Service dogs positively affect autistic children
While most people understand that service dogs play a critical role in a blind person’s everyday life, many are not aware that they can be equally beneficial to those diagnosed with autism.
James M. Gonzalez, president of Autism Support of Imperial County, deemed this lack of understanding within the community to be a problem
“Service dogs can be a great help to an autistic person. People don’t see the need as great as those for the blind, we need more exposure for people to know how much of a function a service dog can have in the Imperial Valley,” expressed Gonzalez.
The president of the non-profit organization explained that the biggest benefit a service dog can provide for an autistic person is preventing self-harm. Those with autism don’t have an understanding of danger and a service dog would be able to provide safety precautions for their owners, stated Gonzalez.
A service dog can also benefit individuals with autism who struggle with being in public, social interaction and communication by providing them with a sense of security.
While the Autism Support of Imperial County aims to effectively seek out services and support needed by individuals with autistic spectrum disorder and their families, Gonzalez stated the importance of a service dog has led them to purchase one for a local family four years ago.
After the family passed the Autism Support’s application process, the organization funded a dog to be trained for their son and an introductory class for the parents on how to instruct the dog.
Gonzalez believes this is the only family throughout the Valley with a service dog for their autistic child.
The organization hopes to change this as they recently shared a post on their Facebook account regarding a local family in Brawley looking for donations to help purchase a service dog for their 5-year-old son Austin.
Austin’s family insurance does not cover service animals, although this has not stopped Austin’s mother from finding a way to generate the funds needed.
Through a Go Fund Me account, Austin’s mother Heather Morales and his family have a goal of raising $27,000.
According to Morales, training for a service animal is costly — $25,000 for training the dog and anywhere between $100 to 3,000 for the dog itself.
Since creating the account three months ago, $2,700 has since been donated. While every autistic child is unique, Morales believes a service dog is the single most important thing that can help her son live his everyday life with ease.
Diagnosed about three years ago as mild to moderate autistic, Austin has increasingly struggled with self-harm and social interaction.
Morales explained her son gets overwhelmed easily in public and tends to have nervous breakdowns, only stopping if someone holds him to help him calm down.
During his little league T-ball game, Austin went into a meltdown, during which he noticed an owner and her dog pass by. Seeing the dog immediately calmed the 5-year-old down. In similar situations after, Morales has noticed a reoccurring theme with dogs calming down Austin during his meltdowns.
The 5-year-old also suffers from running into the street unexpectedly and slamming his head against objects, which Morales explained a service dog will be trained to prevent.
Morales believes a service dog can also help Austin with other issues he suffers from, such as a sensory issues that make it difficult for him to fall asleep.
Austin’s mother stated it is common for him to be awake in the middle of the night unable to sleep. Austin then only falls asleep after one of his parents wraps their arms around him.
The feeling of a service dog next to him will help him sleep, stated Morales.
In public situations, a service dog can greatly help Austin as it will give him a sense of security and confidence. If a person were to compliment the dog, it would give Austin an understanding that the person is compassion and sincere,
which is something Morales said the 5-year-old struggles with.
According to Morales, training for a service dog tends to take anywhere from 18 months to two years.
Austin’s mother is currently working with an organization called Specialty
Dog Training in San Diego although has yet to tell the 5-year-old just in case the monetary goal isn’t met.
How Austin reacts to a dog shouldn’t be a problem as he currently enjoys playing with the family’s dog and has had no issues, stated Morales.
The 5-year-old also has a genuine love for animals in general, ranging from dinosaurs, sharks, dogs and cats.
To help support the Morales family’s mission visit https://www.gofundme.com/service-animal-for-austin