Assessing Animal-Assisted Intervention Research Literature Through the Lens of Critical Disability Theory: A Critical Literature Review

Animal-assisted intervention (AAI) research involving Autistic participants has grown over the past decade. This literature, however, has not been thoroughly evaluated through a critical lens that interrogates how a historically ableist system produces such knowledge. Guided by Critical Disability Theory (CDT), this critical literature review evaluates the extent to which AAI literature aligns with CDT tenets and social work professional values. A review of empirical, peer-reviewed literature between 2013 and 2023 yielded 46 studies that demonstrate the emerging evidence on the impact AAI has on social, behavioral, and emotional outcomes of Autistic participants. This paper contributes a novel operationalization of CDT tenets that, when applied to the literature, show areas of AAI scholarship that require attention. Findings show that current literature overwhelmingly centers on the use of a medical model of disability, rarely gathers data directly from people with lived experience, and continues to perpetuate ableist goals of symptom reduction. These patterns demonstrate how these studies not only contribute to intervention science, but also reinforce harmful narratives about Autistic bodies, behaviors, and culture. Implications for social science research and social work practice is discussed.