ALSR Secures Dolphin Therapy for 2 Luxembourg Girls With Rett Syndrome

The Luxembourg Rett Syndrome Association (ALSR), based in Differdange, has announced that two girls living in Luxembourg who have Rett syndrome will travel to Turkey in summer 2027 to participate in a specialised dolphin-assisted therapy programme.

The programme will involve Emmie and Charlie, two young girls living with Rett syndrome. The Aide aux Enfants Handicapés et Défavorisés de Luxembourg (AEHDL) recently approved that it will cover the full cost of the therapeutic stay at a recognised dolphin-assisted therapy centre in Kemer, Turkey.

According to ALSR, the project aims to provide the girls and their families with access to a complementary therapeutic experience that may support communication, sensory stimulation and interaction.

Rett syndrome is a rare genetic neurological disorder that affects almost exclusively girls. Following a period of apparently typical early development, symptoms generally emerge between the ages of twelve and eighteen months. The condition can lead to the loss of speech and motor skills, repetitive hand movements, epilepsy, breathing difficulties and increasing dependence on care. No curative treatment has currently been approved in Europe.

For families affected by the condition, access to specialist resources and therapeutic options can be limited. ALSR noted that many families also experience isolation due to the rarity of the disorder.

Founded in November 2023, ALSR works to support people affected by Rett syndrome and their families in Luxembourg through awareness raising, family support initiatives and community-building activities.

The association described dolphin-assisted therapy as a complementary approach that uses interaction with dolphins to create opportunities for sensory stimulation, relaxation and communication. “Dolphin-assisted therapy is not a miracle cure,” they stated. According to ALSR, contact with dolphins may “unlock unexpected channels of expression” providing children with severe communication difficulties with new opportunities for interaction and engagement.

"For these families, every experience that breaks the routine of daily disability has immense value. This trip is a chance to see your daughter smile in a way you have never seen before," ALSR stated.

The association added that AEHDL's support represents both financial assistance and recognition of ALSR's work since its creation and thanked AEHDL for its trust and commitment to supporting children with disabilities and their families.

The dolphin therapy project forms part of ALSR's broader efforts to support families affected by Rett syndrome. The association is also organising a trip to Middelkerke on the Belgian coast, where six girls living in Luxembourg with Rett syndrome and their families will meet another girl affected by the condition who lives in Belgium. ALSR said the initiative aims to create opportunities for families to “connect and share experiences”, as many spend years without meeting another family facing the same diagnosis.