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I am definitely a llama enthusiast! In 1997, my husband and I moved to a beautiful piece of property in Southern Oregon. This allowed us the opportunity to become involved in one of the biggest adventures of our life…to be "owned" by a herd of llamas! Every day, we are amazed at our llamas' beauty, intelligence and curiosity. They make us laugh as they gaily prong like pogo sticks or race up to investigate an unsuspecting visitor! They impart a tranquil atmosphere to our busy world when we walk among them as they peacefully graze. They enrich our lives! Initially, our vision was to raise llamas for breeding, packing, showing and fiber production. But over the last year; after personally experiencing the joy, peace, and serenity that my llamas provided; I leisurely researched the concept of using my llamas in my profession as an Occupational Therapist. Ultimately, I came in contact with Delta Society. I ordered reading material from this organization regarding such subjects as ANIMALS IN THERAPY, ANIMAL-ASSISTED THERAPY, and ANIMALS IN THE CLASSROOM. Then, as luck would have it, a friend of mine told me about a local certification class for animal assisted therapy through Delta Society. Since that time, two of my llamas and I have become certified as Pet Partners, qualified to provide animal assisted activities or animal assisted therapy.
When I bring the llamas to the different schools or programs, I use the llamas to facilitate certain skills that the child is working on, or encourage a variety of responses that I know would be beneficial for a specific child. For instance, when I bring Steinway to a kindergarten class, I know that one of "my" kids, who has Cerebral Palsy, will be motivated to reach out and pet his neck. This very simple activity will provide her an opportunity to develop very specific treatment and educational goals that she is working on. This will encourage her to shift her body weight forward, move her arm up against gravity, open her hand, and have a wonderful tactile experience as she feels the soft fiber. Another child, who is working to develop purposeful grasp, may be motivated to hold a brush in order to "groom" the llama, or even hold onto the lead. A llama at school can provide just the right motivation to increase mobility in children with physical challenges. Children who lack physical endurance can be encouraged to help walk the llama up to the front office in order to show a favorite secretary their special "guest." I have seen a child who refused to walk using a walker (an assistive device), allow herself to be positioned in the walker and take a few steps forward in order to pet the llama. With some children, I know that I can help facilitate speech and language. A child can be encouraged to use a communication board, by touching the "YES" or "NO" symbols when asked, "Do you want to touch the llama?" Or another child can practice articulating the sound "La." Young children with communication delays can expand their language by being encouraged to tell about the llama…."What is this animal?" "What color is he?" or "What does the llama say?" Some of the children I work with, have multiple severe disabilities. One child, who has cognitive, visual, and physical impairments; and who is often unaware of her surroundings; laughed with delight when one of the llamas sniffed her head and face. Through touch and smell, the llama increased her level of arousal and provided her with a unique opportunity to improve body awareness. Children with autism frequently have sensory issues, often exhibiting defensive responses to touch. MacCloud, who has exquisitely soft silky fiber, will stand quietly as a child hesitantly touches his fiber. On one occasion, a child with autism who has difficulty making eye contact, was petting the side of the llama. He gradually worked his way up toward the front of the llama until he finally looked into those big expressive llama eyes. Everyone in the classroom held their breath, so the magic moment wouldn’t be broken. Who knows, perhaps that was a first step in getting eye contact with humans! In one school, we arranged a scenario where the Special Education classroom was "hosting" the visit from the llama. For the entire week leading up to the visit, we provided simple activities for the school. For example, we designed the guessing game, "What kind of animal does this fiber come from?" That week, the kids in the special education classroom, were "Top Dogs" in the school. In my experience, the llamas provide a wonderful opportunity to motivate children in their learning, whether the children have special educational needs or not. And, more than once, I’ve seen a teacher wipe tears from her eyes, as she sees a child accomplish a difficult task with the help of a llama friend! |
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As
an Occupational Therapist, I work in a program that serves students with autism,
hearing, visual, or severe orthopedic impairments in 5 neighboring counties.
Currently, I don't use the llamas on a regular basis in the therapy that I
provide, but rather, I occasionally bring the llamas to the different settings
that I work in, including Early Intervention settings and elementary / high
schools.