Dr. Laura Bassette is an Associate Professor Applied Behavior Analysis/Autism at Ball State University and a doctoral level Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Prior to Ball State, Dr. Bassette earned her Ph.D. in Special Education from Purdue University and completed a post-doctoral fellowship with an emphasis in severe disabilities at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. She developed her passion for exploring the connection between horses and people based on personal experiences she had with horses growing. During her master’s program at Purdue University, she earned her PATH (then NARHA) Registered Riding Instructor in 2006. Her master’s thesis compared using live horses and horse materials to teach an equine-based mathematics curriculum to students with moderate disabilities. These experiences working with people with disabilities in therapeutic riding settings are what ultimately led her to the field of Special Education. During her doctoral program, she conducted another preliminary study examining the impact of a therapeutic riding program on conversational skills in people with disabilities. Dr. Bassette continues to maintain her PATH Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor certification and engage in research that includes horseback activities for children with disabilities. Her current primary line of research focuses on using technology to deliver physical activity interventions to people with developmental disabilities and autism in inclusive community fitness settings. In her free time she enjoys riding her Percheron horse and competes him in lower level dressage.
“Through fulfilling HHRF’s mission, the field of Equine Assisted Services will be able to conduct high quality research which enhances the quality of life for people with disabilities, as well as, the dedicated equines who bring such joy to program participants.”