Currently I am employed at The Children's Theraplay Foundation working with special needs kids of verifying diagnosis. This includes groom, tack up, feed, turn in/out, and long-lining of the therapy horses. I started volunteering there in 2015 and was hired in 2017. While the kiddos are receiving physical and occupational therapy on horseback, I am applying hands on assistance with standing, kneeling, quadruped and various activities. I get to know the children and their personalities. I also observe the behavioral challenges that they can present and how to handle them. My sister is four years younger than I am. She has a genetic disorder which includes low-tone and arthogryposis. Her emotional challenges include severe anxiety, sensory issues and intense emotions. This results in obsession with routine and intense emotional responses. The emotional responses can result in crying, hitting, pinching and occasionally biting. Her physical struggles include speech difficulties, difficulty with mobility, requiring assistance in the restroom, verbal prompting to stay on task and hands on assistance with various tasks.
Listed skills include Animal Care, Barn Hand, Downsyndrome Children, Cat Rescue, and 4 others.