Dolphin Aid
Special Kids
Need Special
Attention
“The heart reflects life and that, which we as human beings can give: love and emotion.”
– Kiki Kuhnert
Letter from the president
My son Tim was involved in an accident in June 1994. I was certain that the world, at least my world, had come to an end.
The pain, sadness, helplessness and distress were so enormous, I was sure that I would not be able to survive.
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On our long journey through the “Valley of Darkness”, Tim, my daughter Kira and I met the dolphins, and these fantastic mammals have changed our lives and made it far richer.
They have given Tim the will to return to this world and they have helped Kira to develop into a happy, independent individual.
For me they have provided every therapeutical support possible.
Seeing how happy they made my children has lightened my spirit.
Dolphin therapy has since become a part of my life and my mission to keep my son’s legacy alive for those in need.
To experience the happiness in the eyes of children and their parents has made every day count.
To realize that the sun can shine again, even if not as warm as before, has given a profound purpose to my life.
Around the world, dolphin aid foundations are following the path my son has led them to, in an effort to help rewrite the story of rehabilitation for a countless number of patients and to support a future for them that is happier
and “more sunny” for many special children.
I wish you always the best of everything
Sincerely,
Kirsten Kuhnert
President
About Us
The path of dolphin aid is inseparably intertwined with the fate of Tim. The son of dolphin aid’s founder Kirsten Kuhnert almost drowned in an unsecured pool. Emergency doctors gave him back his physical life. However, this life was surrounded by a wall, for 16 months Tim was in a persistent vegetative state. Helpless doctors, a desperate family. Last hope: dolphin assisted therapy in Florida. Indeed, the dolphins were able to break down the wall. Tim’s awakening marks the birth hour of dolphin aid.
Dolphin aid’s main objective is to enable this beautiful encounter and the important dolphin assisted therapy to as many children and adults as possible. Dolphin assisted therapy often is the beginning of rehabilitation – and is there a more beautiful gift than providing a child with the start to a better future?
“It is impossible to put the two weeks of dolphin-assisted therapy into words. Phil’s first shower without tears, trying his first nectarine, recognizing colors without a problem, and his ability to more clearly express his wishes and be able to communicate better with his peers.”
– Parents of Patient
Dolphin assisted Therapy 
Dolphin assisted Therapy
Therapy
Dolphin Therapy is a specifically and individiually tailored rehabilitation program for children and adults with special physical, psychological or mental needs. It is an integrative, multidisciplinary treatment method in which highly qualified therapists work together with dolphins who are specially chosen for therapy. Scientific studies have shown that therapy in combination with dolphin interaction encourages children and adults in their development and that learning becomes up to four times faster.
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In addition, the interaction with dolphins strongly supports in the area of sensory integration, such as seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, and smelling. And that is crucial for the improvement of learning, behavior modification, communication and language, motor skills, cognitive development, social as well as functional skills, and the respected transfer of these skills into daily life.
Dolphin Therapy complements and reinforces traditional therapeutic approaches. It is individually composed to cater to the needs of each person.
The therapy concept, which dolphin aid founder Kirsten Kuhnert developed together with the members of the International Expert Council for Dolphin Therapy is registered in the US and serves as the mandatory guideline for certified therapy centers.
It lays the foundation for an ethically, morally and outcome focused approach in Dolphin Therapy and is based on the latest scientific findings.
The playful contact with the dolphins is an extraordinary incentive for patients. The increased motivation, to work particularly well during the therapy, provides the necessary strength to playfully make it to the next step in development.
In addition to the dolphins, the team is completed by international, experienced, highly motivated, specially licensed and certified therapists and is composed of psychologists, behavioral therapists, physical and occupational therapists, speech therapists, special education and family consultants. They are in constant contact with competent scientists around the world and participate in targeted training to the latest scientific findings that immediately can be integrated into the therapy.
Dolphin Therapy is generally recommended for patients with mental and physical challenges, three years and older.
The therapy should be applied for two weeks, equalling a 10-day therapy.
A therapy unit usually lasts about two hours and is divided into 3 parts.
It begins with a half-hour of conventional therapy.
After this preparation it is time for the actual Dolphin Therapy on the dock and in the water.
Carry over of daily living skills, such as showering, dressing, etc. are an essential part of the time well used, followed by a daily reflection of the session given by the supervising therapist for the patient, and if needed the entire care team, in the presence of assistant, trainers in which a summary is given about the the most recent therapy.
Treatment goals could include: improving communication, language, gross and fine motor skills, regulation of feelings and emotions, cognitive development, social responsibility and interaction, mental and physical developments, self-awareness, eye contact, self efficacy, regulation of muscle tone, joint mobility, mouth motorics and improving life skills.
The concept follows a family oriented interdisciplinary approach with an emphasis on the siblings or children of patients, in which the family is recognized as a whole and treated as such.
Dolphins
The dolphins participating in therapy are called Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins. They live in their natural environment and may only be involved in therapy and no other programs. They are specially chosen and characterized by their gentleness, their curiosity, their eagerness to learn and teach, their willingness to interact and to undevidedly focus on people.
The therapy dolphins are the ideal partner for therapists, since their creativity with which they work freely during the sessions is absolutely remarkable.
Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins
The common bottlenose dolphin – the best known among the dolphins – may be, once full grown, between 1.7 and 4 meters long and weighs between 150 and 300 kilograms, sporadically even up to 500 kilograms. The dorsal fin is approximately 20 centimetres long, and the tail fin around 60 centimetres. Usually, the upper side of the body is black, blueish or grey, the bottom side is lighter. A special characteristic, that distinguishes the common bottlenose dolphin from other dolphins, is his seven- to eight-centimetre-long snout which is shorter compared to other species.
Common bottlenose dolphins have a highly developed brain which isn’t inferior to the human one.
Diagnoses
Dolphin Assisted Therapy works for a huge variety of diagnoses,especially for children and adults with mental and physical challenges, age three years and up. The range of diagnoses ranging from Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrom, any type of brain injury, trauma, developmental delay, to rare diseases or syndromes.
Should you have specific questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to help.
How we help
Since its founding in 1995 by Kirsten Kuhnert, dolphin aid has supported and advised countlesss families. Since then, dolphin aid has helped to enable thousands of patients making significant and scientifically proven progress in their development.
The Spectrum of Support
- General help and support for individuals with special needs
- Realization of Dolphin Therapy
- Help for abused children and adults
- Financial support of financially challenged families
- Generating of donations and sponsors
- Preparation of sponsoring concepts
- Acquisition of permanent donors
- Partnership and cooperation with other organizations
- Administration of donations
- Media and public relation work
- Support of research and science
- Advice in medical questions
- Legal advice
- Family counseling
dolphin aid: Trust in Competence
“The dolphin-assisted therapy gave me my husband back.”
– Marita S., wife of a veteran.
Science
Dolphin Assisted Therapy Works: Scientific Findings from Eilat and Florida
Aim of the study was to examine whether dolphin assisted therapy has an effect at all and how a possible effect can be explained. 220 young handicapped patients underwent a dolphin assisted therapy in Eilat, Israel, and Key Largo, Florida, U.S.A. In a pre-post-follow-up design the efficiency of the treatment was tested by a questionnaire with a five-point Likert Scale that was administered to parents as well as teachers and therapists at home, respectively. Subjects were asked before the therapy, six weeks after the therapy and in Key Largo also six month later. […]
“Dolphin-assisted therapy works. For this there exists clear scientific proof.”
– Prof. Dr. Rolf Oerter
Therapy centers
Curacao Dolphin Therapy & Research Center
In 2003, dolphin aid founder Kirsten Kuhnert was approached by the owner of the Seaquarium on the Caribbean island of Curacao, and asked to support the foundation of a center for Dolphin Assisted Therapy with her knowledge and expertise.
The goal was to create a rehabilitation facility on the highest possible level. Together with the members of the International Expert Council for dolphin therapy, she developed a benchmark therapy concept which is still unsurpassed today, as well as the Articles of Certification, both registered in the United States. A main focus lays free interaction between dolphin and patient in the dolphins natural environment.
The concept is designed to accelerate the development of the patient, to improve the quality of life, and to induce the steps toward a positive rehabilitation and future.
The Curacao Dolphin Therapy & Research Center also deserves credit for the extraordinary husbandry of their dolphins in a natural bay and also for the outstanding water quality.
Island Dolphin Care, Key Largo, Florida
Dolphin-Assisted Recreational Program Key Largo, Florida.
Following successful work in the “classroom” and on the “platform”
the children are rewarded with a swim with the dolphins. Deena Hoagland´s program specializes in the field of autistic children, those with behavior problems, as well as those who have been victims of abuse.
The minimal requirement here is that the child is three years old, can control the head and is free of any seizures.
“From stones that lie in your path you can build bridges.”
– Kirsten Kuhnert
A Note on Animal Protection
One of the essential reasons for the success of Dolphin Therapy performed in accordance with the International Articles of Certification is the mandatory implementation of a natural habitat for the dolphins.
The ethical guidelines of the foundation made animal protection the highest priority for dolphin aid, for only healthy and happy dolphins engage with patients of their own free will and initiate sensitive interaction that is key to this type of therapy.
“Already during therapy, everything clicked into place for Cilian. He started to talk about anything that popped into his head, formulated first sentences, and was completely unstoppable.
Even after the therapy Cilian continued to progress and improved his mouth motor activity so much, that he is like a healthy kid today, as if nothing had ever happened.”
– Parents of a Patient
Donate
Please send your donation to dolphinaid America
155 Ocean Lane Drive
Suite 708 Key Biscayne Florida
33149, USA
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Book
Every Day A Little Miracle
– by Kirsten Kuhnert
After the tragic near drowning and subsequent brain damage of her son Timmy, Kirsten (Kiki) Kuhnert transformed these dramatic experiences into incredible energy. Her journey, an odyssey with seemingly no way out, led her to the Florida Keys, to Dolpphin Human Therapy. Timmy had been in ‘his own world’ for over 15 months when the first miracle happened as he swam with dolphins during his first therapy. With their help he reached out into our world, and laughed loudly … for the first time since the accident.
He recovered because Kiki Kuhnert overcame taboos, went beyond limits, refused to accept ‘no’ as an answer and, despite all opposition and all obstacles did what seemed to be impossible –
revitalised her son, founded THE charity organisation ‘dolphin aid’. Since then, thousands of other children with similar challenges and their families have also experienced ‘little miracles’. By taking action Kiki has given so much to so many.
She is a beacon – a bright light clearly showing the direction towards courage, hope, love, strength, success and persistence. Her achievements give us new hope and a better perspective about ourselves, about our lives and what can be done through love and dedication. This powerful motivational autobiography tells the uplifting story of how Kiki Kuhnert created a happy life for her son and daughter despite her confrontation with tragedy. This book is brilliantly written, moving and heart-warming.