June 1, 2013; Source: WRBL.com
Congratulations to Jeffrey Victor, a teen with autism, who graduated from Hardaway High School with the help of an Autism service dog.
Walking across the stage with him during the graduation ceremony on Friday, May 31 was a very special friend — a Labradoodle named Sarah.
It’s the dream of every parent of a child with autism to see their child grow up and become independent, contributing members of society. Three years ago Sarah was given to Jeffrey through the American Disabilities Act. With her service training Sarah helps Jeffrey stay calm, which is an important aspect of autistic life, and she gets him where he needs to go.
Being autistic in high school isn’t easy. According to WRBL.com, in Jeffrey’s case it brought on bullies and trouble learning. But with the help of Sarah and “some nurturing teachers,” he graduated Friday night with a smile. He plans to attend college, which means Sarah will tag along.
How awesome is that?
Autism service dogs are specially trained to help with a variety of behaviors and functional needs, including safety, social, communication and adaptive skills. In many cases, the service dog accompanies the child to school, where its calming presence can minimize and often eliminate emotional outbursts. They can also help the child transition more easily among school day activities and prevent the child from wandering off.
Unlike therapy dogs, service dogs are protected under the 1990 Code of Federal Regulations for the Americans with Disabilities Act and are allowed to accompany their handlers in any area where the public is permitted.
The average cost for an autism service dog, including training and other essentials, is about $22,000. Of that amount, those approved for a dog must pay $8,000 – $13,000, with the rest covered by various monetary funds.
On the Net:
http://autismservicedogsofamerica.com/
http://4pawsforability.org/autism-assistance-dog/
Photo Credit: istockphoto.com
