Noah Lavendar & Dash (Service Dog)
Donation protected
Team Noah & Dash: Our Cause
Thanks so much for visiting our fundraising page! We’re here to raise money to help the Lavendar family purchase a trained Autism Assistance Dog for Noah, and also help them with some of the many up-front expenses.
Please visit Team Noah & Dash Facebook for more pictures and updates on our adventure! There you'll see pictures of Dash with Noah and our family, and we will keep the Facebook page updated even after we meet our fundraising goal here.
Noah is 11 years old and lives in McDonough, Georgia with his parents, Jason and Rita, and his younger brother, Jonah. Jonah is Noah’s best friend and biggest advocate! Noah was diagnosed with autism when he was 5. He is totally nonverbal, so it can sometimes be a challenge to understand how he is feeling or if he needs something. Noah also has a lots of food allergies, and if he eats something he shouldn’t, it can wreak havoc on his system. He is hypersensitive to some sounds, sights and touch, and he often has difficulty processing these things in his environment.
We’ve done a lot of research on the extensive benefits that a service dog can bring to the life of an autistic child. Recently we found a local service dog trainer and we feel like this opportunity to work with them for Noah’s special dog is an answer to many prayers! We are thrilled that they have a male Standard Poodle puppy named Dash that will be done training in January! We are hoping he’ll be ready for adoption in February.
Look for updates here on Noah’s journey with Dash as we move forward in the training and adoption process!
Read more about Noah and how his Autism Assistance Dog, Dash, will help him down below!
Why We Need Your Help
It costs thousands of dollars in up-front and ongoing costs to obtain and take care of a service dog. In addition to the initial cost to get a trained dog, there are many expenses that are unique to the care of a service dog versus a family pet. Service dogs often require ongoing training, special veterinary and grooming care. The Lavendar family will have quite a few special purchases related to integrating Dash into their household, including a large crate, Dash’s service vest, collars and leashes, and a special travel and first-aid kit for the dog that they must carry with them at all times.
Your donation will be extremely helpful for the Lavendar family as they welcome Dash into their family! We are so blessed to have a wonderful support network of friends and family, and we appreciate any assistance you can offer. Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers as we embark on this important and exciting adventure!
How Dash Will Benefit Noah
Autism Assistance Dogs fill a crucial emotional support role, and also provide many additional benefits for a child with autism and his family.
Specific to Noah, we are expecting Dash to help with the following:
Increased Social Interaction – Assistance dogs have proven to improve social skills and social interaction with children affected by autism.
Redirection of Repetitive Behaviors – Dash will be taught to nudge Noah when he is performing repetitive behaviors, and this touch is often all that is required to these behaviors.
Improved Independence – Dash will provide a sense of independence for Noah because he will be able to walk with Dash and not be required to always hold the hand of an adult.
Return of Speech – Today Noah is nonverbal. We are hopeful that as Noah gains confidence in working with Dash, he will find his voice. Many previously nonverbal children have learned to speak with their Autism Assistance Dog, also resulting in more verbal interaction with people.
Improved Sleep Quality – Assistance dogs provide a certain level of comfort that can often improve a child's ability to sleep more throughout the night.
Overall Calming Ability – The tactile experience of having a dog as a companion has proven calming effects on children with autism.
Avoidance of Harmful Foods – Noah has many food sensitivities and allergies that will make him very ill if he ingests them. Additionally, Noah tends to put many things in his mouth that are not food. Dash will be trained to prevent Noah from eating things he should not.
Increased Safety – Noah requires 24-hour supervision today. He does not have a concept of personal safety, and if left unsupervised, he would wander off outdoors, in a crowd, or into traffic. Assistance dogs are taught skills to keep a child from bolting, and in the event a child does become missing, these dogs are capable of locating the child in a variety of environments and terrain. This ability to locate the child quickly greatly reduces the risk of serious harm.
More about Noah
Noah attends public school at Hickory Flat Elementary in McDonough, Georgia where he is in a special autism class with some truly amazing teachers! Noah absolutely loves school, and he is especially fond of music class!
Some of Noah's favorite activities include listening to music, watching cooking shows and Family Feud, swimming, surfing, and participating in Special Olympics. Noah thoroughly enjoys everything that involves water, from baths to the beach! Every summer we do our best to get to Jacksonville Beach for the Surfers for Autism event. Much of our extended family joins us for this amazing experience, and Noah has a blast surfing with the help of professional surfer volunteers.
Autism Facts
Did you know?
* Autism affects 1 in 68 children (1 in 42 boys).
* Boys are nearly 5 times more likely than girls to have autism.
* Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S.
* There is no medical detection or cure for autism.
* The term “spectrum” refers to the wide range of symptoms, skills, and levels of impairment or disability that children with Autism Spectrum Disorder can have. Some children are mildly impaired by their symptoms, while others are severely disabled.
* On average, a family with one child with autism spends well over $50,000 a year on special therapies and treatments that are not covered by medical insurance, necessary foods and supplements required for children with food sensitivities and allergies, and much more.
Thanks so much for visiting our fundraising page! We’re here to raise money to help the Lavendar family purchase a trained Autism Assistance Dog for Noah, and also help them with some of the many up-front expenses.
Please visit Team Noah & Dash Facebook for more pictures and updates on our adventure! There you'll see pictures of Dash with Noah and our family, and we will keep the Facebook page updated even after we meet our fundraising goal here.
Noah is 11 years old and lives in McDonough, Georgia with his parents, Jason and Rita, and his younger brother, Jonah. Jonah is Noah’s best friend and biggest advocate! Noah was diagnosed with autism when he was 5. He is totally nonverbal, so it can sometimes be a challenge to understand how he is feeling or if he needs something. Noah also has a lots of food allergies, and if he eats something he shouldn’t, it can wreak havoc on his system. He is hypersensitive to some sounds, sights and touch, and he often has difficulty processing these things in his environment.
We’ve done a lot of research on the extensive benefits that a service dog can bring to the life of an autistic child. Recently we found a local service dog trainer and we feel like this opportunity to work with them for Noah’s special dog is an answer to many prayers! We are thrilled that they have a male Standard Poodle puppy named Dash that will be done training in January! We are hoping he’ll be ready for adoption in February.
Look for updates here on Noah’s journey with Dash as we move forward in the training and adoption process!
Read more about Noah and how his Autism Assistance Dog, Dash, will help him down below!
Why We Need Your Help
It costs thousands of dollars in up-front and ongoing costs to obtain and take care of a service dog. In addition to the initial cost to get a trained dog, there are many expenses that are unique to the care of a service dog versus a family pet. Service dogs often require ongoing training, special veterinary and grooming care. The Lavendar family will have quite a few special purchases related to integrating Dash into their household, including a large crate, Dash’s service vest, collars and leashes, and a special travel and first-aid kit for the dog that they must carry with them at all times.
Your donation will be extremely helpful for the Lavendar family as they welcome Dash into their family! We are so blessed to have a wonderful support network of friends and family, and we appreciate any assistance you can offer. Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers as we embark on this important and exciting adventure!
How Dash Will Benefit Noah
Autism Assistance Dogs fill a crucial emotional support role, and also provide many additional benefits for a child with autism and his family.
Specific to Noah, we are expecting Dash to help with the following:
Increased Social Interaction – Assistance dogs have proven to improve social skills and social interaction with children affected by autism.
Redirection of Repetitive Behaviors – Dash will be taught to nudge Noah when he is performing repetitive behaviors, and this touch is often all that is required to these behaviors.
Improved Independence – Dash will provide a sense of independence for Noah because he will be able to walk with Dash and not be required to always hold the hand of an adult.
Return of Speech – Today Noah is nonverbal. We are hopeful that as Noah gains confidence in working with Dash, he will find his voice. Many previously nonverbal children have learned to speak with their Autism Assistance Dog, also resulting in more verbal interaction with people.
Improved Sleep Quality – Assistance dogs provide a certain level of comfort that can often improve a child's ability to sleep more throughout the night.
Overall Calming Ability – The tactile experience of having a dog as a companion has proven calming effects on children with autism.
Avoidance of Harmful Foods – Noah has many food sensitivities and allergies that will make him very ill if he ingests them. Additionally, Noah tends to put many things in his mouth that are not food. Dash will be trained to prevent Noah from eating things he should not.
Increased Safety – Noah requires 24-hour supervision today. He does not have a concept of personal safety, and if left unsupervised, he would wander off outdoors, in a crowd, or into traffic. Assistance dogs are taught skills to keep a child from bolting, and in the event a child does become missing, these dogs are capable of locating the child in a variety of environments and terrain. This ability to locate the child quickly greatly reduces the risk of serious harm.
More about Noah
Noah attends public school at Hickory Flat Elementary in McDonough, Georgia where he is in a special autism class with some truly amazing teachers! Noah absolutely loves school, and he is especially fond of music class!
Some of Noah's favorite activities include listening to music, watching cooking shows and Family Feud, swimming, surfing, and participating in Special Olympics. Noah thoroughly enjoys everything that involves water, from baths to the beach! Every summer we do our best to get to Jacksonville Beach for the Surfers for Autism event. Much of our extended family joins us for this amazing experience, and Noah has a blast surfing with the help of professional surfer volunteers.
Autism Facts
Did you know?
* Autism affects 1 in 68 children (1 in 42 boys).
* Boys are nearly 5 times more likely than girls to have autism.
* Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S.
* There is no medical detection or cure for autism.
* The term “spectrum” refers to the wide range of symptoms, skills, and levels of impairment or disability that children with Autism Spectrum Disorder can have. Some children are mildly impaired by their symptoms, while others are severely disabled.
* On average, a family with one child with autism spends well over $50,000 a year on special therapies and treatments that are not covered by medical insurance, necessary foods and supplements required for children with food sensitivities and allergies, and much more.
Organizer
Angie Lavendar
Organizer
McDonough, GA