This program of research aims to assess the efficacy and causal mechanisms of occupational therapy integrating horses for autistic youth ages 6-11 years old.

Our first pilot studies demonstrated that an occupational therapy emotion regulation intervention is feasible to deliver in the equine environment and acceptable to both providers and recipients (autistic children and their parents).

Our most recent NICHD-funded randomized controlled trial demonstrated the intervention improves emotion regulation, behavior, and social competence in autistic youth.

This program of research has been funded by the Carl and Caroline Swanson Foundation, Horses and Humans Research Foundation, BuildStrong Foundation, and National Institute of Child Health and Human Development