Animal therapy proving to be a success with autism | 60 Minutes Australia 

Those of us on the spectrum have such a strong connection to animals since we have difficulty connecting to other people. I did not figure out I'm autistic until I was 34, but I have always had such a love for animals, especially dogs. Dogs were always one of my 'special interests,' even before I knew what that was. I could not live without them!

As a nurse, and a Mom to a child on the spectrum this is a beautiful story to warch. I believe our pet dogs have helped my child on the he soectrum. He was the child who didn't want a pet yet now cannot imagine a life without a dog as he enters his final year of high school. He has a great job (pays better thah my first job out of college) and is being promoted to a supervisor on the evening shift. I truly believe our animals were instrumental in his lanuage development, social skills, and academics. Our dogs have gained xo much as well. The power of a dog and his boy .. beautiful!

I have a non verbal beautiful boy with autism he spoke the only time while in equine therapy...said I want trot!❣️❣️❣️❣️

Animals are amazing it's such a shame that many humans don't appreciate just how much so

I have autism spectrum disorder and when I was little I was always around horses and pets. They helped me keep calm and feel connected 🥹 Now music, drawing and watching animated movies are my coping mechanisms as an adult

This was so good to watch, all animals are amazing and God sent to help us, my cat was watching me as I was having a ‘stroke’ as I fell to the ground she came over to me and pricked her nails into my right arm and I instantly woke up, as if she had given me CPR she was then smelling my left arm (which was completely lifeless) and she tried to move me, animal instinct, they most definitely have a 6th sense, she saved my life…🐈❤‍🩹

My daughter went to a pony farm for riding, pony care and to spend funtime with other kids. It helped her especially for anxiety and many other things. Thank you for this great documentary as we have a man with asperger in our family.

As an autistic person I find a lot of this news report incredibly offensive. Here's the list of offending material: - Opening reporter calls it "kids who suffer autism" we don't "suffer" - Starts with a sizzle reel of kids having meltdowns. That is a privacy violation, most of these kids would be adults by now. - Claims that the condition is "bad for the children". - Says that "unusually both of this mother's boys are autistic." That's not unusual, autism is known to be genetic. - Shopping malls are a sensory nightmare for autistic children. This is well known now. - Service animals are now widely recognized as being beneficial to autistic people. - Mother complains about autistic kids not making eye contact. We know that forcing autistic people to make eye contact can be emotionally distressing. - Claiming that animal therapy is new and experimental. Not anymore. - Claiming that Tony Atwood is "Australia's leading autism expert." Yet he's not autistic himself, so he's lacking the most important perspective. I would argue that Chloe Hayden is a more prominent "Autism Expert for Australia" than this guy. - Claims there is a "mysterious link between autistic kids and animals" Did it ever occur to anyone to talk to autistic people about this? - 4:44 Atwood claims animal therapy "is not going to cure autism" in a tone as if that's a goal. The overwhelming majority of autistic people do not want a cure. That includes Nonspeaking autistics as found by AutisticsNotWeird. - 4:57 Stigmatizes an autistic meltdown as "an autistic tantrum". And again, another privacy violation sizzle reel. - 7:08 Ok no, this is not why Autistic people have a strong connection with animals. Animals are gentle, easy to read, easy to cooperate with if properly trained and the don't demand intense eye contact or masking, and the love that animals provide is usually unconditional. Something Neurotypical people don't seem to understand. - 8:31 - "He's no longer raging" again, absolute failure to understand how autistic meltdowns work. He's on a rocking boat going somewhere he's never been before. - 9:08 - Implies that autistic people have a sixth sense. WHAT? This is pushing on the offensive "Autism is a superpower" stereotype. - 10:30 - OH YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! There are so many things wrong with this horrible impersonation. - 12:45 Will you please stop talking about an "Autism cure". Again. The majority of autistic people don't want one. And having watched this entire, the journalist here did not interview a single autistic person. That is a very crucial oversight. Also I know this report came out in 2009, and some of this information wasn't available back then. But autistic adults were around a lot in 2009. Could've asked any of them about it.

Animals can heal anyone with any issues, especially mental and emotional problems.

Animals have the gift of calming people who are sensitive to them .

What a great story. Animals can make such a difference in people’s lives.

Animals are great! I worked with children on the spectrum and remember what parents went through. Horses and dogs are amazing for the children! This is a great video, and I'm happy to know it's expanding. Animal therapy is typically used as a Complimentary Therapy and it's the best.

Growing up with Aspergers.. My first real friend was a Standard Schnauzer named Peppa. She did what Albert was trained to do instinctively without hesitation. I used to call her "My sister from another Mister." She helped me when I really did feel like I was all alone. Nowadays? I typically still distrust/hate people and still will much prefer animal companions over people. Simple as that. Animals don't judge, are loyal, give unconditional love and long for such to be reciprocated back to them. My current dog... Perdita (5 year old Dalmatian.) does the exact same for me as Peppa did. I am studying to become and EN and maybe I may even want to get into being someone who gets Perdita to interact with autistic/sick/elderly folks to provide the same love she shows to me every single day. 💖

Great episode, thank-you!

Rupert, you keep doing what you are doing. A blessing!!!!

I love these children. We need to try and understand them.

This documentary must be very old. The benefits of equine and other animal therapy is not exactly a novel concept.

im so sad as this is just really so beautiful and noteworthy, we're human beings on the spectrum and animals can provide so much substance and hope for a neurodiverse individual. brilliant documentary.

Parents need strategic support to learn how to parent, regardless of diagnoses of ASD for their offspring.

I really enjoyed that about Autism

I agree with the dog one I’ve seen this before in the past… The dolphin seems like a bit of a stretch but hey if they feel it works it’s all positive news

Thanks for this video

This is wonderful thank you

A very interesting documentary showing how animals can help in controlling stress amongst humans . Thank you.

One of the best and truest stories in many years you guys have shared and is extremely true even if it's as simple as a bird to a large dog definitely true and yes animals of all kinds including mouse, rats, bears, tigers, I just simply cannot label to the animals but mostly I believe in cats and dogs therapy is a definite success and some would prefer the horse riding yes but when at home sitting or resting to sleep etc dogs and cats are best known for it 😢😊

I understand very well because my son ADD try my best protect thanks

Thank you for the useful information! Human beings can surely have more benefits communicating to other intelligent creatures that live on our wonderful planet 🌍😊🌼

My cocker spaniel Floyd had a mild case of asperger's. I thought it would be good for him if I let the neighbor kids play with him and now he has full blown autism.

Awesome!🤎

it's not going to help if parents keep feeding kids with too much sugar and carbohydrates for their kids diet.

How much of this is from dog gut bacteria replacing defective bacteria in children?

Excuse me ... "Kids who SUFFER autism". Cancel this whole show for saying that. Autism isn't something you "Suffer" from.

Animals especially mutts get me in an autism outbreak. Stay clear of disease-factories and get a gf/bf like normal people.

Awesome

❤ beautiful I think it works

What is the channel policy on the comment section? Some videos have them turned on but most don't. What's the logic?

My generation called them ‘spazzes’. Not saying that was right.

It’s a shame Australian neurotypical relations with autistic people aren’t as good, eh!

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Companionship with an Animal is NOT going to help in “memory fog” otherwise known as “autism” the reason is: it’s not a learning technique.

Fake news

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