31st Annual Student Research Conference
Perceptions of Animal Assisted Interventions on those with Invisible and Visible Disabilities
Monique M. Maxwell
Dr. Jessica Colpoys, Faculty Mentor
Animal assisted intervention is a broad term that describes the purposeful integration of animals into an intervention that provides benefit to humans. Two types of animal assisted interventions include service animals (SAs) and emotional support animals (ESAs). Service animals are trained to assist people with disabilities in activities, such as guide dogs for the blind. Emotional support animals help provide therapeutic benefits in alleviating symptoms of an individual’s disability, such as dogs to help with post-traumatic stress disorder. In recent years the surge in requests for ESAs within the higher education setting has increased rapidly. This research will use a survey to evaluate Truman State University student perceptions of ESAs and SAs in relation to their benefits, uses, and accessibility. Hopefully, this information can be used to fill the gap of knowledge on perceptions towards those with visible and invisible disabilities in the specific relation with animal assisted interventions.
Keywords: Animal Assisted Interventions, Emotional Support Animals, Service Animals, Human-Animal bond
Topic(s):Psychology
Agricultural Science
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 406-1
Location: MG 2090
Time: 2:30