LISA WROTE.
2007-08-28 @ 21:24
hi, my son has severe autism and is nearly 3, how did you get your support dog? is he specially trained? we are considering getting our son a puppy as a comfort and friend but we will have to train him ourselves. do you have any advice?
thanks
MY Reply ...
hello.lisa
We brought our dog our selves and in the next few months now its normal dog training is inhand and he responds to our commands we hope to find somewhere that will help him become a true support dog.although that still looks unlikey but there is nothing wrong with getting books and looking on the internet and doing it your self. The main thing is the Love the dog brings with it into your home and how they seem to transform everyone. Just having the dog brings Some support and is kind of most of the support a person with Autism needs from their dog although if the dog had road skills etc this would be great for older children and adults with autism but dogs trained for autistic people are some what very few .But thats where you come in. You and your son can train it too.
at the moment he helps Daniel with confidence and is one friend that always listens to him when daniel thinks no one is listening.
It has helped him at bed time and meal times and in the car and going places. although as such some shops refuse to let Nugget in. But any dog deamed to be helping a disabled person which Autism counts is deamed to be a support dog so a quick word to who ever is in charge in places where dogs are not normally allowed somtimes works. if not you can quote that the diabled rights law require they let your dog in as it is supporting a disabled person . at present there is No special place a person with Autism can get a support dog like those who are blind .
Although i have wrote to MY MEP and Mp about this . You could do the same and mention your situation and also that the mep for the westmidlands and the MP for MERIDEN in solihull have already taken a interest in this,
All i can say is' Our Dog really changed Daniel and if getting your son a dog helps him in any way possible then its worth doing. It also means you have another member of your family who you self can turn to as the Dog becomes a member of your family and you will find having the dog is good fun too. Its hard work to begin with when your house training etc but dogs learn quick and if a dog helps as much as Nugget has then you wont regret it.
HAS anyone else found out anywhere yet that can help with dogs for people with autism.
Training for families with there dog already ?
OR dogs trained to help .,?
As yet i dont know of anywhere.
Please remember if you can write to your local mp or mep to bring this to the attention of the Goverment.
