Why Therapy Alpacas

6/24/2019

Alpacas are effective therapy animals for kids and adults on the autism spectrum! Interacting with alpacas and other therapy animals can have a calming, centering effect for people on the spectrum, lower blood pressure, reduce anxiety, and help teach interpersonal skills.

Says animal-assisted therapist Lacey Burgess, working with alpacas “can teach kids about responsibility, gain a rapport and trust and respect. So you can kind of use these guys to really get your point across about any kind of life skills topic that you need to.”

Learning 4 Life Farm is creating an alpaca therapy program for kids and young adults on the autism spectrum, and caring for the alpacas will be part of our job training program for teens and young adults on the spectrum. Stay tuned as we grow our program, and contact us to get involved!

Check out some examples of animal assisted alpaca therapy in pilot programs around the world:

2 Comments

Ruth McBride

8/15/2022 08:05:32 am

Would like to start a program like yours. I have owned alpacas and know what they are like. Want to share this with other people. Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks Ruth

Amy Hurst link

8/19/2022 12:57:47 pm

Thanks so much for your comment! We are still learning as we go about how to build a program like this.

My advice is to connect with the groups in your area that provide services to people with disabilities, schools that work with kids with disabiliites and autims, and farms that provide animal assisted therapy/thereapuetic horseback riding or similar services,

We are part of the CARE Farming network, they might be able to connect you with some groups in your area as well. https://carefarmingnetwork.org/

Keep in touch and reach out if you have specific questions!
--Amy

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Why Therapy Alpacas

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