Unleashing Potential: Educating OT Practitioners on Animal-Assisted Therapy for Children with CP

Authors

• Karley B. Smith, University of St. Augustine for Health SciencesFollow
• Lakeisa Boykin, University of St. Augustine for Health SciencesFollow

Files

Description

The purpose of this capstone project is to develop and evaluate the efficacy of an animal-assisted therapy educational package for occupational therapy practitioners treating children with cerebral palsy. This educational package serves as an adjunctive occupational therapy service to address the ongoing need for engaging, holistic interventions that support motor development and participation. The primary focus of this project is practitioner education and training to promote safe, structured, and clinically sound integration of animal-assisted therapy into occupational therapy practice. The methods for this project included a literature review, informal needs assessment, development of an educational package, QR code video demonstrations, and an educational presentation. Participants included occupational therapy practitioners at an outpatient pediatric clinic in Georgia.

Publication Date

Summer 8-2026

Publisher

University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences

Keywords

Animal-assisted therapy, children, cerebral palsy, pediatrics, occupational therapy, education

Medical Subject Headings

Animal-assisted therapy, child, children, cerebral palsy, occupational therapy, outpatient

Disciplines

Occupational Therapy

Comments

Poster presented at the OTD Capstone Symposium, held at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences.

Recommended Citation

Smith, K. B., & Boykin, L. (2026, August 1). Unleashing Potential: Educating OT Practitioners on Animal-Assisted Therapy for Children with CP. Poster presented at the Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium, University of St Augustine for Health Sciences. Retrieved from https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonessummer2026/17