Service dog programs for autistic children

By Tomasz Stasiuk, June 10th, 2009 | Building a Case | 3 Comments

We have written about service dogs for children with autism and mentioned two groups which provide training: 4PawsforAbility and Guiding Eyes.  The response has been amazing! A lot of people want to learn more about these programs.

Many people have asked who is eligible for a service dog?

Guiding Eyes is a regional program and participants and has the following requirements:

• Child must be 2-10 years old.
• Child must have an autism diagnosis.
• Child must live within 2 hours of the Training School in Yorktown Heights.
• All family members must be open to a service dog in the home.
• No one in the home can be afraid of or allergic to dogs.
• Child must need the service dog for safety.
• The family must understand that an autism service dog represents a lifetime commitment.
• One or both parents must be able to spend five days and four consecutive nights at our Yorktown campus.
• Applications for this program are available only by phoning 914-243-2228 or emailing heelingautism@guidingeyes.org.

4PawsforAbility has the following requirements:

• No age requirements
• Two responsible adults (including 1 parent) must attend training.
• Cost of training is obtained through fundraising in cooperation with 4PawsforAbility.org.

Do you have a service animal? What organization did you use and what were your experiences.  Tell us in the comments.

Tomasz Stasiuk is the founding attorney of the Stasiuk Firm - a law firm devoted to exclusively handling Social Security disability cases in Colorado. Contingent fees available.