The amazing difference an Assistance Dog makes to the family of a child with autism...

The amazing difference an Assistance Dog makes to the family of a child with autism...

Irish Guide Dogs Assistance Dog Programme The two qualifying criteria are: a) Your child s date of birth which must be between August 19th 2010 and August 19th 2012. b) That you have obtained an official diagnosis of autism. Once these criteria are met our system will ask a number of additional questions to allow us gather detailed information about your family and your child. This enables us to deliver a tailored programme and ensures that you and your family will derive maximum benefit from working with an Assistance Dog. We are now in a position to offer our Assistance Dog Programme to 40 Clients in 2016/17. The main changes to our Assistance Dog Programme include a new support role that will see a Client Liaison Officer working directly with our families prior to formal training with an Assistance Dog. This person will spend time getting to know our families and working closely with them to understand the other supports the family may be availing of. Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team will allow us and our families make informed decisions together that will ensure any partnerships we create are strong. Our new online application process will allow access to the first 40 people who meet our acceptance criteria to avail of our service this year. A further addition are pre-assessment workshops. These 3 day workshops will form part of the assessment process that our families will go through and will allow our training teams work through all aspects of owning and living with an Assistance Dog. Spending this time at our training centre will allow families understand the real aspects of living with an Assistance Dog and what it will and will not deliver to the family. Once you have completed the 3 day pre-assessment training one of our Instructors will visit the family in the home environment. This visit will involve walking desired routes, assessing the home and garden environment. The purpose of this work is to ensure families have the required work load to maintain a dog s safe working and to ensure the home environment is a safe place for a dog to live. Once these pieces of work are completed our families will be matched with a suitable Assistance Dog and called to a one week training course at the centre in Cork. This week will see an Instructor work with our parents to develop the skills and knowledge they will need to be able to return to their families and begin their new life with their Assistance Dog. Once graduated our families will continue to receive ongoing support. In the first year we will have scheduled post class visits, immediately after training, a 6 week, 6 month and 12 month follow up. On completion of this first year there will be ongoing regular after-care available to our families.

When an Assistance Dog arrives in the home of a family like the Deegans, life begins to change almost immediately. Meltdowns Not to be confused with a tantrum, a child with autism experiences an overwhelming and uncontrollable flood of genuine panic that engulfs an autistic child. The Deegan family with Assistance Dog Yani The dreaded meltdown is caused by a kind of sensory overload. Every single sight, sound, smell and emotion, no matter how minor, registers as equally important to a child with autism. And when the intensity becomes unbearable, the meltdown hits. Anytime. Anywhere. The risk in public is much greater, because of the increase in sensory inputs. Meltdowns are frightening and very dangerous for the child, sometimes resulting in injury Assistance Dogs have a hugely calming effect on the children they work with, often seeming to sense and head off impending meltdowns by doing something the child likes, like licking his face, or pushing against him gently with its head. The child then focuses on his beloved dog, and the rest of the world recedes. In this way it successfully reduces meltdowns to isolated incidents, which the dog is usually able to end more effectively than the child s own parents.

Eating Out We couldn t have a meal in a restaurant or even go in a coffee shop before Yani, we couldn t do any of those things. Donal, Ciaran s Dad Family Life We could go out and do family things again without endangering our child. It felt like we could breathe again. The first time I was near to tears. Cliodna, Ciaran s Mum Restaurants and cafés are areas of high sensory activity. Bright lights. Loud noises. Lots of people. Strange furniture and crockery and cutlery. Added stress on parents too. As a result, children with autism are much, much more likely to experience meltdowns than usual. Most families in this situation simply give up going out altogether. We never go out. Ever. is one of the most common refrains we hear. Everything changes when a child with autism has an Assistance Dog to touch and stroke and focus on, right by their side. Suddenly the restaurant doesn t seem so overwhelming. Most families go out to eat together for the first time in years, thanks to the arrival of their Assistance Dog. A dramatic change in family life and the magic of a very special furry friend. For a family with a child with autism, doing things together becomes a rarity. The incredibly common bolting behaviour of autistic children, plus frequent meltdowns during trips out, make it practically impossible for families with autistic children to do things together. Frequently, families split up for trips, with one parent taking the child with autism, while the other parent takes the other children. The presence of an Assistance Dog changes everything. Bolting is now no longer a threat. Meltdowns hardly ever happen. A child with autism becomes a calmer, more integrated member of a family. And families begin doing things together for the first time. Almost every family we help says something along the lines of, We re a normal family now, just like everyone else.

He can t speak. He doesn t understand traffic. He just runs. It s every parents worst nightmare. Bolting You let go of your child s hand for a second, and he runs. He can t speak. He doesn t understand traffic. He just runs. It s every parents worst nightmare. Donal, Ciaran s Dad Public Perception It s exhausting trying to explain your child s actions to people who can be quite cruel. It s very, very upsetting. Ciaran s Mum It s still not fully understood why children with autism are so prone to bolting. Being non-verbal, they cannot say why. All we know is that they do. Many are incredible escape artists who will break out of their own home if they can. The consequences can be tragic. As a result, many parents live in permanent lockdown, constantly under enormous stress that their little one could escape or bolt at every waking moment. Assistance Dogs are secured by a short lead and harness to the child they mind. And they are trained to hold fast if a child tries to bolt. Most children with autism believe they are taking their dogs for a walk, but in truth, it s the other way round. The child likes to stay with the dog, and if she tries to bolt, she can t. If this upsets her, the dog will soothe her and calm her down. An anchor and a security blanket in one. Almost everyone with a child with autism has been told loudly in public how they should be raising their child. Supermarkets are often the scene. They re full of things a child wants but can t have, now! Full of lights and people and colours and noise. Meltdowns are common. And members of the public often leap to bad conclusions and voice them in insulting terms. The moment someone sees an Assistance Dog in its bright blue working jacket, they know this is a special situation. So they tend not to jump to judgements. Plus of course, a child is much less likely to act out or have a meltdown with an Assistance Dog on hand. On the rare occasions they do,bystanders instead witness the amazing calming affect of the Assistance Dog, and they understand without criticism.

Children who have been uncommunicative for years can begin to make friends. For many parents, this feels little short of a miracle. Speech Try to imagine never having had a conversation with your child... Socialisation The children we help live in inner worlds where other people are usually a source of stress. Many children, especially at the severe end of the autism spectrum are non-verbal. This means that even though they may have words, and may even understand questions put to them, they don t have the ability to respond through speech. Some children are able to write or type answers, but still can t speak. This prevents them from communicating with loved ones, from making friends, and hinders education too. There is no way for us to train an Assistance Dog to unlock a child s verbal skills as such. But some families report to us that their children began talking after having had an Assistance Dog for some time. Some children begin to talk to their dog, or about their dog, sometimes to strangers. And some children even begin to share language with their families and loved ones for the first time. Most of the children we help don t have friends. They avoid eye contact with other people. If they re out with a parent who talks to a shop assistant or an old friend or a stranger, the child may ignore the other person completely, because they re a source of stress the child has difficulty processing or they get upset and want to get away from the situation. When a child with autism has an Assistance Dog to focus on, all of life s other stimuli fall into a more comfortable balance. As a result, they often begin paying attention to other people, sometimes even engaging and speaking to them. Children who have been uncommunicative for years can begin to make friends. For many parents, this feels little short of a miracle.

Irish Guide Dogs Assistance Dog Programme will be open to applications from early September. Log on to www.guidedogs.ie to apply and read more on the Programme. National Headquarters & Training Centre, Model Farm Road, Cork Tel 021 487 8200 Callsave 1850 506 300 info@guidedogs.ie www.guidedogs.ie Charity No CHY 6006