The Social Sciences

Year: 2014
Volume: 9
Issue: 4
Page No. 289 - 303

Assessment of the Jordanian Experience in the Training and Treatment of Autistic Children Using Horses, from the Perspective of Parents and Professionals

Authors : Nieveen Moh`d Abuzaid

Abstract: This study aims to identify the pioneer Jordanian experience in the training and treatment of autistic children through the use of horses from the perspective of autistic’s surroundings and parents. It also aims to highlight features of autistic children that could be changed and improved after being exposed to a global program which effectiveness was proved through universal studies by the means of intervention. The study was limited to a single program designed for Autism treatment entitled growing together presented and administrated by the association of her highness Princess Alia Bent Al-Hussein, at the royal stables where a random sample of 20 children was chosen, due to the limited number of centers enrolled to the program due to many considerations, including the availability of one trainer only and the place and time devoted for individual training, as each child is being trained in a separate session. Lack of parents’ interaction with the program and its details led to the need for the intensification of the use of the specialists around. The researcher prepared and used a questionnaire involving 74 paragraphs. These are answered by either parents or specialist accompanying the autistic child. The researcher uses those direct questions in order to identify a child’s features before and after being exposed to growing together program. The tool was only applied after asserting its honesty and consistency. After collecting and analyzing data, the results found confirmed the effectiveness of the program in improving autistic children’s capacities. Thereafter, the study came out with some recommendations at the top of which is the circulation of the idea to the concerned ministries, institutions and other centers specialized in autism treatment. The study emphasizes the fact that the responsibility of fighting the disease is a general one and that we both private and governmental institutions must work as a one hand, in order to adopt the mentioned program and support and help autistic children. It also recommends that specialists and researchers be informed with modern methods of treatment that specialists working for this program should be regularly trained and that providing all possible ways to adopt, support and disseminate successful programs in order to improve the capacities of individuals with special needs is of a great importance.

How to cite this article:

Nieveen Moh`d Abuzaid , 2014. Assessment of the Jordanian Experience in the Training and Treatment of Autistic Children Using Horses, from the Perspective of Parents and Professionals. The Social Sciences, 9: 289-303.

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