I am currently undertaking my Master of Education. My thesis is exploring how assistance dogs can support children with autism.
I am looking for specific literature related to autism assistance dogs and education. Many general benefits have been presented in the literature in terms of developments and improvements in social skills, communication, physical, sensory, emotional and behavioural. These themes can be explored as tools in supporting the child to derive maximum benefit from their education, however, I am wondering if anyone has any further advice to link these benefits further into the education realm?
Check out the research from @MeganMacdonald from Oregon State. They had a series of studies a few years ago looking at dog-assisted therapy for children with disabilities is several settings. Not sure if they focused or measured the exact variables you are looking at, but might be a place to start.
Here are some studies that surface from a brief search on the data base Google scholar.
Berry, A., Borgi, M., Francia, N., Alleva, E., & Cirulli, F. (2013). Use of assistance and therapy dogs for children with autism spectrum disorders: A critical review of the current evidence. The journal of alternative and complementary medicine, 19(2), 73-80.
Burgoyne, L., Dowling, L., Fitzgerald, A., Connolly, M., Browne, J. P., & Perry, I. J. (2014). Parents’ perspectives on the value of assistance dogs for children with autism spectrum disorder: a cross-sectional study. BMJ open, 4(6), e004786.
Carlisle, Gretchen K. "The social skills and attachment to dogs of children with autism spectrum disorder." Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 45, no. 5 (2015): 1137-1145.
Fung, S. C., & Leung, A. S. M. (2014). Pilot study investigating the role of therapy dogs in facilitating social interaction among children with autism. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 44(4), 253-262.
Prothmann, A., Ettrich, C., & Prothmann, S. (2009). Preference for, and responsiveness to, people, dogs and objects in children with autism. Anthrozoös, 22(2), 161-171.
Sams, M. J., Fortney, E. V., & Willenbring, S. (2006). Occupational therapy incorporating animals for children with autism: A pilot investigation. The American journal of occupational therapy, 60(3), 268-274.
Silva, K., Correia, R., Lima, M., Magalhães, A., & de Sousa, L. (2011). Can dogs prime autistic children for therapy? Evidence from a single case study. The journal of alternative and complementary medicine, 17(7), 655-659.
Smyth, C., & Slevin, E. (2010). Experiences of family life with an autism assistance dog. Learning disability practice, 13(4).
Solomon, O. (2010). What a dog can do: Children with autism and therapy dogs in social interaction. Ethos, 38(1), 143-166.
Solomon, O. (2012). Doing, being and becoming: The sociality of children with autism in activities with therapy dogs and other people. The Cambridge Journal of Anthropology, 30(1), 109-126.
Viau, R., Arsenault-Lapierre, G., Fecteau, S., Champagne, N., Walker, C. D., & Lupien, S. (2010). Effect of service dogs on salivary cortisol secretion in autistic children. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 35(8), 1187-1193.
Wright, H., Hall, S., Hames, A., Hardiman, J., Mills, R., PAWS Project Team, & Mills, D. (2015). Pet dogs improve family functioning and reduce anxiety in children with autism spectrum disorder. Anthrozoös, 28(4), 611-624.
Wright, H. F., Hall, S., Hames, A., Hardiman, J., Mills, R., Mills, D. S., & PAWS Team. (2015). Acquiring a pet dog significantly reduces stress of primary carers for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A prospective case control study. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 45(8), 2531-2540.
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