Programs
Eligibility Requirements and Admittance Process for Therapy & Adaptive Programs
Eligibility: Any person diagnosed with an emotional, physical, cognitive disability from age 2 years and up is eligible to apply for enrollment in one of Carlisle Academy’s Therapy & Adaptive programs.
There are additional requirements that students must first meet before we can enroll them in our program.
The first step is to contact the Director of Therapy & Adaptive Programs at Carlisle Academy to discuss space availability and program suitability. Once an open spot is determined, the student, student’s parent or legal guardian must complete enrollment forms. No student may begin sessions until the necessary forms are received. Enrollment forms can be emailed or sent by regular mail following an initial conversation with the Director.
The student and his/her parent(s) or caregiver must attend a preliminary evaluation and intake meeting with the Director. This intake and evaluation process is in place to help Carlisle Academy establish the best treatment plan possible for each individual student. It is also at this time precautions and contraindications to riding for particular disabilities are reviewed and discussed on an individual basis.
For the health of our horses and the safety of our riders and side walkers, we generally do not accommodate riders in excess of 180 lbs. Alternative means of interaction with horses will be recommended for individuals who would still like to participate in an equine-facilitated activity. Other programs offered by Carlisle Academy for participants who exceed the weight limit are Integrative Horsemanship and Adaptive Carriage Driving.
Students with specific treatment plans that include specialized emergency procedures, medical prescriptions, or actions to be taken around behavioral issues must have a parent or caregiver accompany them to each session at Carlisle.
Carlisle Academy currently accepts students starting at age 2. Students younger than 2 years may be accepted depending upon the findings of the initial intake with the Director, and at Carlisle’s discretion. Generally speaking, children with disabilities between the ages of 2- 5 and adults with acute or sub-acute disability-related issues are enrolled in our hippotherapy program. All other students may be better suited to adaptive riding, adaptive carriage driving, interactive vaulting, integrative horsemanship or specialty curriculum programs. Some students may be difficult to provide services for because of a physical, mental or behavioral challenge that scares or threatens those around them, most especially the horses. Carlisle staff will attempt to create the best student, horse, staff and sidewalker combinations possible. Carlisle Academy reserves the right to deny or remove a student from a therapy session if their actions jeopardize the safety of the horses, staff, or him/herself.
Carlisle Academy is a “sex offender restricted zone” as defined in Section 261(4) of Title 17-A of the Maine Revised Statutes. Any person who is required to register in Maine for placement on Maine’s sex offender registry and who has been convicted of a sex offense against another person who had not in fact attained 14 years of age may not have any direct or indirect contact at Carlisle Academywith another person who has not in fact attained 14 years of age. Carlisle Academy reserves the right to exclude from its program and the premises it controls any person convicted of a sex offense.
2011 Tuition Funding Resources
Equest Foundation. As an independently governed 501(c)(3) organization, the Equest Foundation exists to raise scholarships for students with special needs who participate at Carlisle Academy. Scholarships are gifted based on economic need and/or disability-specific needs and decisions are made by the Scholarship Committee 5 times each year. Families are encouraged to utilize this important resource as needed. Scholarship guidelines and an application can be found on the Foundation’s website at www.equestfoundation.org.
School Districts via IEP/PET Process. If you can establish that hippotherapy is a positive adjunct support in your child’s education, your school district may be a funding source. Carlisle Academy can provide you with documentation of the educational relevancy of this service.
Child Development Services. CDS (now functioning under the Department of Education) may approve hippotherapy for children 2-5 years of age. CDS funding must be approved by an Early Childhood Team. A listing of CDS offices by county can be viewed at www.mainecite.org The York County office is at 39 Limerick Road in Arundel, phone 207-985-7861.
Woodfords Family Service. The Maine Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services provides limited funds for recreational experiences for children with developmental and emotional disabilities. For children 0-6 the child’s diagnosis must be one of the following: developmental delay, mental retardation, autism, pervasive developmental disorder or documentation of an emotional behavioral disability. For children 6-18 years of age, the diagnosis must be one or more of the following: mental retardation, autism, pervasive developmental disorder or documentation of an emotional or behavioral disorder. The child must reside with a parent or legal guardian. Call 207-878-9663, 1-800-439-0314 or email info@woodfords.org.
Service Organizations. Local service organizations such as the Lions Club and Knights of Columbus, or disability organizations such as the Muscular Dystrophy Association, may be willing to help you fund hippotherapy or therapeutic horseback riding.
Lucy’s Love Bus. Carlisle Academy is contracted to provide therapeutic riding or hippotherapy for children with cancer through Lucy’s Love Bus, a non-profit organization that will provide funding assistance for these services. See their website at www.lucyslovebus.org or call 1-978-204-8734.
Maine Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Grants for up to $250 per year may be given for therapeutic horseback riding or hippotherapy. You can download an application for this program by going to the Maine Chapter’s website www.msnewengland.org or call 1-800-FIGHTMS.
Worker’s Compensation or Vocational Rehab. If you have a work related injury and can have either hippotherapy or therapeutic horseback riding prescribed by your physician, worker’s compensation may consider funding it. If you are a vocational rehab client and feel therapeutic horseback riding or hippotherapy can enhance the skills needed for employment (i.e. motor vehicle operation), consider writing your therapeutic horseback riding or hippotherapy needs into your Individualized Rehabilitation Work Plan.
Veteran’s Administration. If you are a veteran with a service-related disability, the VA may be an option for you. The General Post Fund is a trust fund administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs and can be utilized for recreational pursuits for veterans with disabilities. The VA Medical Center at Togus, Maine can apply General Post Funds in supporting veterans enrolled in therapeutic activities. Contact Terri Olson, recreational therapist at Togus, at 877-421-8263.
National Guard and Military Reserve Families. Grants of $500 per child, ages 3 years through 12th grade, may be available for recreational and educational items/services. Contact information: email OMKInquiry@ourmilitarykids.org or call 866-691-6654.
Air Warrior Courage Foundation. Air Warrior offers support for disabled children of service members. Go to their website at www.airwarriorcouragefoundation.org for more information.
Flexible Spending Accounts. Hippotherapy or therapeutic horseback riding may be considered an “out of pocket disability-related expense.” If you have a Flexible Spending account, your tuition payment may be a reimbursable expense when combined with a written prescription from your doctor and documentation from Carlisle Academy that includes the dates of service and tuition payments.
Housing Vouchers or Rental Subsidies. Similarly, you may qualify for reduced rent by submitting to your housing authority your doctor’s written prescription for hippotherapy or therapeutic horseback riding, and Carlisle Academy’s documentation of tuition and medical reasons for the service.
We are always available to help you as you consider these funding resources. If you have any questions, please call Carlisle Academy at 207-985-0374 and speak with Susan Grant, Director of Therapy & Adaptive Programs, or email: sgrant@carlisleacademymaine.com
