Not all who suffer from autism receives the needed support
RIVONIA – An autistic child may just benefit from having a pet.
A Rivonia-based school has started to look at the benefits that children with autism may garner from working with animals.
Justin Barry, managing director of the integrated, remedial education school EDU360, explained how interacting with animals can help children identify different feelings.
Barry explained, “ADD [attention deficit disorder] and ADHD [attention deficit hyperactivity disorder] are both dissociation difficulties. This is separate to autism, this is when focus is low and distraction is frequent.”
According to Barry, autism and ADD are often misunderstood by society and people might judge these individuals harshly, especially when social interactions and unconventional conversations take place.
He said that children who experience such interactions may begin to feel isolated and will, therefore, benefit from the love and support that a pet may offer them. He added that introducing animals into schools, and children’s lives, can be useful in providing companionship and is known to have a calming affect on learners.
Barry continued that when learners move from one grade to another they may struggle to adjust to change, however, when an animal is introduced, it becomes a constant friend and a point of focus for the learner. This makes it easier for them to adapt through this period of change.
Just like your average person, children with autism also have different preferences when it comes to how they engage on a social level with both people and animals. While some autistic children may feel scared, uneasy or panicked when in the same room with animals and prefer not to engage at all, other children may find it more comfortable to play with a pet rather than a fellow human being or even a toy.
This type of ‘social play’ with animals can be advantageous. When a person interacts with animals, the animal usually reacts enthusiastically and with exaggerated movements. Think of a family dog when someone comes home to greet them – moving around rapidly and excitedly wagging its tail.
Barry concluded that this kind of play with a pet can help stimulate a child’s emotional awareness, which, in essence, allows them not to be confined to one box for all but enables them to create their own boxes, where they fit in.
Related article:
https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/222922/local-autism-centre-tackles-impairment-disorder/
