Ep. 6 – How Rescue Horses Help with Autism with Joell Dunlap Artwork

Akhil Autism Foundation

The Akhil Autism Foundation podcast provides practical and science-based solutions for families dealing with autism. Featuring guest interviews with experts in the field of autism, including physicians, health coaches, researchers, nutrionalists, herbalists, movement and speech therapists, as well as authors, educators and parents of children on the spectrum. Foundation founder and executive director, Manisha Lad is a Nutrition Consultant, and mother of an only son recovering from autism. He inspired her to not only start the Akhil Autism foundation, but he transformed her to become a Holistic Health Coach and Autism Advocate. Akhil’s Foundation was formed to Educate, Treat, Research and Support Autism. Help an autistic individual lead an independent and functional life. Every Autistic individual deserves treatment and every parent needs education.

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Akhil Autism Foundation

Ep. 6 – How Rescue Horses Help with Autism with Joell Dunlap

November 02, 2022 • Manisha Lad

“…….the problem with pounding a square peg into a round hole isn’t that the hammering is hard work – it’s that you’re destroying the peg.”

Today we have the privilege of hosting a very special and interesting guest — Joell Dunlap, author, Behavioral Technician, and founder of Square Peg Foundation – working with students and their families who come with a variety of diagnosis and labels, including Autism, Usher Syndrome, anger, anxiety, ADHD, you name it; students who are typically “Square Pegs” themselves. Square Peg is all about reminding all of us that what makes us different is what makes us special.

An equestrienne since childhood, Joell has worked professionally in many facets of the equestrian industry including racing, marketing, special events, and breaking and training of young horses, in addition to teaching.

However, she has always been passionate about changing the way people teach, and is an advocate for alternative education.

Joell has been published nationally in equestrian publications regarding a gentler and more creative approach to teaching students and training horses.

Since she started working with developmentally challenged children, Joell has been developing a unique teaching method which resonates. Her philosophy of “Inspire, Guide, Challenge” and her sensitive style of instruction have helped hundreds of students to achieve important goals.

You are in for a treat for today, so without further delay, we welcome Joell to the show.

Show Notes:

· Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you’ve come to connected needy horses with Autistic children? (3:33)

· Talk about your work with Square Peg, and how you have seen horses help children with autism Starting Square Peg (8:45)

· Temple Grandin (10:33)

· Interest in Neurology and Brain Science (11:51)

· Autism/Horse Connection (14:00)

· How did your approach change? Rupert & Rowan Issacson (Horse Boy) (18:48)

· Echolalia (29:58)

· Sensory Integration, Movement & Rhythm (31:35)

· Sensory Integration Vs. Reflex Integration (33:10)

· Attunement (35:18)

· Nonverbal communication between horses and autistic children (37:14)

· The Needy Horses (41:45)

· Toxic Stress (Toxic Cycle - A stressed brain) – Cortisol and Oxytocin (46:00)

· Dr. Bruce Perry the Sequence of Engagement – Regulate, Relate, Reason (52:35)

· Book “A Damn Fine Hand” (56:22)

· What is Square Peg working on next? Liskennett Equestrian Center (60:24)

· “An Essay by Joell Dunlap”, “Why Horses?”, “My Hebrew Teacher” and “Lake” (64:33)

Links:

Square Peg Foundation - https://www.squarepegfoundation.org/

Rudolph Steiner – The Waldorf Schools

Horse Boy Method (Rupert & Rowan Isaacson) - https://horseboymethod.com/

Dr. Bruce Perry - https://thinkkids.org/regulate-relate-reason/

YouTube “The Sequence of Engagement” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNuxy7FxEVk

“A Damn Fine Hand” (Book) - https://adamnfinehand.com/a