Animal-assisted activities for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: Teachers’ and parents’ perceptions

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2017.ENGLISH SUMMARY: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder which currently affects an estimated one percent of the international population and that percentage appears to be growing. There is currently no single intervention that has been found to improve all the symptoms of ASD, and the most effective form of intervention has been shown to be a combination of different interventions. Animal-assisted interventions (AAI) have shown promise as a complimentary intervention for ASD. This field, however, requires further research, as there is a dearth of research regarding AAI for individuals with ASD, particularly in South Africa. The aim of this study is, therefore, to contribute to the knowledge of the use of AAI for individuals with ASD by exploring the perceptions of the teachers and parents of adolescents with ASD who participated in classroom-based animal-assisted activities (AAA). Using a case study of a single class of adolescents, qualitative interviews were used to explore the insights of the participants and the transcribed interviews were then subjected to thematic analysis. The results of this study indicate that the participants perceived the AAA as beneficial for the adolescents. Many of these benefits were noted as immediate reactions to the presence of an AAA dog, and did not generalise to the adolescents’ home settings, but some behavioural changes were noted at home. Participants also provided valuable insight regarding practical elements of the implementation of AAA. Participants were enthusiastic about AAA and indicated a desire for the programme to be continued and extended, suggesting the need for further research into this form of intervention.AFRIKAANS OPSOMMING: Outisme spektrum versteuring (OSV) is ‘n ontwikkelingsversteuring wat tans nagenoeg een persent van die internasionale populasie beïnvloed. Die persentasie neem ook tans toe. Daar is tans geen enkele intervensie wat gevind is om al die simptome van OSV te verbeter nie en die mees effektiewe vorm van intervensie dui op ‘n kombinasie van verskillende intervensies. Troeteldier-ondersteunde intervensie (TOI) toon belowende resultate indien en wanneer dit as ‘n komplimentêre intervensie gebruik word. Die veld benodig steeds verdere navorsing, omrede daar nog tans nie genoegsame informasie rondom die intervensie van TOI vir individue met OSV, veral in Suid Afrika, is nie. Die doel van die studie is daarom om ‘n bydrae te lewer tot die kennis van TOI vir individue met OSV, deur die persepsies van die onderwysers en ouers van adolessente met OSV wat aan die klaskamer gebaseerde, troeteldier-ondersteunde aktiwiteite (TOA) deelgeneem het, na te vors. Deur gebruik te maak van ‘n gevallestudie is die insigte van die deelnemers deur die gebruik van kwalitatiewe onderhoude ondersoek. Die onderhoude is toe getranskribeer en ontleed deur die gebruik van tematiese analise. Die resultate van die studie dui aan dat deelnemers TOA as voordelig vir adolessente bespeur het. Baie van die voordele is as ‘n onmiddellike reaksie op die TOA hond opgemerk, maar het nie ‘n algemene invloed op die huislewe van die adolessente gehad nie. Daar is wel sommige gedragsveranderinge by die huis opgelet. Deelnemers het ook waardevolle insig rondom die praktiese aspek van die gebruik van TOA gelewer. Deelnemers was entoesiasties oor TOA en het aangedui dat hulle verkies dat die program aangaan en uitgebrei word. Dit dui aan dat verdere ondersoek in dié vorm van intervensie nodig is