Student Specialized Support
Finn gives love and gets love from Meg with a sweet hug.
Making Un-fur-gettable Connections
Our Dogs Break Barriers with Students in Specialized Classes
In classes where reading is not the focus, our certified pet therapy teams provide comfort and support for children with special educational and developmental needs. These classes include Autistic Support, Multiple Disability Support, and Life Skills. While many of these children are non-verbal or have limited mobility, our dogs are able to form special connections with them and help them developmentally and emotionally.
For a child with special needs, relaxation can be more difficult to achieve. This is where our certified therapy dogs come in. Dogs are able to reach these children on a level that humans often cannot. Dogs are also innately trusting and want to be accepted, just like children. They don’t see disabilities or limitations. A few hours a day or even a week with a therapy dog can do wonders for a child with special needs.
Interested in volunteering? Learn more ➜
“I teach children with autism in kindergarten, first, and second grade. Even students who feared dogs developed a love for Teddy, our Roxy therapy dog, and I noticed a true difference in their language while Teddy was present. Teddy’s visit became a social experience for my students and they benefited greatly. They were eager to grab a book and read to Teddy, or for my students who were unable to read, grab a book and excitedly listen to a story while snuggling up next to Teddy. Teddy and Barb’s presence in the classroom was such a wonderful experience.”
— Mary Doyle, Buckingham Elementary, Teacher
Teddy Bear and his friend smile in mutual admiration.
Student Specialized Support
Benefits to the Children
Research shows that magical things happen when a child interacts with a therapy dog. Anxiety levels decrease, heart beat slows, breathing becomes deeper and more relaxed, and fears are forgotten.
Locations
All 15 elementary Schools in the Central Bucks School District: Barclay, Buckingham, Butler, Bridge Valley, Cold Spring, Doyle, Gayman, Groveland, Jamison, Kutz, Linden, Mill Creek, Pine Run, Titus and Warwick as well as Unami Middle School and CB East and West High Schools.
Director
Phyllis Mikolaj, Director of Schools
Did You Know?
Our support for these students does not stop in June.
Often, in order to truly continue to develop and not experience setbacks, specialized support is needed all year long.
Roxy teams provide this much-needed support through the Extended School Year program in Central Bucks School District, ensuring that students do not experience any gaps in their education.
Student Specialized Support Fast Fact:
Of the 136 classes Roxy supports each year, 20-25% are specialized support classes, ranging from enhanced reading/math support to emotional, learning, and autistic support.
Our teams span the elementary, middle, and high school levels, depending on the needed support and the frequency of visits.
Specialized Support
Volunteer Story
by Steve Glabere
“I have a wonderful student who I have been visiting for a couple of years in a special ed classroom. This young man is in a wheelchair and non-verbal. The first time we visited, he clearly showed that he was scared and wanted nothing to do with Tucker or even be in the room with him.
We—the teachers, aides, and all—were patient and reassuring. Over the next visits, we did not try to get close; we just allowed him to observe Tucker from afar. After a month or so, the teacher wanted to try having him get out of the chair on a mat and have Tucker be close. This worked, but there was still no touching.
Eventually, he felt safe enough to reach out with his foot and touch Tucker. What a joyful day that was.
Over the months we progressed to the point where he snuggles with Tucker, reaches out as best as he can, and loves his ‘Tucker time’.”
