Animals & autism: Q&A with Dr. Temple Grandin

Temple Grandin on autism and animals

Temple Grandin on autism and animals

Dr. Temple Grandin has speaking gigs across the country, including two sold-out talks at the Weinberg Center For The Arts today, but there was a time when she could not speak. Grandin needed a speech therapist and other social instruction to be mainstreamed in kindergarten.

Since then, Grandin emerged as an expert on the humane treatment of livestock as well as her own autistic brain. She was the subject of a 2010 HBO film, and her book, “The Autistic Brain,” advocated for treatment of autistic individuals that affirms their strengths, not weaknesses.

Grandin is a true daughter of the Midwest. She frequently wears her trademark western shirt and kerchief known as a wild rag. The time she’s spent around animals, including on her grandfather’s North Dakota farm, has at times been less perplexing than the myriad of social norms that shape human interactions. But Grandin’s autistic perspective can illuminate truths that non-autistic people overlook every day. Grandin shared her view on animals and autism with 72 Hours.

Read the Q&A here.

The Relationship of Parent-Child Closeness, Number of Children and Pet Ownership with Perceived Stress among Parents of Children with Autism – please help a student at HELP University with his research.


As you know I am always keen on helping promote academic (and other ) research into ASD. Firstly

HELP University - Autism Research

HELP University – Autism Research

because I’m the father of a son on the autistic spectrum but also because I spend 20 odd years in market research. Of which a decade was in healthcare!

So when Sanjivan Padman of HELP University in Kuala Lumpur got in touch I was delighted to help out.

Sanjivan writes” I am an undergraduate student from HELP University. I am doing a thesis on The Relationship of Parent-Child Closeness, Number of Children and Pet Ownership with Perceived Stress among Parents of Children with Autism. It would be very helpful if any of you could share my online survey with parents of children with Autism. It would only take around 6 minutes to complete this survey. Your help is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

I seek your kind assistance to approve this request as soon as possible. Here is a link of the survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PVGpAfM6WEOJixY0T7R6rJLMH1CgVm64s6fNCli5asQ/viewform

Thank you for participating in this research. Please note that you must be a parent of at least one autistic child within the age of 3-18 years old to take part in this study. Before proceeding to the questionnaire at the back, please read and sign this consent form. If you have any questions to ask, you may contact the researcher via the contact details provided.

Description of the project:

You have been asked to take part in the study that aims to study the relationship of parent-child closeness, number of children and pet ownership with perceived stress level among parents with autistic children.


What will be done:

If you agree to participate in this study, you will be asked to complete a questionnaire that consists of demographic questions, Interpersonal Solidarity Scale and Perceived Stress Scale that would take less than 6 minutes to complete.

Risks or discomfort:

Your participation in this study is voluntary. The researcher does not anticipate any risk or discomfort besides minimal fatigue from this study. However, if you feel any discomfort, you may decide not to participate in the study. No adverse action will be taken against you for opting out. Feel free to contact the centre listed below for assistance if you do experience any psychological discomfort arising from this study:

Centre for Psychological and Counseling Services: 03-2096121

Benefits of this study:

Although there will be no direct benefit to you for taking part in this study, the researcher may learn more about the relationship of parent-child closeness, number of children and pet ownership with perceived stress level among parents with autistic children.

Confidentiality:

Your participation in this study is confidential and anonymous. None of the information will identify you by name. All records will only be handled by the researcher. All the data will be kept confidential. No personal information will be revealed to the public unless they are required by law to report information to city, state or federal authorities, or to give information to a court of law.

Decision to quit at any time:

The decision to take part in this study is voluntary. If you have decided to not take part in this research, you may quit at any time. Whatever your decision may be, no adverse action would be taken against you. If you wish to quit, simply inform the researcher.

Rights and Complaints:

This study has been reviewed and approved by the Ethics Review Board, Department of Psychology and Faculty of Behavioural Science at HELP University. If you have any problems or questions in relation to this study, you may discuss your complaints with the researcher supervisor or the chairperson of Ethics Review Board through the contact number or address stated below.

I understand that this research study has been reviewed and approved by the Ethics Review Board, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Behavioural Science at HELP University. For research related problems or questions regarding participants’ rights, I can contact:

Chairperson
Ethics Review Board
Department of Psychology
Faculty of Behavioural Science
HELP University
BZ-2 Pusat Bandar Damansara
50490 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Phone: 03-27112000

If you have further inquiries regarding this study, please feel free to contact the researcher at the addressed stated below

Thank you.

Researcher – Sanjivan Thamby A/L Padmanapan jivan92@gmail.com
Research Supervisor – Alex Lui An Lieh luial@help.edu.my

Autism and animals. We are looking for parents of children with autism to help with some research for Warwickshire College


Autism and dogs

Autism and dogs

As you may know PatientTalk.Org has been interested in the use of animals as a therapy for people with Autism. You can check out a blog post I wrote on autism and service dogs here.

So were are delighted to be able to give some help to Jenna Lauder, a student at Warwickshire College, who is studying companion animals and the effect they have on autistic children. She needs the help with some research from parents of children with ASD.

Ms Lauder writes” My name is Jenna Lauder; I am currently a 3rd year student studying a BSc Hons in Animal Science and Health at Warwickshire College. This year I am undertaking a dissertation based on the subject of companion animals and the effect they have on autistic children. As part of my research, I am required to distribute a questionnaire.

I am looking for parents of children particularly between the ages of 4-11 who have a companion animal, but also would like those who do not have a companion animal to respond for an equal comparison.
It would be great if you have a few minutes to complete my anonymous online survey, which should take no more than 5 minutes.

Your time and contribution is much appreciated!

Please click on the following link if you DO have a pet: http://goo.gl/forms/rhBnfPujBz

Please click on the following link if you DO NOT have a pet: http://goo.gl/forms/TZoDF5Z5WE


Autism and Service Dogs. Can you help please? My family need some advice from you! – Updated

Autism and dogs

Autism and dogs

Can you help please?

You are good kindly souls who have my best interest at heart and , without doubt, are much more expert than me.

A few weeks ago we (my wife and I) decided to throw caution to the wind and get a dog. Mainly because our children want one and we have been told that animals are great for children with autism. For those of you reading this blog for the first time I should mention we have a seven year old boy with ASD.

Now so far so good. However we are now stuck with a problem what sort of dog works well in our circumstance?

I’m not a dog person so I’ll confess I’m utterly ignorant about breeds or so forth. So my first question to you is what sort of breeds are suitable to children with autism.

Secondly we live in a small house in London. Our garden is about 180 sq yards. But we do have lots of parks near by. Does this change matters at all?

Thirdly what do you do when you go on holiday?

Please can you share your advice, tips and knowledge in the comments section below?

Many thanks in advance.

PS I think the picture which illustrates this blog show how much our children would love a dog. Don’t you?