Nolan And Neil's Autism Service Dog

Background
We have three amazing children; Nolan (6 years old), Neil (4 years old) and Nora (4 years old). Our family became an "autism family" in 2013. We knew nothing about autism and it shook our family to the core. Everything we imagined about parenthood was thrown out the window and we were given a new course of direction. We will never forget how scared we were for our son's future... While we still worry, autism has really taught us about life and how we should appreciate every tiny milestone. Our oldest son, Nolan, was diagnosed at 27 months old. At the time, our twins, Neil and Nora, were only 8 weeks old. Our house quickly became a revolving door for therapists and we research anything and everything on autism. We are determined to do everything we can to help ease some of the daily challenges that Nolan faces.

Nolan was initially diagnosed with classic autism and placed in a self contained, structured preschool class for children on the spectrum. After a year, he moved on to a blended preschool program with typical peers and is now repeating his second year of kindergarten in a mainstream classroom. School quickly became his "safe space" as he thrives on routine and structure. Nolan receives accommodations and occupational therapy through his IEP.

We are so incredibly proud of Nolan. He is sweet, funny, innocent and lovable. He has come so far since his initial diagnosis but he continues to face daily challenges outside of school that we see becoming more problematic as he gets older. Challenges such as; social anxiety, limited social skills, ability to have a conversation that doesn't revolve around a preferred interest (currently, odd animal facts and Minecraft), rigidity and changes in routine, waiting in lines, meltdowns, difficulty with transitions and basic hygiene skills.


Shortly after Nolan was diagnosed, we noticed that our other son, Neil, had many red flags for autism and was globally delayed. In this moment, we felt thankful to know the signs and get him started in therapy at just seven months old. He was officially diagnosed with autism at 25 months.

Neil is currently enrolled in two preschool programs. One is with his twin sister, Nora, at a local church. They have been absolutely amazing and willing to work him on all levels. He also attends a county preschool, a blended program through our school district designed for special education and IEP students.

There is a saying "if you know one child with autism, you know one child with autism". This couldn't be more accurate in our family. Neil is able to communicate more and isn't as rigid as Nolan. He is a snuggle bug, a mama's boy, and loves sharks. Neil is impulsive and can bolt in unsafe settings. It can be terrifying as a parent to know he is so unaware of his surroundings and wouldn't think twice of running into a busy street. If one of us is out in public with all three children, Neil requires a backpack leash for safety.

Neil is a sensory seeker and unaware of danger. He has limited body awareness, falls often, and runs into things (walls, parked cars, people, etc).

After contemplating other avenues (additional therapy, after school programs, etc) to help our boys, we discussed the possibility of an autism service dog. After more research, we quickly realized it was the perfect fit for our family.



Why An Autism Service Dog

Service dogs for children with autism act as constant companions to help them improve social interactions and relationships, expand verbal and nonverbal communication, teach life skills, enhance safety, gain independence, increase interest in activities and decrease stress within the family. A service dog doesn’t pass judgment, but breaks into the world of autism and becomes a crucial part of the family’s life.

Some of the benefits include:

Safety- Service dogs will alert parents to the slightest abnormality of routine or if they perceive any danger. When a child attempts to run off or wander the dog will block or "herd" them back to where they are supposed to be.  A service dog will also make the public more aware that this child is a little different.

Increased social interaction - Service dogs have been proven to improve social skills and social interaction with children affected by autism. Children will relate to the dog on a higher social level than they have ever experienced before & transfer those accomplishments to humans. The dog will act as a bridge between the child & the rest of the world.

Redirecting repetitive behaviors - Service dogs can be taught to nudge a child that is performing repetitive behaviors. This touch is often all that is needed to redirect the child from these behaviors.

Improved independence - Service dogs can provide independence by allowing the child to walk with the dog as opposed to constantly holding the hand of a parent or adult. These highly skilled dogs can assist the child while under the direction of the adult.

Increased vocabulary - Children with autism are often noticed to have an increase in vocabulary after being paired with a service dog. The children seem to be more comfortable in speaking with the dog which transfers to more verbal interaction with people.  A child can also learn to give a dog commands.

Decreased sensory overload - Service dogs can help ease sensory overload, which is a common challenge for those with autism. They are often unable to filter out sensory input – they hear, feel and smell everything – all at once – and are usually unable to ignore or redirect those stimuli. Having a service dog by their side can help by giving them a focal point, or a way to ground their random, unceasing environmental experiences.

Improved quality of sleep - Service dogs provide a certain level of comfort that can often improve a child's ability to sleep more throughout the night.

Overall calming ability - Service dogs can be a source of comfort & consistency when environments change & anxieties are high. When performing everyday tasks, children feel less pressure working with a dog as opposed to their peers. The tactile experience of having a dog as a companion has also proven to provide calming effects. Autistic children who work with dogs have been documented to feel less anger and experience less acts of aggression compared to the time before receiving a service dog. Service dogs are also trained to use tactile or deep pressure stimulation, which involves a dog using their weight to apply pressure to the child's body to elicit a calming effect.

Why a Briard

Herding breeds are best suited for autism service work. Traditional sporting or hunting breeds are more for those with mechanical disabilities, not neurological. Autism is a disorder that has to do with the brain, thus the companionship & the bond with the child is most critical. Herders have a natural instinct to tend to their child & do not mind spending long hours at the side of an autistic person. The Briard breed is known as "a heart of gold wrapped in fur". They are extremely intelligent, loyal protectors, love to please & rarely forget a lesson once taught. Their disposition is that of a stoic & confident sheepdog. They are natural leaders & perceive their family as a flock to be looked after, loved & protected.

Ry-Con Briards

Our family met with Mark Mathis, owner of Ry-Con Briards, a recognized Non-Profit Company. Mark started training Briards when his son was diagnosed with autism nearly a decade ago. Since then, he's placed many dogs with families & have changed their lives. He is certified as a NC state approved Service Dog Trainer with a specialty in Autism Service Dogs for children. We were thoroughly impressed with Marks knowledge, dedication & the overall program. We had the opportunity to meet with the dogs & see first hand their training & environment. Mark truly believes in these dogs & offers a lifetime of support.

We encourage you to go to their website & Facebook page to learn more, see the dogs in training & be thoroughly impressed at their amazing program. 
http://www.ry-con.com
https://www.facebook.com/RyConBriardServiceDogs/


How You Can Help 

From the moment the boys were diagnosed, we committed to doing everything we possibly could to enhance their quality of life. We know the service dog will be life changing for Nolan, Neil & our family. After our initial investment into the program, we are hoping to raise another $16,000 which will help cover the remaining costs. We are reaching out to family, friends, colleagues, coworkers and our community with the hopes of your assistance in making this dream come true. We are very appreciative & forever grateful for any amount you are able to contribute for our boys! Even if you are unable to donate a monetary amount you can still help us tremendously by sharing our story via social media or email.

Any funds raised over the initial amount will go towards Go Fund Me fees (7.9%) as well as care & supplies for our service dog.