Help me to get an autism assistance dog

I’m Jasmine (Jas), I’m 19 and I’m fundraising for an assistance dog from the autism dogs charity:) They provide fully qualified assistance dog’s that are trained to perform a number of tasks, all of which are tailored to the handlers individual challenges and needs.

We need to raise £10,000 in the next few months otherwise I won’t be able to get my dog which means I wouldn’t be able to have the life and future that I deserve and am capable of. Please donate if you can

I was diagnosed as autistic at 15 after severe autistic burnout. I couldn’t go to school for a year and a half. I got an EHCP and started at an semh school where I stayed for two and a half years. This was an extremely small school and at the time, my only concern was my education. I didn’t have the energy to try to overcome the overwhelm of the world.

Now I’m a young adult and it’s become apparent just how far behind I am from my peers. My twin sister is in her second year of uni and I’m only just starting my level 3’s. Life’s not a race but it’s hard not to compare yourself to others when you have a twin.

My education is no longer my only concern. Life is. I both want and need independence. I want to be able to get public transport, go to supermarkets by myself, spend time with friends, and just be a teenager. I’ve never been able to actually do that yet and I only have one more year as a teenager!

I have medical trauma from being undiagnosed while in the hospital for mental health. Although this was almost 5 years ago now, the memories and feelings still feel so raw and it makes any medical environment extremely hard. I’ve had to be held down by half a dozen people when treatment wasn’t optional, I’ve had meltdowns in waiting rooms, I’ve ran out of the hospital because of a small change. An autism assistance dog will help me to stay calm and safe. Hopefully preventing any further medical trauma, or at least make the experience a bit easier.

I go to an semh college. It’s the most helpful and understanding place, but it’s still so hard. I can’t talk there yet (I have selective mutism). It’s so painful not being able to speak. I shout what I want to say in my head but my mouth won’t say it. I’m doing psychology and health and social care for my level 3’s. At the moment, it kinda feels impossible because of how much I struggle actually being in college. I see the colleges therapy dog, Lucy. As soon as she walks into the room, i feel instantly more safe and relaxed. Imagine what I could achieve with a dog like Lucy by my side all day. An autism assistance dog will mean I can reach my academic potential and make the most of my time in college.

I have meltdowns that consist of crying, screaming, breaking things, running away, hurting myself and more.

I have shutdowns which consist of me not being able to move or function.

An autism assistance dog is trained to alert to upcoming meltdowns and shutdowns and respond before it starts to escalate, with the aim to prevent a meltdown. This will mean i’m safe at home and, most importantly, the community.

I hardly ever see my friends because I rely so heavily on the support from others. I love seeing my friends, they make me happy and remind me that I’m not alone. With an assistance dog, I’d be able to get public transport to be able to see them!

I never feel able to join in with conversations so most of the time I just sit and observe and listen. I want to join in, I’m just not confident enough. An autism assistance dog would give me that confidence and opportunity to engage and connect with my peers.

This world is constantly overwhelming and confusing. It’s too loud, too bright, too smelly, too many people, too many demands, people don’t make sense, etc. The world is just too much.

I see the world differently with no one to see it with me. I spend most of my time at home by myself because the outside world is so scary and overwhelming.

However I love getting outside and making memories with my family. I just often can’t cope with it.

knowing I can do something makes me happy and gives me a purpose. But my autism means I’m unable to access those things that I really wish I could.

I’ve had people tell me that maybe if I was normal I wouldn’t be bullied and how weird my aura is and that I act like a child.

I’m like an alien in this world. I don’t belong. I’m not a functioning part of society.

I’m desperate to have the independence to be able to do things that others my age can do. I want to achieve my level 3’s, I want to go to uni, I want to get a job, I want to see my friends more, I want to not rely so heavily on others, I want to live on my own, I want to feel like a functioning part of society. All of this could be achieved with an autism assistance dog.

Let me access the world. Give me the chance to live my life and reach my full potential. Please. I really really need this.