Dolphins and children with special needs
Harmony Program Page 2
In the last 7 years, the Water Planet team has put together a special program for children. This program revolves around dolphins, wild dolphins in particular. It is based on the discovery and the experience of the ocean and the marine eco-system. The philosophy behind Harmony is that we believe in the therapeutic virtues of the global context in which the programs are implemented.
It has been established that the presence of animals can in itself have some positive influence on our physical and psychological balance and well being. The popularity of animal assisted therapy proves it. Horses, dogs, cats and other animals are used by a number of therapists to help improve communication with their patients. Since a few years, dolphins have also been used in animal assisted therapy. Dolphin assisted therapy or dolphin therapy has become a relatively widely used practice, which uses trained dolphins to interact with children or adults affected by autism or various other emotional or physical handicaps for so called therapeutic purposes. Most of the facilities proposing this kind of therapy are amusement parks or zoos holding dolphins in captivity. The animals are trained and conditioned to interact with the clients for a reward. Learned interactive behaviors are reinforced with handouts in the form of fish. To read an interesting study about "The Effectiveness of Dolphin Assisted Therapy" in a captive environment, click here (PDF file).
We do not approve or support any sort of dolphin captivity even if they are used to help disabled children. The results can in no way justify the means. You cannot rob Peter to pay Paul.
In this respect, Water Planet is very different in that it refuses to use denatured captive dolphins trained to perform specific behaviors on cue.
We believe in the therapeutic virtues of the experience of nature and of a wild dolphin encounter in his natural habitat and on his own terms. The sensations and the emotions stirred up by this experience of nature in an aquatic environment combined with the expressive arts, music and body work as well as with the bonding and the interaction of the child and his parents with the staff is a potent formula facilitating the healing process.
Our Harmony Program lasts one week during which we go out in the ocean to look for dolphins to observe them and to swim with them. Most interactions take place along Shell Island and in St. Andrew Bay. We also take the time to catch, observe and release a variety of fish, mollusks, crustaceans and invertebrates to the great pleasure of every child and parent.
Midweek, we drive to Morrison Spring to snorkel and play in the crystal clear fresh water springs gushing out of an underground network of caves going deep into the water table. Majestic cypress trees sheltering abundant wildlife surround the spring area. This fresh water experience of "another Florida" will give you the opportunity to regenerate before going back to the ocean.
Sensory integration activities are organized after each dolphin encounter. Children rotate between different workshop stations proposing a variety of media like paint, pencils and crayons, clay, colored sand, seashells and more, which serve as vehicles to their imagination and to the emotions triggered by their encounter with wild dolphins. The theme of their projects is always related to the marine environment and dolphins.
A station providing body work allows the children to experience the relaxation induced by massage and Watsu, which is a form of aquatic Shiatsu based on the realigning of the body's meridians through ergonomic movements and postures. For the June and July 2006 sessions, as an experiment, the watsu will be replaced with sessions of "dog therapy".
Finally, the children get the opportunity to express themselves by playing music and by singing and dancing at the music workshop.
Such experience can only be beneficial if it is carefully prepared in advance and facilitated by qualified personnel. The Water Planet staff is qualified and specialized in marine ecology, seamanship, water sports activities, psychology and education, expressive arts, massage and Watsu. The children and their families are taken care of as soon as they arrive at their hotel. The first activity in the program is a pool session. We make sure that the children and all the other participants receive instructions on how to use their snorkeling gear and that they are equipped with the flotation device appropriate to their level of swimming skills. They also receive specific instructions on how to interact with wild dolphins and on safety on board and in the water.
Contact Denis Richard for more information about our Harmony Program.If you are interested in taking part with your child in our on-going Research Program on Autism and Dolphins, click here
Click here to read a few testimonies
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