During the summer we had four students from Gallaudet, all graduate students in Education or Mental Health. We all had a fantastic time as they learned everything from being a groom and riding lessons to helping train horses for therapy. We also went over the benefits of therapeutic riding and the different special needs it can benefit. It was a great opportunity for me to learn ASL (American Sign Language) and practice it. It has been proven that in many learning disabilities, if they can have visual and auditory stimulus, they are able to take in and understand more so the sign language was a big help for me in my work at ANIMO. The students all worked or were studying in different fields of Mental Health within the deaf community and felt that therapeutic riding would be very useful for everything from abused children and women to autism. Megan had a one month intensive course for which she earned a certificate and became a valuable member of out team and family. P.S. Megan—I’m still waiting for your essay on your time here and what you learned and liked about Spain and
AAT. We want you to come back soon. We miss you.
Megan and I developed a special relationship and shared so many laughs and experiences including a very funny last supper. Now we have horses at home and are starting a new project on therapeutic riding and infantile cancer for a presentation in May of next year to the National Child Cancer Association Congress. I could use your organization skills and a big hug. Mima
(Heh! I was just able to sign this last paragraph)
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