Pawsitive Impact: Measuring the Dog Mentor's Effect in Neurodivergent Students

Area of Science:

• Educational Psychology
• Animal-Assisted Interventions
• Autism Spectrum Disorder Support

Background:

• Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often encounter significant educational barriers.
• Animal-Assisted Services and Interventions (AAS/AAI) are increasingly utilized in school settings to aid these children.
• The Dog Mentor is a UK-based initiative focused on training handlers and assessing dogs for school integration, emphasizing a whole-school approach for safety and welfare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the activities and outcomes of The Dog Mentor program within 58 schools.
• To understand the perceptions of teachers and dog handlers regarding the program's impact on children with autism.
• To identify specific benefits and areas for future research within AAS/AAI for ASD support.

Main Methods:

• Content analysis of data from 58 schools participating in The Dog Mentor program.
• Data collection involved input from both teachers and dog handlers.
• Focus on understanding the types of activities and reported outcomes of the intervention.

Main Results:

• Teachers and handlers perceived The Dog Mentor program as successful in supporting children with autism.
• The intervention's variability in sessions was viewed as a strength, allowing for tailored support.
• Handler-reported benefits included fostering a calm environment, enhancing engagement, supporting learning, and improving self-regulation, mental health, and resilience.

Conclusions:

• The Dog Mentor program demonstrates perceived success in supporting children with autism through adaptable, handler-reported benefits.
• Further quantitative research is recommended to validate these perceived outcomes.
• Exploration of the program's potential in supporting bereavement and trauma is suggested for future investigation.