www.pbs.org Eight-year-old Thomas was born with a rare genetic disorder, which resulted in a lot of trouble communicating with his parents. Now, Thomas undergoes dolphin therapy in the Florida Keys. His parents believe that the connection between Thomas and the dolphins is helping to unlock his silent world. Remarkably, Thomas is beginning to be able to communicate. “Wisdom of the Wild” illustrates some of the surprising ways in which animals help teach, heal, and strengthen people, in body, mind, and spirit. Catch NATURE’s “Wisdom of the Wild” airing on PBS Sunday, August 17, 2008 at 8 pm (check local listings). “Wisdom of the Wild” ispart of the 26th season of the Peabody and Emmy award-winning series produced by Thirteen/WNET New York for PBS. Major support provided by Canon USA Inc., Toyota, SC Johnson, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. For more information, visit www.pbs.org Nature, PBS, WNET, humans and nature, dolphins, therapy, speech, communication
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To discount someone’s individual connection with a particular animal is arrogant. A dog is A LOT different from a dolphin, and yes, BOTH of them could cause harm if they wanted to. Dolphin therapists are not going to use an aggressive dolphin during therapy sessions. We don’t have “evidence” about many things that amazingly make us feel better and when you have a child with a disability, such as autism, you want to try almost anything that will create a spark in that child’s mind.
i feel you.
i have been diving with dolphing a week ago, that was verry nice it coast me 90$ but i dont feel any change im still deprest not even more seprest coz i like dolphins i want to be neer them but i can coz it is 6 hours driving from my home and it coast a lot of mont and i dont see any change in my spirit im still sad all the time and feel i have nothing to live for.
You are completely right! There isn’t any research to support its effectiveness. A good study would compare having children with autism spend time with dolphins vs. the same therapy with a dog.
You get the same effect by getting a cat or a dog…and even having a warm bath. Forming a relationship with a cat or dog would be far more meaningful than spending thousands of dollars to be with a dolphin for a few hours. Nothing exclusive and special about dolphins. I feel for the people that pin all their hopes on this when there is very little evidence (if any) that it works. Dolphin therapists don’t tell you that the captive dolphins can be very dangerous and have attacked people.
Moving
This raises SO many questions… And I LOVE questions…
wow…brought tears to my eyes….thanks for sharing your nice video.
Splendid video! I’ve thought about invovling dolphins with my son. He is autistic and loves animals and seems to have a connection with them. He’s a lot like me. It’s truly amazing how animals will find our home and hang around. I’d like to try the dolphin thing. In Honolulu I had a chance to visit with dolphins. I wasn’t ready to swim with them. It was real odd, though. Four of them stopped what they were doing and waited at the pools edge, turning one eye towards me. Looked that way, anyway.
Beautiful! Dolphins are remarkable animals, with communication skills vastly beyond our own. WHAT they’re soing with Thomas is a mystery, but whatever it is, it’s working.
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