Stacy only took her eyes off her young son, Owen, for a few seconds while she grabbed something out of her bag. When she looked back at where he had been at a museum play area in a mall, he was gone. While this is a scenario many parents have fearfully encountered, the fact that Owen has autism compounded the threat. Fortunately, another parent helped with a safe and speedy reunion, but Stacy says, “That was the very first time that I thought ‘This is going to be a forever thing for us. He has no idea what safety is.’” …
autism dog
Autism Assist Dog Has Brought Confidence and Calm Over the Years
Logan and Gypsy in 2017 It was half his lifetime ago when Logan was paired with Autism Assist Dog Gypsy. Now a 14-year-old eighth grader, Logan was only days away from his seventh birthday when he certified with the black and tan German Shepherd mix dog that Can Do Canines rescued. As Logan’s dad, Aaron, explains, “It’s been amazing for these seven years to watch their relationship grow and change.” He adds, “She quickly caught on to the nuances of Logan. It was like she seamlessly just kind of knew what it was that he needed, and yeah, it’s been …
Appreciating the Positive Effects of an Autism Assist Dog
“Autism affects every aspect of Norah’s life.” This statement, made by Norah’s mom, Kelly, sums up the challenges Norah faces. Kelly shares a few examples validating this, saying, “Norah has had problems sleeping since birth. Norah does not speak. She does repeat words. Norah has few self-care skills. She walks on her toes so she has AFOs (Ankle Foot Orthosis braces) to help with this.” These challenges, alone, are enough to create anxiety for any parent, and Kelly and her husband, Brian, are no exception. However, what concerned them the most was leaving the house with Norah. Kelly says, “Taking …
Alex has his own Marvelous Superhero
Marvel Entertainment features some amazing superheroes: Captain America, Spider-Man, Hulk, Iron Man, and Black Widow are just a few. Eleven-year-old Alex, who has autism, has an equally amazing superhero in his life–Autism Assist Dog Marvel! Alex’s mom, Thomera, describes her son as “smart, kind, and funny.” He enjoys Legos, video games, soccer, and playing Star Wars. But, describing the challenges of having a child with autism, she notes, “Every day is a struggle. Structure is important, and deviation from the plan can cause a meltdown. Textures, food, and fabric can be hard. Sounds, lights, and over-stimulation can cause dysregulation.” For …
Under Kiki’s Direction, Autism Assist Dog Farmer Plays his Biggest Role Ever
By Jorae DuPont – Lights, camera, action! Seven-year-old Kiki loves music, math, and, most of all, making videos. “She’s definitely a director,” says her mom, Keila. “She’s always telling everyone what to do. Where to stand, what to eat. It’s so nice having another actor in the house! [Autism Assist Dog] Farmer is the perfect companion. He is so patient. Kiki asks him to sit, and he sits until she asks him to do something else. She teaches him tricks, then makes a video, complete with sound effects and music.” “Farmer is such a happy dog. He’ll woof and yodel …
Autism Assist Dog Rully Brings a Sense of Calm to Charlie’s LIfe
By Jessica Kellogg – Charlie is an outdoorsy kid; he loves to swim, camp, and fish. He is the middle of three brothers and loves animals. Charlie also has autism. He often struggles in public situations, especially where he is expected to stay calm and regulated. For years, this has meant that he would elope if a situation became overwhelming. “I can’t tell you the number of times he just disappeared,” says Charlie’s mom, Katie. “It almost got to the point where I stopped panicking, so we had to stop doing all the typical fun kid things.” When Charlie was …
Gucci Serves as a Model Autism Assist Dog for Kaden
By Jessica Kellogg – For most of his nine years, Kaden and his family have been living a rather isolated life. Beth, Kaden’s mom, describes Kaden as a “friendly and social, but quiet and reserved boy.” He was diagnosed with Level 2 Autism when he was 3 years old. Commonplace activities like shopping for groceries or going out to dinner as a family were insurmountable obstacles, because Kaden could quickly become overwhelmed. Beth recalls how in the early days of Covid shutdowns, their daily lives continued without much change. “Having to stay home all the time actually helped people understand …
Autism Assist Dog Bonnie Brings Happiness and More to Ellie
Eleven-year-old Ellie loves stuffed animals. She has a sloth named Sunny, a penguin named Pip, a dog named Bluey, a shark named William, and many more. She says, “My stuffed animals make me feel happy.” Now Ellie has a new animal in her life: a black Lab Autism Assist Dog named Bonnie. Born with Cri du chat syndrome, a rare genetic disorder similar to autism, Ellie was not expected to walk, talk, or eat on her own. Her mom, Kari, says, “It was a pretty grim diagnosis, but, since day one, we’ve really done everything in our power just to …
A Lab to Calm the Storms
When Kim and Eric began considering an Autism Assist Dog for their son, Noah, they were hoping not only for a wonderful companion Noah could have growing up, but also a calming presence in his life. Noah’s autistic tendencies caused him to have what Kim describes as regular, lengthy meltdowns multiple times each day. Can Do Canines knew that Xavi, a 3 ½-year-old black Lab, could be the perfect calm within any storm. So when Xavi entered Noah’s life, the change was sudden and dramatic. Noah’s meltdowns have drastically decreased and are shorter in duration. Kim says, “I won’t even …
Demi Offers Extremely Helpful Benefits
“It’s been a very emotionally challenging eight years as a mother,” admits Tiffany, mother of not only 8-year-old Lucas, who has autism, but also two younger children, including another who has autism. Tiffany explains that Lucas struggles with his emotions. “[His] brain tells him everything to the extreme, sad, mad, nervous, even excited; it’s heightened.” As he has grown up, Lucas has had a tendency to do what is called “elopement” if something would upset him. Tiffany says, “He would just take off running because he wanted to avoid those feelings.” If it happens while they’re on their way somewhere, …
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