Students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at Madison Elementary School in Davenport, Iowa, are privileged to visit with some unlikely guests that teach them crucial social skills, the Quad-City Times reports.
Kids with ASD are able to hang out with four-legged friends like B.J., a golden retriever, as a part of their therapy. As soon as the dog walks through the door, swarms of students get up from their seats to hug, pet and play with the pup, according to the news outlet.
James DeCook, a teacher at the school, said the dog does more than just bring joy, though the kids think he's only there to play with them.
"These guys are practicing their social and communication skills," DeCook told the publication. "The interaction is good for them, so when they see dogs in public, they're OK with it. They can handle seeing them, instead of being deathly afraid."
As a bonus, when the canine comes for a visit, the kids get to go outside to engage in
natural play. The kids take turns throwing a ball to the dog inside the fenced-in
playground out back. This is an activity that everyone - human and canine - enjoys.
"It's the unconditional positive reward they give, no matter what," DeCook told the news source. "That's why people love therapy dogs so much."