Aim. To evaluate the effects of riding for beginners (short-term) and advanced (long-term) riders with cerebral palsy on their whole mobility. The study involved 15 subjects (two girls and eleven boys). The subjects were aged from 3 to 19 years (8.73 years ± 5.85). All of the subjects had been diagnosed with a spastic form of cerebral palsy. The duration of the participation differed as follows: the advanced subjects had been riding for 1-4 years (2.66 years ± 1.16), while the beginners have been riding for two weeks (10 sessions). Group I (advanced riders) consisted of eight subjects (7 boys and 1 girl) who had therapy sessions regularly once a week and differed only in terms of the duration of their participation in the experiment. Group II (beginners) consisted of seven children (1 girl and 6 boys) who participated in only 10 riding sessions. All of the subjects were assessed according to the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) and Gross Motor Function Classification System for CP (GMFCS) both before the investigation and after it. Conclusions. Ten riding lessons did not have an influence on the beginner riders with cerebral palsy gross motor functions and their gross motor function level did not change. However, in half of the advanced riders with cerebral palsy, the gross motor functions significantly improved. Meanwhile, the level of the performance of the gross motor skills in the four advanced riders increased, but this difference was not statistically significant.

<p class="Standard">The article deals with a subjective approach towards the welfare of humans and dolphins perceived in the dolphin assisted therapy. Dolphin assisted therapy (DAT) is a therapy based on both-sided collaborative communication between child and dolphin. A pilot research of subjective welfare understanding is presented in the article. Eight families raising children with disabilities (one family with a child with cerebral palsy, two families with children with Down syndrome, and five families with children with autism spectrum disorder) took part in the dolphin-human welfare research. The research was carried out using a research strategy of triangulation applying different methods. The research was carried out using Portable Eye tracking system (SMI REDnScientific), Facial expression recognition software (Noldus Facereader 6.1), Event logging software for observational data collection, analysis and presentation with physiological data synchronization capabilities (Noldus Observer XT 12.5), qualitative telephone interview a week before the session of dolphin assisted therapy, open form for evaluation of  the results of dolphin assisted therapy in a child one month later after the participation in DAT. The results brought to the light that the families were mostly happy when watching their children; families raising children with severe disability were most satisfied with the dolphin assisted therapy; the subjectively perceived welfare of dolphins was understood as a possibility to choose a child for communication; also, if the therapy goals were measurable, the more satisfying results were reflected by parents after a month after the dolphin assisted therapy program.</p>

The aim of this study was to compare the results of the psychosocial effect of therapeutic activities with dolphins for children with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and autism. Research was carried out in the Dolphin Assisted Therapy Center. Ten families raising children with disabilities took part in this research. Methods: Chandler’s Psychosocial Session Form, interviews before, two weeks and one month after therapeutic activities with dolphins. The research results brought to the light statistically significant changes in the psychoemotional and behavioral patterns for children with qualitative differences depending on child’s diagnostic characteristics. The greater positive results were noted by parents, as well as statistically significant measured in autism, but the least in Down syndrome case. The research results revealed that parents shaped their expectations on the impact of therapeutic activities basing on the normalization perspective. Narrative results revealed that all parents raising children with disabilities had needs of re-establishing the inner sense of coherence of the whole family system.

The aim of this research was to assess the effect of dolphin assisted specialized aquatic program applied in rehabilitation of psychomotor functions of persons after hemorrhagic stroke. The research was carried out in 2018 in Lithuania. Two persons with diagnosed hemorrhagic stroke have been surveyed. In the course of the investigation, the effect of aquatic dolphin assisted physical activities on coordination of arms, legs without using balance was assessed; static and dynamic change of dynamics, the effect on gait in water with dolphins were assessed. Additionally, the data on life quality aspects obtained by the SF-36 questionnaire was investigated. It is observed that after application of aquatic dolphin assisted therapeutic activities improvement of both static and dynamic balance has been recorded; three weeks later, most indicators remained the same. The conducted research revealed that therapy had a highly beneficial effect on persons with neurological diseases in terms of assessment of their dynamic balance, gait and gait speed (motor skills) as well as quality of life. Significant changes of motor skills in water in both surveyed individuals have been recorded. Therapeutic aquatic dolphin assisted activities are an effective method to improve the parameters of balance, gait and quality of life in patients; however, psycho-emotional and psycho-social factors, such as support of the social network supplementing continuing therapeutic activities, are a highly significant factor in ensuring further improvement of patient’s condition.