Open AccessEquine-Assisted Therapy with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Serbia and the United States: A Pilot Intervention
Author(s) -
Shay Dawson,
Bryan P. McCormick,
Daniela Tamaš,
Čedomir Stanojević,
Lori Ann Eldridge,
Jordan McIntire,
Ashley Bowen,
H. Blair McKissock
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
therapeutic recreation journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2159-6433
pISSN - 0040-5914
DOI - 10.18666/trj-2022-v56-i1-10387
Subject(s) - intervention (counseling) , autism spectrum disorder , autism , clinical psychology , psychology , social functioning , medicine , psychiatry , physical therapy , distress
Adolescent and young adults with a diagnosed autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the severe to moderate functioning range were recruited for this study in Serbia and the United States (U.S.). A total of ten participants, five from each respective country, participated in a 15- week equine-assisted therapy (EAT) intervention that utilized ground-based learning through a manualized program approach. The purpose of the study was to test the effects of a manualized 15-week EAT intervention on the social functioning of individuals with severe to moderate ASD across two cultures using a single subject research design. Nine out of 10 participants displayed improved social functioning over the course of the 15- week EAT intervention in both cultures.