Course curriculum

  • 1

    Understanding Neurodiversity: Practical Strategies for Practitioners in Equine & Animal-Assisted Programs

  • 2

    Principles of Equine and Animal Assisted Programs

    • AALC vs AAT

    • AALC vs AAT Download Poster

    • Trust and Connection in Programs - Building Relationship - Relationship First!
  • 3

    Understanding Neurodiversity & Integration into Equine and Animal Assisted Programs and Activities

    • Introduction to Neurodiversity & Animal Assisted Programs

    • Neurodiversity - Diagnoses

    • ADHD and Equine & Animal Assisted Programs

    • Autism and Animal & Equine Assisted Programs

    • Autism and Current Terms and Diagnoses

    • Dyslexia and Equine & Animal Assisted Programs

    • Dyspraxia and Equine & Animal Assisted Programs

    • Dyscalculia and Equine & Animal Assisted Programs

    • Tourette Syndrome and Animal Assisted Programs

    • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Animal Assisted Programs

    • Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) and Animal Assisted Programs

    • Nonverbal Learning Disorder (NVLD) and Animal Assisted Programs

  • 4

    Executive Functioning and Animal Assisted Programs

    • Executive Functioning and AAL/AAT Programs

  • 5

    Understanding Stimming in Neurodiversity

    • Understanding Stimming - What is it?
  • 6

    Understanding Masking in Neurodiversity

    • Masking and the role of Equine and Animal Assisted Programs

  • 7

    Sensory Differences in Neurodivergent Individuals

    • Sensory Differences in Neurodivergent Individuals

    • How do Equine and Animal Assisted Programs help ND individuals with their sensory differences?

  • 8

    Motor skills in Neurodiversity

    • Motor Differences in Neurodiversity

    • How does Equine and Animal Assisted Programs help Neurodivergent Individuals with Motor Skills

  • 9

    Communication Differences and Terms in Neurodiversity

    • Understanding Communication Terms in Neurodiversity

    • Gestalt Language Processing

    • Applying Gestalt Language Processing in Equine & Animal-Assisted Programs

    • Understanding and Responding to Echolalia

    • Social Communication in Neurodivergent Individuals

    • Autism and Alexithymia

    • How does Equine and Animal Assisted Programs benefit individuals with Alexithymia?

    • Social Skills in Neurodiverse Affirming Practice

    • Implementing Social Skills in Neurodiverse-Affirming Animal & Equine-Assisted Programs

    • Challenging Behaviours from a Neurodiverse Affirming Perspective

  • 10

    Regulation

    • Dysregulation

    • How does Equine and Animal Assisted Programs help ND individuals with Regulation?

  • 11

    Neurodiverse Burnout

    • Neurodiverse Burnout

  • 12

    The risks associated with non-neurodiverse affirming practices

    • Risks of non ND affirming practices and programs

    • Examples of non-ND affirming practices and what to avoid

  • 13

    Practitioner and Facilitator Tips

    • Instructional Accommodations

    • Activity - Grooming and Bonding with horses to enhance emotional awareness and emotional regulation

    • Horse Care Activity Example

    • Dog Training in an Animal Assisted Learning Context - Activity

    • Which horse am I?

    • Sniff and Walk - Dog Walk

  • 14

    Diagrams and Resources

    • Diagrams and Resources