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.

I recently wrote about the amazing difference a service dog can make for a child with autism.

Colleen Bell contacted me about getting the word out about helping their autistic son, Jude, receive a service dog.

Jude is an amazing 6-year-old boy who loves to laugh and to make other’s laugh.  He’s smart, handsome, funny, loving, lovable, clever, and honest.  He tries harder than most anyone you’ll meet.  He makes us proud every single day. He also has Autism.  

Jude has qualified for an Autism Assistance dog from 4 Paws for Ability, Inc., a 501c3 nonprofit organization based in Xenia, Ohio, which provides service dogs to families and children that struggle with life’s daily challenges and who would otherwise be turned away by many other agencies.

There are many ways a service dog would help Jude:

• In potentially dangerous situations, Jude will be tethered to the dog to prevent him from running away. 
• The dog will assist Jude with therapy, provide sensory input, interrupt undesired behaviors, and be a comforting and calming companion. 
• It would also act as a “social magnet,” making it easier for other children to approach Jude. In addition, the dog will be trained in search and rescue, to track and find him if and when he would run away. 
• Mostly, it would be a huge source of relief for Jude’s family, empowering them to lead a fuller, happier life.

While Jude has been accepted to receive a service dog, his family needs to raise $13,000 (which is only a small part of the cost of training).  I have contributed.  Don’t click away, step up and make a difference in a child’s life today.

Very informative and detailed video about autism.