"A World of Difference," S1, E9 | "The Value of Animal-Assisted Interventions for LD Individuals"

From the moment Noah crammed animals two by two into a floating Old Testament menagerie, mankind has shared a close bond with animals.  According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the human-animal bond is a mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between people and animals that is influenced by behaviors considered essential to the health and well-being of both.   The bond includes but is not limited to the emotional, psychological, and physical interactions of people, animals, and the environment.   

More specifically, the field of human-animal interactions (HAI) and, in particular, animal-assisted interventions (AAI), has greatly evolved over the past half-century, and become a more recognized, legitimate form of complementary therapy.   

On this episode of “A World of Difference,” we’ll saddle up and travel to a small Florida horse ranch to get a glimpse of animal-assisted intervention in action.   Next, we’ll explore the ins and outs of animal-assisted intervention in our “Ask the Experts” segment.  Finally, we’ll introduce you to this month’s “Difference Maker,” Dr. Temple Grandin, a world-renowned scientist, author, and speaker, who has spent a lifetime making the world a more humane place for both livestock and the neurodiverse.