Category: Post

A landmark study published in PLOS ONE delves into the systemic effects of integrating service dogs into families with a child diagnosed with ASD. Using standardized scales like the Autism Behavior Inventory Short Form (ABI-S), they saw a notable decrease of 14 points (13%) in overall autism symptoms.

While the children’s overall anxiety did not see any significant changes, the parents did show a notable difference in their anxiety levels.

Welcome to ‘The Happy Sensory Corner in Special Ed’ – the podcast where we explore the world of sensory enrichment and environmental enrichment in special education.

We interview experienced special education directors to learn from their successes (and from some of their failures too!) in solving the challenges of teaching students with special needs.

In each episode, we also share practical strategies, sensory enrichment protocols, and evidence-based practices that address specific areas, such as behavior regulation, self-awareness, social skills, learning abstract concepts, hyperactivity, etc.

Early adverse events, such as neglect or abuse, can profoundly affect a child’s developmental trajectory. These experiences can hinder the growth of essential social skills, leading to challenges in peer interaction and emotional regulation.

The research team from Kagawa University embarked on a study to explore the underlying mechanisms of these developmental disruptions and to evaluate the potential of Sensory Enrichment to mitigate these effects.