15/11/2013
Recently the Today Show shared a story about a young boy with autism, Isaiah Forte, who has experienced a breakthrough due to therapeutic riding. (see it here: http://www.today.com/moms/riding-horse-brings-autistic-boy-out-his-shell-2D11577330).
The story is genuinely heartwarming, but it also reinforces the urgency of the need for more EAA research on autism. According to David Mandell, director of the center for mental health policy and services research at the University of Pennsylvania and associate director for the Center for Autism Research at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, “To date, there is no rigorous study suggesting that horseback riding per se is particularly beneficial." Mandell also cautions parents with limited resources to put their money into "proven" autism treatments.
In fact there are some good strides being made in EAA research (see HHRF website; also see the rigorous research being done by Dr. Robin Gabriels http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1750946711001589) - but we certainly want to see more.
HHRF is looking for funds designated to more autism research as well as support for the need for research among the autism community. If you are aware of sources that might support this or if you have access to contacts at organizations like Autism Speaks, please let us know!
Isaiah Forte, 9, flashes a brilliant smile from the horse he’s riding. Diagnosed at 2 with autism, Forte for years had difficulty...