Description
Nowadays social integration of disabled children is a prominent problem. They are taught in specialized institutions with different methods such as dog-assisted therapy. Main goal of our programme is to introduce new dog therapy methodological games contributing to skill-development of disabled children and to enable experience exchange for specialized teachers. The target groups are disabled children, parents, specialized teachers and special education institutions. The main project activities are dog-assisted therapy, preparation of a new therapy methodological game booklet, purchasing special equipments, organizing an „Experience Day”, preparing articles, photos, videos. The project will end with the „Experience Day” in the Tordas Zoo Animal Farm, where we will present the new therapy games, show the development of the children during the programme and create a platform for partnerships. Results of the project can be used in the future for specialized education of disabled children.
Summary of project results
In November 2014 Tordas Animal Assisted Therapy and Educational Non-Profit Association launched its programme called „Tordas Whisperer Programme: four-legged assistants open a new world”. Six therapists of the Association held complex, dog-assisted programs for disabled persons in six specialised institutions. This project introduced a new methodology and a complex, dog-assisted skill development program. Special, playful tools had been integrated into the dog-assisted games. The essence of the complex method is that all of the skills of the children are targeted by the games, on different levels according to individual needs. The project has been closed by an „Experience Day” in the Tordas Zoo Animal Farm organised for programme participants: the children, teachers and parents. The participants had a chance to try the new, complex, dog-assisted games in a new environment, while parents and teachers could exchange their experiences. The Association introduced the complex game collection, the Game Booklet at the event. The project - the events, professional work and the development of the participants - had been documented by photos and short videos, available on the Association’s website and Facebook site.
Summary of bilateral results