October 23, 2006
Live Science
A Florida elementary school is using man's best friend to help special needs students learn to communicate.
Reporter Jennifer Rivera shows us how the pet therapy program is making a difference.
Tom Decicco and his therapy dogs volunteer their time every Wednesday at Royal Palm Beach Elementary Echool to work with autistic students.
"I thought working with special needs children would be perfect for the dogs to interact with the children and bring the best out of them."
Last year, the school started the program to measure the effect of dog-assisted activities on dialogue expansion.
Speech and language pathologist Jill Williams says this lab-golden retriever mix helps autistic children learn to communicate.
"We’re teaching them a core structure of vocabulary and then how to go ahead and expand on their sentences."
The children interact with Charlie, petting him, even shaking his hand.
The dog gives them a non-judgmental witness to their learning.
"The children seem to open up to the dogs and every week you see some growth."
Teacher Terri Daybriggs says the dogs help speed up their learning.
"Some of the children it takes a year before you see a lot of progress, but when there's a therapy dog we see progress every week, it's amazing."
Being able to focus on counting Charlie’s paws is a huge milestone.
The time spent with Charlie and Decicco's other dogs allows these autistic children to briefly escape their world.
"For two hours on Wednesdays, Charlie and Kelly and Tom come and help rescue children."
"Thank you Charlie.... thank you Charlie."
The learning doesn't stop when Charlie leaves.
Teachers utilize computer programs and take home "doggy bags" that reinforce the vocabulary they work on with the dog.
Plans are already in the works to expand the school's program to other classrooms.
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