Help my sibling access an Autism Assistance Dog

Hello!

My name is Lily! I am raising money for an Autism Assistance Dog on behalf of my sibling, who for personal and safety reasons wants to remain anonymous. If you read this and recognise who I am raising money for, please don’t reveal their name or identity <3

Why we are fundraising:

An Autism Assistance Dog would be a life-changing addition to my sibling’s life, allowing them to gain independence and to access higher education.

Right now my sibling often feels hopeless about the future. They are determined, ambitious and talented, but have very little confidence in their ability due to past ableism and lack of accessibility across their time in education. Their chosen university has already approved my sibling’s use of an assistance dog in class and on campus, which is a hugely positive step. I truly believe that an assistance dog would allow my sibling to thrive in their chosen subject.

We (myself, my sibling, and our Mum) have all given this a great deal of thought, preparation and research. We know how to provide everything the dog could ever need, and are confident about how an assistance dog could be integrated into our lives. We have also undertaken training with Autism Dogs CIC in how to work with an assistance dog.

While there are some wonderful charities who are able to provide support with accessing an assistance dog, the demand for assistance dogs is so widespread that they are desperately oversubscribed. Unfortunately, our multiple attempts over the last four years to apply for an assistance dog reflects this, with our applications being rejected on the basis that the demand for that round of applications was too high.

After this emotional and frustrating journey, we are overjoyed that our application to have a privately trained therapy dog was successful! This is amazing news, and this is where your help comes in!

How an Autism Assistance Dog will help:

When my sibling is distressed they may act in ways that are self-destructive or potentially unsafe. For example, they may leave a known environment suddenly and run away without telling people where they are (this is sometimes known as ‘bolting’ in younger autistic people). An Autism Assistance Dog would help keep them safe by grounding them and providing them with much healthier stress response options (for example, petting the dog).

The dog will be trained to remain calm and confident in public spaces and can help my sibling navigate the university campus and an unfamiliar city.

An Autism Assistance dog will help build my sibling’s confidence and independence in navigating daily life, including travelling and leaving the house. Without support, my sibling experiences a lot of anxiety and intrusive thoughts and often does not feel safe leaving the house. This has a huge impact on their ability to socialise and engage with hobbies and interests outside of the home. An Autism Assistance Dog will provide companionship, and help my sibling reach future goals around their independence and mobility.

My sibling has a lot of social anxiety due to past experiences of people treating them badly for being ‘different’, and poor self image. An assistance dog would provide comfort around social anxiety and provide a gateway talking point when feeling socially awkward.

The dog will also allow my sibling to access university and pursue their dream career. Academic and social pressures are a big source of stress in my sibling’s life. The Autism Assistance Dog will be able to accompany them to class and reduce the impact of these pressures, allowing my sibling to focus on their subject.

What the money will go towards:

£5000 deposit on the dog

My sibling will meet a selection of dogs and pick two they bond well with. A £5000 deposit will be made and both dogs will go into a 6-8 week specific training program. The dog which responds the best to the training program will be the one my sibling gets to take home at the end of the training!

£5000 for training the dog in the skills needed to support my sibling. This includes:

Any extra funds raised will go towards healthcare, toys and treats for my sibling's new best friend!

Thank you!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this! My sibling is passionate, deeply caring, and when they are confident they shine! I want them to be able to recognise their talents and the wonderful things they bring to the world. As a disabled person I understand the phenomenal impact mobility aids can have on self-confidence, independence and accessibility. With your support, my sibling will be able to thrive with the support of an Autism Assistance Dog. Every donation gets us one step closer to our goal!

If you aren’t able to donate at this time, we would be so grateful to anyone who is able to share this fundraiser. You can also get in touch with me through the campaign to offer support, ideas or well wishes!