Help Tyler Get an Autism Service Dog

Meet Tyler

I'd like to introduce you to the hardest working soul that I know, my son Tyler.  He's 12 years old, Autistic and non-verbal.  That comes with some wonderful gifts - he sees the world in a very unique way.  His joy is infectious and unfiltered.  He can solve problems in a uniquely practical way that others may not have considered, but seems obvious once he shows you his path.  

With these gifts, though, also come challenges. He doesn't understand risk or danger so he may wander if something catches his attention. He has significant anxiety that can keep him from experiencing things that he really wants or needs to be able to do.  He's non-verbal, so he can't always clearly communicate what he wants or needs and that can be frustrating.  His sensory experience of the world can be overwhelming and can lead him to meltdown because he can't control that input and he can't tell people that it's too much.  All of this combined can make the world really challenging for him. 

How Can a Service Dog Help?

Since Tyler's diagnosis he's worked with a number of therapists in different disciplines  -Behavioral, Occupational, and Speech.  They've all been helpful and he's made tremendous strides. Having a service dog can augment all of these therapies and help make Tyler's world as big as he wants it to be.  Some of the ways a dog can help are:

• alert if Tyler is doing something unsafe, such as wandering away;
• track if Tyler does elope from a safe place;
• assist Tyler in managing his emotions or sensory overload by laying on him, offering deep pressure;
• stop Tyler from engaging in behavior that may be harmful to himself;
• help Tyler adjust to unexpected changes in routine;
• be a comforting presence in places and situations of high-anxiety outside of the home, such as the doctor's office, an unfamiliar store, or even a neighborhood party; and
• help build connections between Tyler and his peers.

How Can You Help?

We are working with 4 Paws For Ability to help match Tyler with the perfect service dog. For them to raise, place, and train a service dog, it generally costs between $40,000 and $60,000  To help offset these costs, 4 Paws for Ability asks each family to raise $17,000. We would really appreciate any help that you can provide us in reaching this goal.