Excerpt from: Blue Ridge Now (click for full article)
The friendly canines are used as therapy for autistic children, who are often nonverbal and have trouble communicating or expressing what they want. The dogs are a learning tool, said Lisa Lane, director of the nonprofit organization that provides in-home and in-school treatment in Greenville, Spartanburg, Pickens, Anderson, Union and Cherokee counties in South Carolina.
“Instead of using flashcards to teach a child to say commands, we are using a dog,” she said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 88 children are identified with autism spectrum disorder, which are defined as a group of developmental disabilities that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges.
The 12 children who participate in the Hope Unleashed Program at Hope Reach Clinic can learn verbs such as running, jumping, sitting and actually see what each word means.
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