Faculty / Staff Resources Student Resources
University of Southern California
University of Southern California
USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
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Research
Research

Animal Assisted Therapy as Socially Assistive Technology: Implications for Autism

SIEFL Core ⟩

Principal Investigator: Olga Solomon PhD

Period
Jul 2008 – Jun 2009

Total funding
$22,943

This interdisciplinary project develops a new theoretical approach to animal assisted therapy for children with autism. The approach is based on occupational science, a discipline that conceptualizes human occupations in relation to well-being and meaning-making in everyday life, and on socially assistive robots designed to assist humans with social rather than physical tasks. The distinction between social and physical assistance in robot assisted rehabilitation is paralleled by the current state of animal assisted therapy: whereas before service animals (mostly dogs) were assisting disabled persons with challenges in the physical environment (e.g., crossing the street, opening the refrigerator door), they now are also trained to facilitate disabled persons’ social interactions with other people. Because autistic impairments disrupt one’s engagement in social interaction, socially assistive paradigms are uniquely suited for autism intervention.

Funding

Type Source Amount
Intramural University of Southern California Zumberge Fund Award $22,943