Autism Therapy: service dog

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JVME, by Burrows, KE, and Adams CL, published in 2009, summarized Aug 31, 2010

Service dogs may be a friend to a child with autism and help keep the child safe, but the family with the dog needs the support of a good veterinarian.

The purpose of this study was to learn from families what it is like to have a service dog to support a child with autism. Each family must find its own way to bring a service dog into the family. The authors found that the troubles with service dogs may offset the good of having a service dog. The authors suggest that veterinarians look at the results of this study so that they can better help the owners of service dogs. Veterinary schools can teach veterinarians how to learn what needs to be known about families who want service dogs.


Magical Paws, in Sudbury Ontario, provides animal-assisted therapy to a variety of programs for kids with special needs and autism. Molly, a therapy dog has been helping children for 6 years. She is a service dog, who along with others and their owners, provide emotional therapy, social integration, and even reading therapy. Molly likes to hang out at Simulated Healthy Independent Living Opportunities (SHILO), Reading Tails, and Great Minds Tutor and Life Coach (TLC). Annette Lumbis, coordinator of the Magical Paws program, says, “Our therapy (animals) are trained to provide affection and comfort to just about anybody. We target retirement homes, group homes, nursing homes, day centres, schools”.

Read original article: Magical Paws Get Magical Results


Tina Robbins realized just how special her Kalamazoo community was when they stepped up to help her out with her son with autism. Robbins is a single mom and her son Logan is a non-verbal youngster with autism. Robbins explained that Logan has sensory issues, wandering, and self-injurious behavior. As an advocate for her son, she reached out to Kalamazoo Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (KCMHSAS) for help. Jeff Patton, CEO of KCMHSAS, explained that Kalamazoo is a caring community and different agencies pooled their resources to help Logan as well as other children with special needs. Western Michigan University provided speech and music therapy. He received his service dog, Denver, from Paws with a Cause. Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center provided equine therapy, while Project Lifesaver made sure that Logan didn’t wander away from home. Tina also gets help; Woods-Edge Learning Center and Family and Children’s Services Respite Program provides respite services, so that she can be re-energized and effective when caring for Logan.

Read original article: Kalamazoo Community Networks Support Children with Disabilities


The Adventist Paulson Pediatric Rehabilitation facility has joined with the Hinsdale (IL) Humane Society to provide canine-assisted therapy for kids with special needs. Sometimes called service dogs, the dogs provide pet therapy. The canine-assisted rehabilitation (CARe) teams use the dogs to help kids relax before therapy, learn to socialize, and as a reward for completing some tasks. Many times, the animal participates with the child during therapy. Therapy teams are registered with Delta Society, an international group that organizes the volunteers, pet owners, and vets. Carla Pister, manager of the pediatric rehab facility says, "The animals have made a big difference in reducing patients’ anxiety – sometimes their presence alone can be comforting.”

Read original article: New Canine-Assisted Rehab in Hinsdale


A couple of years ago, we highlighted a program where prisoners in Oregon trained service dogs for children with autism and other disabilities. It appears as though another state, Colorado, has has a similar program. Although Colorado prisoners have trained shelter dogs since 2002, it’s only recently that a prisoner, convicted killer Christopher Vogt is training a dog specifically to work with a child with autism. Vogt relates so well to animals and to the child, that prison officials let them meet face-to-face. Vogt mimics the child’s frustration and other behavior issues and teaches the dog how to respond in order to comfort the boy.

Read original article: Prison Inmate Trains Dog to Help Autistic Boy



Please comment on this autism topic.

Autism Service Dogs

Aug 21, 2008 by Anonymous

Does anyone know of or know someone who currently has an Autism Service Dog? Do they attend school with their dog? In what counties?

Thank you for your help... please let me know at jbethlasanta@yahoo.com.


Carter

May 7, 2007 by Anonymous

Carter Graymar, a six-year old boy with autism from Ontario, loves to play outdoors and swing. The only problem, his mother says, is that he runs to the street rather than staying in the backyard. Also, in July, Carter will be receiving a national Service Dog trained for him; the family raised $12,000 for the dog; so a fenced in backyard would be a dream come true. By virtue of an essay his mom wrote, Carter has the opportunity to win a backyard makeover from Sunlight Laundry; there are three other backyards in contention. In order for Carter and his Service Dog to play safely in a fenced-in backyard with a swingset, the Graymars ask that you visit Sunlight Laundry and follow the contest links to read their story. If the story touches you or someone you know, vote for Carter; the polls are open between May 7 and May 22nd.



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