TEAM Resource Library Topic: Animal Assistance and Therapy

Animals provide invaluable assistance and therapy to humans. Dogs are the most common animal service provider. Dogs can be trained to provide many different types of services to persons with disabilities. They can be trained as Guide Dogs, Mobility Assistance Dogs, Hearing Dogs, Diabetic Alert Dogs, Seizure Alert Dogs, Autism Assistance Dogs and more. While many agencies offer Assistance Dogs for free, other agencies or trainers may charge up to $12,000 per dog. As one might imagine, the agencies known for providing quality dogs free of charge often have long waiting lists.

Regardless of how a family acquires an Assistance Dog, quality initial placement training and follow-up training are required. A qualified trainer must oversee the initial pairing of the dog and its new companion. This training process ranges from a few days to several weeks. Typically, families must cover transportation costs and room and board expenses if they or their trainer must travel away from home for training sessions. For many families the training sessions require at least one parent to take leave from work. Insurance companies and Medicaid often do not cover any type of animal assistance or therapy from dogs, horses or other animals. However, it is always worth inquiring, as coverage criteria may change.

Certified Therapy Dogs typically have not undergone the intensive training required of Assistance Dogs. However they can provide wonderful support to many individuals with disabilities in home, clinical and school settings. The assessment for certified therapy dogs ensures that the dog has an appropriate temperament and manner with people. 

Hippotherapy is provided by a licensed therapist who utilizes the multidimensional movement of horses to address specific therapy goals. Sessions with horses adapted for persons with special needs that are not offered by a licensed therapist are often referred to as therapeutic riding. In therapeutic riding the aim is often to provide social, educational, and sport opportunities in recreational horseback riding. Northwest Arkansas has several providers offering opportunities for persons with disabilities to interact with horses.

Horse Organizations and Agencies

Equestrian Bridges, now located in Fayetteville, offers an indoor, heated riding arena as well as many services for persons with special needs including social skills groups for children with Autism, phone: 479-409-8980

Personal Ponies, Dell Watkins, at her Farm in Goshen, Arkansas, raises ponies for family adoption, provides farm tours and travels around Northwest Arkansas with her ponies, phone: 479-582-1071 (Dell Watkins)

Dog Organizations and Agencies
Assistance Dogs International, an accreditation agency for Assistance Dog Providers, e-mail: info@assistancedogsinternational.org

Autism Service Dogs of America, a dog placement organization started by a Special Education Teacher

Canine Companions for Independence, a non-profit which places dogs with families. The dogs are free as CCI is a non-profit.

TEAM is not liable in any capacity for the quality of services delivered by any outside entity. If you find errors or have questions or concerns, you may contact our Family Support Coordinator, Amber Spencer, at amber.spencer@childrenstherapyteam.com, 479-841-4938.