Therapy animals have a variety of jobs in many different settings. The first use of therapy animals was in WWII hospitals to raise morale for injured soldiers. Therapy animals have evolved to offer companionship to people with a host of physical and mental disorders and diseases. For example those with poor backs are often paired with specially trained horses because riding strengthens the back. There are many organizations that train and offer training to animals.

Organizations By State

 

Aspersers and Therapy Animals

The goal for most professionals when treating Asperger’s patient is to give the patient the tools they need interact socially. Many approaches can be used for example teaching people with Asperger’s how to do improve acting. An approach that has been gaining popularity and is subject to a fair amount of research is using therapy animals. The animals as studies have shown help to teach non-verbal interaction skills such as eye contact and being aware of the needs and wants of others. The thinking behind this type of treatment is that the person interacting with the animal will learn to take non-verbal cues from the animal and then start to apply those to people. It the animals also fight off loneliness which is especially prevalent in people with Asperger’s and can lead to anxiety disorders and depression if not dealt with. The best thing about this kind of treatment is that it is relatively inexpensive and can be offered to those who may not be able to have pets as these services are often available through the community.

How Can I Help?

If you know someone who has Asperger’s or whose child has this disorder passing on this information could make a big difference in their quality of life. Many of these organizations are also non-profits and need funding to help continue projects.