Java--our newest family member. |
This week we welcomed a new family member of the canine
variety. Java is a chocolate lab and was
specifically trained to mitigate autistic behaviors. In our case, Java was trained to be tethered
to Ryan during public outings and sit and hold Ryan if he tries to bolt or run
away; to scent track Ryan on command if he sneaks away when off-tether; and to
apply deep pressure with his paws to calm Ryan in the event of a meltdown. I have anxiously awaited Java’s arrival in
hopes that our family’s life can take on a new normalcy when we have an extra
pair of eyes and a highly trained nose to help keep Ryan safe.
I began thinking about a service dog for Ryan almost a year
ago. I spoke with a woman who had moved to Hawaii from the Mainland and she
raved about how much life had changed for her son and their family since
getting their dog. Her son no longer
attempted to bolt away during outings, was more sociable with other family members,
and was more verbal. Besides the obvious
safety issues associated with autism—wandering, bolting, imperviousness to
danger—it seems the dogs elicit speech in autistic children. Children will talk to their dogs even when
they won’t speak to others.
This makes me very hopeful for Ryan who is minimally
verbal. Ryan is also severely apraxic,
which means the signal doesn’t travel from his brain to his mouth for him to
properly form words. Most of what he can
say I would classify as “word approximations” to indicate what he wants. He is
not conversant in any way and has only recently been able to answer “yes – no”
on a fairly reliable basis to indicate his wants. Speech is very difficult for
him but I am hopeful that Java will be a powerful motivator for Ryan to make
the gargantuan effort to speak more.
Service dogs fall under the Americans with Disabilities Act,
or ADA and are allowed in public places to include schools—provided they are
not a disruption. Ryan’s school has been
very welcoming, something I appreciate very much. To be classified as a service
animal, the dog must be trained to do at least two physical tasks for its
owner. Being a calming presence would
not qualify as a physical task; dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort
or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA. Comfort and therapy dogs are not considered
service dogs under the law.
http://pawsitivesolutions.org/ |
There were no providers of Autism Service Dogs in
Hawaii—only comfort or therapy dogs, so I located an organization on the
Mainland called “Pawsitive Solutions”, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in
California that specializes in training dogs to assist autistic children. In addition to the tasks our dog was trained
for, Pawsitive dogs can be trained to detect gluten or the presence of other
allergens in foods; detect low blood sugar; stop self-injurious behaviors and
stimming; and provide seizure alerts. I’m amazed at how capable these dogs are.
Service dogs are trained for over a year to learn impeccable
manners and perform their tasks and they are an expensive investment for a
family to make. I’ve seen prices range
from $12,500 to $25,000 for the dog, plus the added cost of training the family
in using the animal. To help offset the
cost, there are websites, such as gofundme.com or crowdtilt.com that can help
you get the word out for friends, family or even strangers to contribute to
your cause. Pawsitive had many helpful
suggestions for fundraising ideas…and there are always the tried-and-true bake
sales and car washes to help get the necessary funds.
I am placing a lot of hopes on Java’s shoulders. I hope Java’s presence will mean I can use
the bathroom without fear Ryan will escape.
I hope I will no longer be gripped with worry that someone has forgotten
to latch the front gate. I hope that
being distracted for a few minutes while I tend to other children will not be
cause for concern. Overall, I hope Java
will help us with the difficult task of keeping Ryan safe.
Ryan and Java--they make a good team! |
Most of all, I hope our lives will regain some of the
normalcy that autism has taken from us.
Hello, We posted this on our Facebook page, For the Love of Service Dogs. Please visit us and enjoy all our posts! Thanks for sharing your story!! Here is a link for your convenience.
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