We are excited to offer three pre-conference excursions, taking place on Friday 22nd August. These are only open to people who are registered for the conference. If you have already registered, please log onto your Oxford Abstracts account and select the appropriate ticket.
Please note that places are limited (30 participants for each excursion) so early booking is advised. They will be allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Excursion 1: PAWS – Interactive demonstration and visit at IAHAIO member organization KNGF
PAWS stands for Parents Autism Workshop & Support — a unique training and support program for parents or caregivers of children with autism, and their family dog. The program is developed by the Dutch KNGF (Royal Dutch Guidedogs Federation), an IAHAIO member organization.
In PAWS workshops, parents/caregivers learn how to teach their own dog specific skills that can help support their child and interrupt challenging behaviours. For children with autism, a dog can be so much more than just a companion. A well-trained dog can bring structure, offer a sense of safety, and make the world feel more manageable.
But these benefits don’t happen by accident. They only emerge when the right dog is carefully chosen, trained with intention, and thoughtfully integrated into daily family life. Children with autism who live with such a dog often experience less stress, improved focus, and more ease in connecting with the world around them.
Research by Dr. M.J. Enders-Slegers et al. (2015) showed that parents who attended the PAWS program reported noticing positive changes in their children. In the presence of the dog, the child’s self-reliance, flexibility, self-esteem, imagination and social behaviours significantly increased, while problem behaviours such as tantrums, running away and repetitive behaviours significantly decreased. These findings align with previous research on the effects of dogs on children with autism. Additionally, the quality of life was rated significantly higher when the dog was present compared to when it was not.
More information:
This pre-conference workshop takes place on Friday 22nd August at KNGF Amstelveen (near Amsterdam), the Netherlands, from 10 am until 2pm. The workshop leader is Margot Swart who works as a PAWS trainer at KNGF. Margot is the owner of CoHond (The Netherlands). She works as a dog-assisted therapist for youth and teaches other AAS professionals. Margot is secretary of the board of the Dutch Association of AAS organizations (‘Vereniging Aanbieders Dier en Zorg’).
Transport will be provided to and from the venue, starting point the Steigenberger Airport Hotel. Lunch is included.
The cost of this workshop is 50 euros.
Maximum: 30 participants
Excursion 2: Equi-ACT – Interactive demonstration and visit to an equine service facility
Equi-ACT combines ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) with Equine Assisted Therapy (EAT). ACT is a third generation behavioural therapy that focuses on increasing psychological flexibility. It encourages individuals to accept their thoughts and feelings without judgment, while committing to actions that align with their core values. The goal is not to eliminate distressing thoughts or emotions, but rather to help people live a rich, meaningful life despite these challenges.
ACT is an experiential approach, meaning it emphasizes direct experience rather than just intellectual understanding. Metaphors and experiential exercises play a key role in the therapy, helping clients connect more deeply with the concepts and apply them in real-life situations.
EAT is also an experiential approach with emphasis on experience and using horses as metaphors for real-life situations. Therefore EAT and ACT are a perfect match. In this interactive demonstration participants will experience a couple of different exercises with horses that are based on the six core processes of ACT.
The horse facility is based close to the city centre of Amsterdam, below sea level, in a busy area where land is scarce. Nevertheless, they demonstrate how, in these circumstances, horses can still live in a herd and have their natural needs met. The surroundings, the horses and other farm animals will instantly bring you calmness and help you focus on what is truly important in life.
More information:
This pre-conference workshop takes place on Friday 22nd August at ‘’Boerderij op IJburg’ in Diemen (near Amsterdam), the Netherlands, from 10 am until 2pm. Please wear clothing and shoes suitable for interaction with horses and for visiting a stable with horses and other farm animals. Workshop leader is Wendela den Tonkelaar, MSc Psychology. Wendela is owner of ‘Centrum voor Paardencoaching’ (The Netherlands). She works as an equine- assisted therapist in a private practices and she teaches equine- assisted professionals. Wendela is president of the board of the Dutch Association of AAS organizations (‘Vereniging Aanbieders Dier en Zorg’).
Transport will be provided to and from the venue, starting point the Steigenberger Airport Hotel. Lunch is included.
The cost of this workshop is 50 euros.
Maximum: 30 participants
Excursion 3: Animal Therapy – Humans and their Animal Muses. Guided tour of this art exhibition at H’ART museum, Amsterdam
With Animal Therapy, art, care, and mental health are brought together in a unique exhibition. This showcase explores how animals play a supportive role in human well-being and how this special bond inspires artists to create powerful and emotional works of art. For many, animals are more than companions—they help us break down barriers and find balance. It’s no surprise that animals are increasingly being integrated into healthcare, where they play a crucial role in building resilience and restoring emotional equilibrium.
For the first time in the Netherlands, the works of the popular British illustrator Louis Wain will be exhibited. Wain rose to fame in the late 19th century with his iconic cat paintings. Today, he is credited with playing a significant role in popularizing cats as pets. By the early 20th century, his work was so beloved in England that nearly every household had at least one of his posters on their walls!
Animal Therapy also features works by Marlene Dumas, Jan Hoek and several artist from the Museum van de Geest’s own collection including Ria Mul, Yoshihiro Watanabe, and Dodi Espinosa. Together, these pieces highlight the comfort, inspiration, and companionship that animals bring to our lives.
More information:
This pre-conference guided tour takes place on Friday 22nd August at the H’ART Museum, Amsterdam, for one hour, 11am to 12pm. Lunch is not included but there are plenty of options for both at the museum and in the local vicinity.
Please meet at the Museum of the Mind entrance at 10.45am. You will need to find you own way there. (no transport is provided from the Steigenberger Airport Hotel)
The cost of the guided tour is 25 euros.