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Attend the Symposium: Partnering with Dogs for Children on the Autism Spectrum

What

Increasingly families with children on the autism spectrum, school officials and clinicians are excited by the benefits dogs promise for neuro-atypical children. What can dogs offer and what kind of training do they need? Join us for this interactive exploration of animal-assisted interactions aimed at increasing quality of life for children on the autism spectrum. This one-day symposium explores best practices when pairing children and dogs and will explore precautions and contraindications to ensure a safe and beneficial relationship for all participants.

Who

We invite families and professionals who have an interest incorporating dogs into the lives of autistic youth. This day is ideal for parents, clinicians, school/program administrators, community-based service providers, dog trainers and anyone who is interested in this topic.

Goals

• To clarify terminology for dogs supporting children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• To examine the evidence base on animal-assisted interventions (AAI) specifically for improving social behaviors in children with ASD
• To recognize and reduce potential risk factors for people and dogs in program
• To engage the audience in an interactive educational dialogue on this issue

Thanks

This meeting is made possible with generous support provided by
Henry J. and Erna D. Leir Foundation.