How are animals good for special education students

Special education uses many techniques that have been traditionally considered as therapeutic benefits animals provide, including their involvement in the process. In general, animals act as enablers especially to students with special needs who find comfort and support in the company of a friendly animal, and who learn better with the help of animals’ interaction. Such interactions foster goodemotional, social, as well as cognitive development of the child and young individual.

My paper focuses on the topic, Animals as Special Education Therapeutic Power.

One special thing that people get from animals is that they are able to empathize with the emotions of humans. In special education students’ case, this relationship is often characterized with more than friendship and association. As seen via pet therapies and classroom animals as well as animals involving programs, interaction with the animals can enhance a student’s behavior and moods to learn, depending on the creation of programs.

Why Animals Are Important in Special Education:

1. Stress released and Emotional support

Animals help to relieve anxiety and stress among students. Things such as a therapy dog can assist a particular student to be calm and emotionally stable which is good news for learning processes.

2. Encouraging Communication

At this point, students feel it is easy to communicate with animals in relation to speech and social difficulties hence enhancing their communication skills. The discussion with a pet or the giving of orders to it can assist to become confident and to develop language.

3. Building Social Skills

Pets in particular teach people how to be more considerate, tolerant and restrained and be cooperative. Through pet care, the students are taught skills of handling animals and these can be transferred to handling fellows and teachers alike.

4. Increasing Sharpening of Attention

Animal integration in the classroom enhances learning and seems to be richer and more interactive. For example, reading to a dog may compel the student who is a reluctant reader and observing a pet may compel the curious learner.

5. Developing Motor Skills

Interactions such as bathing, feeding or exercising a particular animal can assist the students in attaining fine and gross motor developments. These tasks make one feel useful and at the same time promote the issue of autonomy.

Type of animal used in a Special Education classroom

1. Therapy Dogs

Domestic animals used in therapy; though not exhaustive as include, dogs, cats, rabbits, mice and birds among others. It makes them in a position to console learners during pressured status, up attitudes and help in managing those attitudes.

2. Classroom Pets

For example, learners often take fishes, hamsters or guinea pigs to class as animals on behalf of plants. They assist children on matters of responsibility and they are calm to the learners.

3. Equine Therapy (Horses)

This therapy is powerful for learners with Autism or other development delay and other cases of special needs. Grooming and horseback riding are some of the kinds of sports that enables one to gain better coordination and be more confident besides helping in any emotional problem.

4. Service Animals

This is the list of animals that assist students in some ways, for instance the ones that guide blind students or those alert students with epilepsy on a coming attack.

Special Needs Call Animals as Supporting Specific Disabilities

1. It entails Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Pets also have the ability of decreasing the level of sensory input to an extent that the students with ASD can handle; they also have the ability of increasing social skills to an extent that the students can handle. Research has indicated that therapy dogs decrease cortisol levels among children with autism meaning that they decrease anxiety levels.

2. EBD

Animal on the other responds to students in a non-judgmental manner and assists them in managing their own emotions thus preventing aggressive behaviours.

3. Learning Disabilities

Proximity to animals provides the children with confidence and drive to participate in learning activities even though they are learning disabled children.

Challenges and Considerations

While animals offer numerous benefits, there are challenges to consider:

Allergies and Phobias: Some of the students may be allergic to or even be scared of animals.

Safety Concerns: Caution must be employed in order to prevent accidents to the students and or the animals in the field.

Cost and Maintenance: Animal programs call for financial support for treatment as well as training of the animals and acquisition of equipment.

FAQs

1. How do animals help in special education?

Pets bring joy, speech, and positive learning in the classroom with children who have difficulties in learning.

2. In what ways do specially selected animals in therapy benefit students with special education needs?

Pet therapy helps make students feel calm; encourages/ facilitates interaction amongst students; and helps maintain order, enabling students to concentrate.

3. Which animals are used for special education?

Some of them are therapy animals such as dogs, class animals like Guinea pigs, animals used for animal-assisted therapy-such as horses, and animals with disability for service like dogs.

4. Do animals work for students with autism as their peers?

Indeed, animals can be sources of relief from anxiety, social skills trainers and sensory objects to students with ASD.

5. What risks are associated with the application of animals in education?

This is achievable notwithstanding the challenges with allergies, phobia, and safety, and costs of training and management of animals.

6. Do animals have impacts on motor skills especially on special education students?

Well yes, some activities such as grooming or taking an animal for a walk will help students use their fine and gross motor

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