Dolphin Assisted Therapy 1995 Symposium

Dolphin Human Therapy: A Professional Association Dedicated to Helping Disabled Children

Speaker:	Dr. Dave Nathason
Affiliation:	President, Dolphin Human Therapy

Dolphin Human Therapy
13605 South Dixie Highway # 523
Miami, Florida 33176-7252
Miami (305) 361-3313

DOLPHIN HUMAN THERAPY was created and developed by David Nathanson, Ph.D., a psychologist with almost thirty years experience working with disabled children. Dr. Nathanson is President of DOLPHIN HUMAN THERAPY. The theory and research behind dolphin assisted therapy, as practiced by Dolphin Human Therapy, is that children or adults will increase attention as a result of a desire to interact with dolphins. A behavior modification procedure -- i.e. interaction with dolphins -- is used to reward the person for correct cognitive, physical, or affective response. Thus, the general purpose of the program is motivational, although specific objectives for each child may include behaviors related to speech, language, gross or fine motor development, rote or conceptual thinking, etc. Ideally, the program "jump starts" the child and complements and reinforces therapies or other procedures used in more traditional helping approaches. Realistically, children cannot interact with dolphins on a schedule similar to the schedules of other therapies. Therefore, the objective of dolphin therapy is to motivate and increase confidence, so that the child/adult will benefit even more from the help of other professionals.

The initial research using dolphins with handicapped children took place at Ocean World, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 1978. Dr. Nathanson developed a series of carefully controlled language experiments using dolphins as teachers for children with Down syndrome. The key to learning for all people, but especially for the mentally retarded, is to increase sensory attention -- i.e. sight, sound, touch, taste, smell -- so that increased learning will occur. This is the same principle used in developing a fascinating first paragraph in a short story, or in the production of a successful 30 second television commercial. Most mentally handicapped children have difficulty paying attention to a stimulus, and as a result, learning is impaired.

The results of the research were startling. The children learned four times faster, and with greater retention, when they were rewarded with in water interaction with the dolphins. In 1980, Dr. Nathanson presented his research findings at the American Association of Mental Deficiency Congress in San Francisco, The XVI World Congress on Early Childhood Education in Quebec, Canada and the European Association on Special Education Congress in Helsinki, Finland.

In 1988, a six month study conducted at Dolphin Research Center in Grassy Key, Florida, validated the pilot work completed in 1950 at Ocean World. The 1988 study was presented in September, 1988 at the XXIV International Congress of Psychology in Sydney, Australia, and published in 1989 in the book Clinical and Abnormal Psychology (Elsevier Science Publishers).

The 1988 study and a 1993 study (published in the journal Anthrozoos) served as a basis for the development of a two day per week treatment program at Dolphin Research Center. From 1989, to the end of 1994, more than 500 children and adults from all over the world received help, with almost 5,000 therapy sessions conducted. In each case, the goal was to improve functioning -- cognitively, physically, or emotionally.

By the end of 1994, the therapy was so successful that the waiting list for services had reached seven years! A full time program was essential. To meet this extraordinary demand, Dolphin Human Therapy moved to Dolphins Plus in Key Largo, Florida.

Now, the five day per week program, with a full time staff of seven, serves a wide range of disabilities, including mental retardation, head arid spinal cord injuries, sensory handicaps such as blindness and deafness, neuromuscular and musculoskeletal disorders, and many others. Approximately 5,000 therapy sessions will be conducted in 1995.

The purpose of the first day of individualized therapy is "orientation". Children become familiar with the dolphins, therapists, and surroundings. This session is 20 minutes long with the therapist and the child on the platform. The children are not in the water, but they do interact with the dolphins from the platform.

An orientation meeting is held later in the day with all parents, and covers therapy sessions, expectations, insurance, restaurant locations and additional DHT activities.

The session time increases to 40 minutes. All work with the therapist takes place on the platform or in the water. The child's reward for correct responses takes place in the water interacting with the dolphins.

Dr. Nathanson meets with each family individually at an off site location to discuss therapy, insurance, and their child's progress. The meetings continue throughout the week until each family is seen.

An optional parent meeting is held with all parents. The parent meeting allows parents to interact with each other, and to discuss resources for their children.

This is the last day of therapy for the children staying for one week. Session time is 40 minutes and "in-water" with the dolphins.

Dolphin Human Therapy: A Professional Association Dedicated to Helping Disabled Children

WHAT IS DOLPHIN ASSISTED THERAPY, AS PRACTICED BY DOLPHIN HUMAN THERAPY, INC., AND WHY IS IT EFFECTIVE?

HOW DID DOLPHIN THERAPY GET STARTED? WHERE IS DOLPHIN THERAPY NOW?

A WEEK IN THE LIFE OF DOLPHIN HUMAN THERAPY