Winkle Otr/l, Melissa Y

Professional Applications of Animal Assisted Interventions: Eva's Favorites Winkle Otr/l, Melissa Y

Publisher Marketing: Professional Applications of Animal Assisted Interventions: Eva's Favorites is a collection of animal assisted intervention activities used in occupational therapy with Eva. Many of these activities were previously published in Dogwood Doga, Blue Dog Book, or Gray Dog Book. This collection was pulled together to celebrate Eva's life and her legacy. While it is a tribute to her, it is filled with animal assisted therapy and animal assisted education activities that catered to Eva whose abilities outweighed her diagnoses (mitochondrial metabolism disorder, quadriplegic cerebral palsy, seizures, closed dislocations of the hip, cortical visual impairment, strabismus, spasticity, feeding tubes, and communication disorder). Eva appeared to have many challenges, but this book illustrates a glimpse into her occupational therapy sessions, which were based on the human animal bond, the key motivating factor in her sessions, which resulted in measurable functional progress and quality of life. This book contains activities that are useful for just about anyone in the interdisciplinary team, who works with a person with similar abilities. Readers are guided through activities step by step to identify therapeutic value, supplies needed, precautions, and modifications to make activities more or less difficult. In addition, words of wisdom from the dog's point of view are provided so that the dog receives prerequisite training and introductions to environments, people and activities. The baseline information on ethics, standards of practice, and screening people and dogs for participation is included. This title, Eva's Favorites, and 100% of the proceeds have been gifted to the Little Mustard Seed Trust Fund, so we celebrate Eva's life with a sample of letters from some of her students, friends and family. Contributor Bio:  Winkle Otr/L, Melissa Y Melissa Y. Winkle is an occupational therapist, an author, a researcher, and an international workshop presenter in the areas of animal assisted interventions, assistance dogs, and program development. She is President of Dogwood Therapy Services and Animal Assisted Intervention International, Program Coordinator for Animal Humane New Mexico 'Warm Hearts Network', and an assistance dog trainer/instructor for Assistance Dogs of the West.