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Service dog for Jeffrey
Written for Jeffrey by his Grandma Cathy, who loves him very much and wants more than anything to see him grow up with every opportunity to reach his full potential.
Jeffrey was born 6 ½ years ago and was diagnosed with ASD Autism Spectrum Disorder along with SPD Sensory Processing Disorder at 18months old. It has been an exhausting (physical and financial) daily struggle for his loving parents to provide the safest, most nourishing and best educational environment for him to succeed at living. Research has shown that service dogs have provided excellent help and support for kids with ASD. Providing the children with security, confidence and comfort that parents and teachers cannot. The highly specialized training that these dogs have is very expensive making them unaffordable and impossible for families like ours. We are hopeful that a service dog companion will help Jeffrey live a life that is equal to his potential. Please help us provide this life changing companion for him!
Perhaps this is what Jeffrey would say if he could talk.
Please help me!
My name is Jeffrey Burton! I live in California. I am 6 ½ years old and I like running outside every chance I get. My mom and dad get really unhappy with me when I stand in the road. I just want to see the cars I really like to watch them go by so fast! Last weekend Daddy went upstairs to get my baby sister Phoebe from her bed. I decided to run outside for a minute to watch some cars. I walked down to the road where the cars go really fast and stood in the middle of that road until a nice lady stopped and took me to the sidewalk. Daddy said he couldn’t find me so he called the police and they told him that a lady had found me. When Daddy got me from the lady she was mad with my dad and said he wasn’t a very good dad to let me watch the cars by myself. I don’t understand why everyone was so upset with me I knew where I was just - like last year when I went to watch the cars. I really really like cars especially when they go fast! I should tell someone when I find the door unlocked and want to go outside but I usually don’t talk to anyone unless they make me say things. Most times before I think about something I’ve already done it.
There are lots of things I don’t understand! Why do I have to sit quietly in school? I can’t! Why do I have to eat that food when they say? I really don’t like the way it feels in my mouth. I don’t want the car to stop! I just want to keep riding. Playing with other kids is something I just don’t understand at all and I’m not sure I want to. It is hard for me to sleep alone in my bed I just can’t do it! I don’t like going to crowded places. I’m frightened by all the noises and different faces - they might hurt me – so I just run away. I just want to be left alone in my own space. Sometimes I don’t like it when people get too close. Inside I feel like one loud scream even if I look calm on the outside. I wish I could tell others how I’m feeling and what I’m thinking. I haven’t learned how to say my own words yet. Instead I sometimes just run a little back and forth flapping my hands. Mom calls that stimming. Other times I just gaze off and let my eyes cross and listen to myself think about things and feelings. Maybe people think that I am mean or bad or stupid when I bite or hit and throw things but I just don’t know what else to do when I can’t say the words I mean. I go to school everyday and try hard to earn the smiley face reward but sometimes I just can’t! It can be really hard to live in the world they need me to live in but I really do want to make them happy - I just don’t know how! I love them so much! Mom and Dad want me to have a special dog friend to help keep me safe. Dad says my dog will stay with me when I run out to see the cars and bark at me to help me remember that watching cars in the busy street is not a good idea. They tell me that he will help me stay calm in scary places so I don’t run away from Mom and Dad. And if Mom and Dad get lost he will stay with me until I find them. He will make it easier to focus on important things and help me to relax so that I can sleep. He will stay close against my body like I need him to. I think it is a good idea too! But there is a problem! The dog friend that I need, costs lots of money that Mommy and Daddy do not have. So I thought maybe if you knew me and understood my problem you might like to help me get this special dog. I think he can help me be like other children and learn how to talk to people.
Thank you for reading my story and for helping me and my family. I’m sure if we meet we will be friends!
PS I told Santa I needed a dog friend I hope he can find one!
Your friend,
Jeffrey C. Burton
Written for Jeffrey by his Grandma Cathy, who loves him very much and wants more than anything to see him grow up with every opportunity to reach his full potential.
Jeffrey was born 6 ½ years ago and was diagnosed with ASD Autism Spectrum Disorder along with SPD Sensory Processing Disorder at 18months old. It has been an exhausting (physical and financial) daily struggle for his loving parents to provide the safest, most nourishing and best educational environment for him to succeed at living. Research has shown that service dogs have provided excellent help and support for kids with ASD. Providing the children with security, confidence and comfort that parents and teachers cannot. The highly specialized training that these dogs have is very expensive making them unaffordable and impossible for families like ours. We are hopeful that a service dog companion will help Jeffrey live a life that is equal to his potential. Please help us provide this life changing companion for him!
Perhaps this is what Jeffrey would say if he could talk.
Please help me!
My name is Jeffrey Burton! I live in California. I am 6 ½ years old and I like running outside every chance I get. My mom and dad get really unhappy with me when I stand in the road. I just want to see the cars I really like to watch them go by so fast! Last weekend Daddy went upstairs to get my baby sister Phoebe from her bed. I decided to run outside for a minute to watch some cars. I walked down to the road where the cars go really fast and stood in the middle of that road until a nice lady stopped and took me to the sidewalk. Daddy said he couldn’t find me so he called the police and they told him that a lady had found me. When Daddy got me from the lady she was mad with my dad and said he wasn’t a very good dad to let me watch the cars by myself. I don’t understand why everyone was so upset with me I knew where I was just - like last year when I went to watch the cars. I really really like cars especially when they go fast! I should tell someone when I find the door unlocked and want to go outside but I usually don’t talk to anyone unless they make me say things. Most times before I think about something I’ve already done it.
There are lots of things I don’t understand! Why do I have to sit quietly in school? I can’t! Why do I have to eat that food when they say? I really don’t like the way it feels in my mouth. I don’t want the car to stop! I just want to keep riding. Playing with other kids is something I just don’t understand at all and I’m not sure I want to. It is hard for me to sleep alone in my bed I just can’t do it! I don’t like going to crowded places. I’m frightened by all the noises and different faces - they might hurt me – so I just run away. I just want to be left alone in my own space. Sometimes I don’t like it when people get too close. Inside I feel like one loud scream even if I look calm on the outside. I wish I could tell others how I’m feeling and what I’m thinking. I haven’t learned how to say my own words yet. Instead I sometimes just run a little back and forth flapping my hands. Mom calls that stimming. Other times I just gaze off and let my eyes cross and listen to myself think about things and feelings. Maybe people think that I am mean or bad or stupid when I bite or hit and throw things but I just don’t know what else to do when I can’t say the words I mean. I go to school everyday and try hard to earn the smiley face reward but sometimes I just can’t! It can be really hard to live in the world they need me to live in but I really do want to make them happy - I just don’t know how! I love them so much! Mom and Dad want me to have a special dog friend to help keep me safe. Dad says my dog will stay with me when I run out to see the cars and bark at me to help me remember that watching cars in the busy street is not a good idea. They tell me that he will help me stay calm in scary places so I don’t run away from Mom and Dad. And if Mom and Dad get lost he will stay with me until I find them. He will make it easier to focus on important things and help me to relax so that I can sleep. He will stay close against my body like I need him to. I think it is a good idea too! But there is a problem! The dog friend that I need, costs lots of money that Mommy and Daddy do not have. So I thought maybe if you knew me and understood my problem you might like to help me get this special dog. I think he can help me be like other children and learn how to talk to people.
Thank you for reading my story and for helping me and my family. I’m sure if we meet we will be friends!
PS I told Santa I needed a dog friend I hope he can find one!
Your friend,
Jeffrey C. Burton
Organizer and beneficiary
Jeffrey Burton
Beneficiary