Derek has received multimodal treatment for his Autism and associated conditions since he was two years old. He entered special education in the public school system at the age of three but by fourth grade, three schools later, the district could not manage his needs, and he was placed in an alternate program through the county. Derek did not thrive in his alternate placement environment. When school became virtual due to covid restrictions and Derek was not receiving the support he needed, I removed him from the program so he could transition to something in person with more intense intervention.

Derek was homeschooled through his ABA program, which he attended 5 days per week. During his time at the ABA program, Derek was able to resume the PT and OT services he needed. At first Derek showed great gains, especially with starting to tolerate non-preferred staff and his inflexibility, however that did not sustain. The program could not accommodate his complex needs and behaviors, so he was discharged.

We were very discouraged, but our silver lining came. Between a recommendation from our neuropsychologist and the fact that we had been driving round trip from Livonia to Brighton twice a day so that he could attend his ABA program, we had decided to take the leap and move our family to Brighton. Little did we know it was the best decision we could have made. After meetings and strategic planning Derek was enrolled into Brighton Schools. Derek had not attended a general education school in three years at that point, and he had not attended a full day of school since much longer than that.

Through the most sincere and caring efforts between school leadership, educators, ancillary staff, and the police officer liaisons Derek did succeed in transitioning into Middle School. As we navigated an exceedingly difficult transition, that was the first time in his educational journey that I felt a sense of community and that the staff was genuinely seeing the positive traits Derek had instead of defining him by his struggles. With all the supports in place and the time staff invested in his success, he experienced tremendous growth. Derek has since moved up to Brighton High School where he experiences the same dedication, compassion and support that has helped him continue working towards success.

Something special did happen because of Derek joining the Brighton School District. Derek has had the benefit of interacting with many dogs from the BAS pack of dogs, some of them on a regular basis. One of the dogs is in Derek’s high school program so he has access to him throughout the day. Derek has also been fortunate enough to bond with one of dogs outside of school, where we really get to see how much these special canines affect his mood and regulation. After seeing the connection Derek made with some of the district's social-emotional well being dogs (the BAS pack of dogs), and how beneficial they were for him, I decided to pursue a service dog for Derek.

After connecting with many organizations, Derek was interviewed and approved for a service dog through a local non-profit, Canines for Change. Derek’s dog will be trained to apply deep pressure, to interrupt harmful behaviors, and to obtain help when he is distressed. Beyond that, his service dog will be there to provide comfort and increase confidence as he transitions from High School to adulthood in the Class of 2027. Derek hasn’t been able to maintain employment and balked at the idea of a local college/program that could prepare him for meaningful employment. Now that Derek knows his service dog will be with him he is talking about potentially wanting to go away to an offered college/program! He is also confident that having his dog with him will help him reduce anxiety and somatic symptoms in the work environment.

We are so excited, after he has tried all the therapies, medications, sensory interventions, and exhausted all avenues, to see how his service dog will benefit him and his future. He loves helping care for the school therapy dogs and we have seen the positive impact they have had on him so we are optimistic that the impact his service dog will have will be huge for him.

Derek’s service dog was born in late August. We are preparing to begin training in the upcoming months and look forward to Derek beginning his bond with his service dog. As we embark on this exciting journey, we are seeking donations or sponsors to help offset the cost of his service dog. Please consider donating, sponsoring, or sharing Derek’s story. Thank you so much!