Camelot TDS Offering Horse Therapy for Students

 Camelot Therapeutic Day School in Hoffman Estates now offers students Horse Therapy or Equine Assisted Activities as part of their educational and support programs.

The program is a collaborative effort with Walk On Farms, an organization dedicated to providing equine assisted activities to people with physical, cognitive, social and emotional disabilities. Equine Assisted Activities provide motivational, educational and recreational benefits that enhance the quality of life through interaction with the horse. The goal of Walk On is to partner with the horses to inspire the participants to reach their highest potential. To access the organization’s website go to walkonfarm.org.

“This is part of a larger therapeutic program and is one of many therapies that include music, dance and movement and works on a rotating basis,” said Camelot Clinical Director Dawn Livorsi, LCSW. “We take on four students every nine weeks. It’s specifically for individuals with behavioral disabilities; autism, brain injuries and those with social and emotional disabilities. It’s based on their interest and physical ability. What I’ve seen is that it connects participants with educational goals outside the classroom.”

Anyone can refer students to the program; parents, the student themselves or their teachers. Mostly the referrals are done by the therapists including counselors, speech therapists, occupational therapists or the clinical director. The benefits of Horse Therapy include improving physical balance, coordination, mobility, muscle tone, motor control, sensory integration and visual/spatial orientation.

It also improves the students’ cognitive abilities, communication, judgment, following directions, problem solving and sequencing. Social skills are enhanced as are the participants’ empathy, sense of responsibility, respect and trust. Participants gain greater confidence, motivation, goal setting and self-esteem.

Andrew Derwin, principal of the Hoffman Estates campus, said the program is going extremely well. “We take individuals ages seven to twenty-two. They are selected with their diagnoses taken into consideration, their schedule and what other therapies they’re participating in. Horse Therapy is just one of the many therapies provided at the school.”

Derwin said students have the opportunity to participate in Music, Dance/Movement, Art, Pet, Occupational and other forms of therapies. Four students attend once a week and are driven to Walk on Farms.