Megan Flanagan Project Link

1.I volunteered at Paradise Equestrian Therapy in Charleston, Illinois.
2. While I volunteered at PET I was able to apply what I have learned about individuals with disabilities. PET is an equine therapy for individuals who have disabilities. At PET I was able to work one on one with a variety of disabilities. One thing that I found to be amazing was that at PET they focus on the child and their abilities, not their disability. By focusing on the child it gave them the opportunity to have fun, learn, and overall be themselves during therapy. It was a great and positive experience to use person first language and watch the individuals enjoy their lessons. In addition, I was able to talk to the individuals parents or caregivers and get to know about their family, daily schedules, and problems that might arise. It was a great experience to learn about how families work together and overcome problems everyday.
3. While I was volunteering at PET I had the opportunity to talk to the owner of PET and other volunteers. One of the other workers at PET also works at EIU in the Human Resources department. I was able to talk to her about the FCS program and how wonderful all the teachers are. We talked about my future plans and how she encouraged me to further my education and help those who are disadvantaged and need help. In addition, I was able to talk to the owner of PET. We talked about how wonderful her program is and how it is beneficial for all individuals who participate. I learned how important it is to volunteer in new places because you never know who you will meet and how they can benefit you and you can benefit them. I thoroughly enjoyed my hours I spent volunteering there and plan on going back in April once they re-open.
4. PET gives individuals who live near and around Charleston Illinois an opportunity to interact with others and horses while getting therapy. Equine Therapy is a great way for individuals with disabilities to work on their fine and gross motor skills while working on their communication skills. PET is a great way to involve individuals with disabilities and those in the community to work together to accomplish goals. It is a positive experience for all who are involved.
5. Overall, I enjoyed this assignment. I plan on going back to PET and volunteering again once they open in April. I think it is beyond rewarding to see individuals grow and succeed during each of their lessons. I thought it was amazing to see some individuals who cannot communicate through words express their happiness through sounds and smiles. One of the individuals made happy noises during her entire lesson. It put a smile on my face knowing that she was enjoying herself and was able to express her emotions. I am thankful that I had this opportunity to do this assignment.