Hi everyone!

My name is Karla and I am mummy to Louie. Louie is 8 years old whom has been diagnosed ADHD, ASD, GDD, echolalia and is missing a chromosone 2p16.3 (NRNX1).

Louie has always been delayed for his age but the older he gets the wider the gap is becoming from his aged peers, the harder life is becoming. Support is slowly being put in to place with education but like all resources, unfortunately everything is as stretched as it can be so it is very limitied. Louie has an EHCP in plan and currently attends school on reduced timetable with alternative placements in place. (This means he is unable to cope with school full time so attends an alternative learning. In Louies case this is a place agreed by his case worker, the school and myself agree for Louie to go to that meets his needs better. These settings include small groups allowing adaptions to be made, quite safe spaces, animal handling, forestry school and adaptations available to accomidate Louies needs on that day as no two days are the same).

Louie struggles with communicating and socialising, suffering with high anxiety. Some days we are lucky to get out the door.

Louie has been extremely lucky to have been accepted onto the amazing programme with Autism Dogs Charity whom offer fully trained assistance dogs to individuals most in need. To enable the charity to be able to effectively maintain the work that they do a contribution is required of £14000. Autism Dogs Charity is the UK’s largest and most reputable charity specialising in autism assistance dogs. They are certified by Assistance Dogs UK (ADUK), which means their dogs are trained to the highest possible standards.

We are very soon due to travel to the farm to have a matching appointment. This means the amazing team get to meet Louie and find the perfect match for his best friend to enter the crazy world of Louie!

Louie currently does not do alot of things a typical 8 year old would as he finds it too difficult. We have navigated life as a family on what adjustments are needed to meet our normal. 6am park visits before it's too noisy or too busy, skate parks on colder days when knobody wants to be out in the horrid weather, choosing locations wisely as Louie sure is a fast runner! Louie also sleeps minimal so our day starts at 4am and continues like a rocket until bedtime!

Louie loves litter picking and we often go picking around our local area. It's great for his mental health and it's a task he feels amazing by for helping the planet!

Not only can Louie run very fast, be the loudest person known and not show any empathy when in a situation he is feeling vulnerable in he is also a super sensitive, loving little boy that just doesn't understand why everyone isn't in his world and see things through his eyes.

Thank you so much from me - just a mother trying to navigate life, thank you from Harvey - just a boy wanting his brother to have some life experiences like he has and a HUGE thank you from Louie.

Every donation no matter how small all counts towards the goal. We appreciate every single one of them truelly.

Even if your unable to donate just sharing this is so helpful!

THANK YOU

Louies mummy, Karla.