Date of Graduation
5-2021
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science in Human Environmental Sciences
Degree Level
Undergraduate
Department
Human Development, Family Sciences and Rural Sociology
Advisor/Mentor
Terrell, Amanda
Committee Member/Reader
Timby, Donia
Committee Member/Second Reader
Hubert, Stephanie
Committee Member/Third Reader
Whitehead, Isabel
Abstract
The proposed study aims to identify the benefits of aquatic OT by examining the progress a child with ASD makes in motor skills, social, emotional, and physical development as well as evaluate the therapist’s ability to provide therapy, compared to therapy provided on land. It is hypothesized that providing occupational therapy in an aquatic environment for children with autism will have equal to or greater benefits as occupational therapy provided on land. Twenty-one participants were recruited from occupational therapy clinics and programs around the United States to take a survey asking questions to learn more about specific changes observed in children with autism who are participating in aquatic therapy. This study displayed that there are advantages and benefits to aquatic occupational therapy due to therapists agreeing) that 15 out of 26 skills measured increased after aquatic occupational therapy and that there were limited published resources on aquatic occupational therapy for therapists to use to guide their practice.
Keywords
aquatic occupational therapy, autism spectrum disorder, water-based therapy
Citation
Fitzpatrick, C. (2021). The Benefits of Aquatic Occupational Therapy for Children on the Autism Spectrum. Human Development and Family Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/hdfsrsuht/9