THE PSYCHOSOCIAL EFFECT OF THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITIES WITH DOLPHINS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the results of the psychosocial effect of therapeutic activities with dolphins for children with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and autism. Research was carried out in the Dolphin Assisted Therapy Center. Ten families raising children with disabilities took part in this research. Methods: Chandler’s Psychosocial Session Form, interviews before, two weeks and one month after therapeutic activities with dolphins. The research results brought to the light statistically significant changes in the psychoemotional and behavioral patterns for children with qualitative differences depending on child’s diagnostic characteristics. The greater positive results were noted by parents, as well as statistically significant measured in autism, but the least in Down syndrome case. The research results revealed that parents shaped their expectations on the impact of therapeutic activities basing on the normalization perspective. Narrative results revealed that all parents raising children with disabilities had needs of re-establishing the inner sense of coherence of the whole family system.