| Do you have a child with autism that receives special | | | | happens is not known by many trainers of these |
| education services from your school district? Did you | | | | service dogs, but it is a good side effect. |
| know that several agencies now train service dogs to | | | | 4. The dog can be tethered to your child to prevent |
| help people with autism become more independent? | | | | the child from wandering away, which a lot of children |
| Would you like to learn about 7 ways that this could | | | | with autism are prone to do. |
| help your child with autism? Then this article is for you; | | | | 5. The dog can actually track and search for your child |
| learn about autism service dogs, and tasks that they | | | | if the child does wander away (if the child is not |
| can perform to help children become more | | | | tethered). This takes out a lot of parents fear about |
| independent. | | | | their child getting lost in school or public places. |
| The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a | | | | 6. The dog can try and stop a child's repetitive |
| service animal as: any animal individually trained to do | | | | behavior by nudging the child. This does take specific |
| work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual | | | | training for the dog on what your child's behaviors are. |
| with a disability. Tasks typically performed by service | | | | But the hope is that the child will much rather pet the |
| animals include guiding people with impaired vision, . . . | | | | dog than continue the repetitive behavior. |
| providing minimal protection or rescue work, pulling a | | | | 7. Another positive side affect of having a dog is that it |
| wheelchair or retrieving dropped items. | | | | appears to help the child become more social with |
| While autism service dogs are new, they are proving | | | | their peers. Again the trainers of these dogs do not |
| to be very helpful to children with autism. The thing to | | | | know why this happens, but the dog does seem to |
| remember is that the dog must be task trained to | | | | help the child engage more in social activity. |
| specifically help your child, in order to be given | | | | Several organizations have sprouted up that train dogs |
| protection under the ADA. | | | | for this purpose. Several names are: 4 Paws for ability, |
| Below are 7 ways that an autism service dog could | | | | Autism Service Dogs of America, and Dogs for |
| benefit your child in school and out of school: | | | | autism. While the dogs do cost approximately |
| 1. The dog can assist children with autism safely | | | | $10,000-$13,000 many parents have become creative, |
| access different environment's. This could help your | | | | in raising the money for these dogs. Some have had |
| child become more independent and also help with | | | | bake sales, car washes etc in order to be able to |
| transitions, which can be difficult for children with | | | | afford this for their child. The sky is the limit when it |
| autism. | | | | comes to fundraising for your child! |
| 2. The dog can be a calming influence and give a | | | | Check this out to help your child with autism in school |
| sense of security to your child. | | | | and in the community become more independent in |
| 3. The dog can actually help your child focus on | | | | their life. Good luck! |
| academic and social tasks. The reason that this | | | | |