Volitional Change in Children With Autism: A Single-Case Design Study of the Impact of Hippotherapy on Motivation

Abstract

Autism is a prevalent developmental disorder that affects numerous aspects of a child's daily functioning, including but not limited to communication, social interaction, cognitive functioning, motor functioning, and sensation. The many impairments that characterize autism also have the potential to affect a child's volition, defined by the Model of Human Occupation as a child's interests, self-efficacy, and motivation to engage in new activities. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of a 16-week hippotherapy program on the volition of three children with autism. Using the Pediatric Volitional Questionnaire, two occupational therapists rated the three participants’ volition at three timepoints—before, during, and after the hippotherapy program. Visual analysis of the data using methods derived from single-subject design research revealed an increase in participants' volition over time. The study provides preliminary evidence that improved volition may be an important and under-recognized benefit of hippotherapy for children with autism.

KEYWORDS:

• animal assisted therapy, autism, horse, hippotherapy, Model of Human Occupation

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This study could not have been completed without the dedication of the staff at Cowboy Dreams of Illinois: Susan Graunke—President of Cowboy Dreams and NARHA Advanced Level Therapeutic Riding Instructor, Meggan Hill-McQueeney—Vice President of Cowboy Dreams and NARHA Masters Level Therapeutic Riding Instructor, Karin Kepski—Speech Language Pathologist, and Ginger Spitzer—Executive Director of Cowboy Dreams. The authors would also like to thank Dr. Cindee Quake-Rapp of Western Michigan University for her support for this study.