A wild dolphin adventure



© www.waterplanetusa.com

The new field of Dolphin Assisted Therapy (DAT) and of all the similar programs involving contacts with dolphins is a controversial subject. It is getting allot of attention because it touches two deep cords in us: The mystery of dolphins and children born with a disability. As far as we are concerned, after four years of implementing programs with disabled children and wild dolphins in Panama City, Florida, we believe that DAT is nothing more then Animal Assisted Therapy, which has been successfully practiced since many years. We also believe that dolphins are not more mystical or magical then a shrimp or a scallop. Their intelligence and social organization is certainly closer to humans then some other animals, and the aquatic environment and dolphins may offer certain advantages in certain circumstances, but we feel that it is important to avoid falling into escapism for lack of perspicuity. We truly believe in the power of imagination and we know that dreams can be the driving force keeping disadvantaged children from giving up and surrendering to their condition. But we are strongly opposed to the fairly common practice of using desperate parents' gullibility to sell them a "cure" or a solution to their problems by spreading or reinforcing an aura of mystery and magic around dolphins. Most families, who turn to DAT have tried most everything else for their child and apparently, their expectations haven not were fulfilled. It is very painful for most parents to realize that their disabled child's condition does not seem to improve either with time or with all the traditional therapies and it is natural that they would want to turn towards an alternative approach, which is more holistic. Unfortunately, our society is still lacking the means to control and to fairly regulate the use of these substitute or complementary practices, (which are becoming more and more popular) because many of them are still unknown by most or difficult to evaluate from a rational or scientific standpoint. It is therefor fairly easy for families to become the victims of so called "Therapists", "Gurus" or "Healers", who are not qualified to provide the services they are offering at a high price. Incidentally, our observation of wild dolphins and children leads us to believe that untrained dolphins will not pay more attention to a child with a disability (even severe) then it does to another child.

With this in mind, we have created two programs, which have nothing in common with DAT per se.
The first program caters to children with more serious physical disabilities. It is staffed by a team of professionals specializing in physical therapy, occupational and speech therapy, music, art, psychology, Watsu. It features most of the activities of the second program, "Harmony", revolves around the wild dolphins of the Emerald Coast on the Gulf of Mexico. It caters to the emotional needs of the children or their need to fit in or to accept their handicap. It is designed for children with minor motor disabilities and in general, for children and teenagers with learning disabilities, ADD, sensory integration issues, emotional problems and social adaptation difficulties, which often go hand in hand. "Harmony" is also designed for children with Down syndrome and autism. We have also had terminally ill children attend with very good results as far as giving them an opportunity to do something really special, something that they had been dreaming of.

We can only hope that the intense joy they are finding by living their dreams will help them cope with their condition and may be change the course of their diseases. "Harmony" stimulates the children's environmental awareness, artistic sensibility, self-expression, self-esteem and awareness, positive social behavior and cooperation.

The program uses the dolphin as a symbol of freedom, mirthfulness, dexterity and intelligence. The social organization of this mammal, his communication system and the size of his brain make him very similar and also irresistible to his human cousins. Dolphins promote self-expression and stimulate positive social behavior. Dolphins are also top predators in the food chain. They are good indicators of the health of their environment.

The adventure, the discovery and the direct experience of the ecosystem and the sharing of a few moments in the life of a wild dolphin go hand in hand with the discovery and the experience of oneself in a social context. Following the experience of wild life in a marine environment, the experience is anchored with sensory integration techniques such the expressive art of painting (color, light), clay (sense of touch and space), music (sound) and bodywork, watsu in particular. Watsu is a form of aquatic Shiatsu based on realigning the body's meridians by ergonomic movements and positions in warm water.

The educational part of the program gives participants an entertaining outlook on the principles of ecology and marine zoology. The children wade in the grass beds and collect fish, mollusks, crustaceans and other invertebrates. The specimens are released after identification and enthusiastic comments.

Denis Richard
Water Planet - President
5605 Sunset Ave. Suite B
Panama City Beach, FL 32408
Tel: (850) 230-6030 - Fax: (850) 230 1873
Email: Info@waterplanetusa.com
www.waterplanetusa.com/programneeds.htm
www.waterplanetusa.com/programneeds2.htm

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