Effects of Using an Hippotherapy Program on the Development of Students with Special Needs

Abstract

The objectives of this experimental research were 1) to develop a Hippotherapy Program: HP, and 2) to compare the development of students with special needs before and after using the HP. The experimental group was 20 students with special needs who participated in the HP. The research instruments were 1) the HP; this is a program that develops basic abilities such as movement control, balance, posture, perception, and sensory integration, able to respond appropriately to stimuli, and a learning management plan was prepared for 12 times. The HP had IOC between 0.80-1.00, 2) the developmental assessment form, it was a 4-level rating scale. Its IOC and reliability were 0.80-1.00 and 0.98, respectively, and 3) group discussion on the efficacy of the HP by 7 qualified persons. The data were analyzed by means of frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. The results showed that 1.) the HP consisted of 6 components: 1.1) importance, 1.2) objective, 1.3) target group, 1.4) curriculum content, 1.5) hippotherapy therapy activity, and 1.6) measurement and evaluation. It will help students with special needs to be able to control movement, balance, posture, perception, and sensory integration, and can respond appropriately to stimuli. 2) Students with special needs, before receiving the HP, the overall improvement scores were at a good level (μ=2.77, σ=0.57). When considered individually, it was found that most of them were of good quality after receiving the HP. The overall improvement scores were at a good level (μ=3.20, σ=0.52) and improvement equal of +0.65 (R=0.65).

Keywords

• hippotherapy program, students with special needs, special education center