Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Service Dogs and Autism...A Post From Mommy

Hi All! Mason is so graciously allowing me to do a post for him today.
 
In a previous posts I have mentioned my love for therapy animals, service dogs, and my very lovable-yet trying- job at a facility with special needs children/adults.
 
Many of you know I jam pack my schedule with volunteering with kids and adults who have physical as well as cognitive special needs at a horse therapy program.
 
I guess you could say I love special needs :) They are, in most cases, a lot better than fully functioning people. Watching them learn and grow is just about the best thing on this side of happiness. When they accomplish something they have been trying hard at for days, weeks, months or even years is so joyous.
 
I have grown up immersed in the world of special needs as my sister is visually impaired and my mother went to school for vocational rehabilitation (a job that involves working with special needs adults and children). I have many friends who are visually impaired that use a dog guide, and the freedom they experience in mobility because of their dogs.
 
The requirements to be a service dog for the visually impaired is really tough for most dogs to pass. Only ones with certain qualities pass the rigorous test they are required to pass. Today those dogs that do not pass the test are used as other service dogs and pets. Most places that train service dogs have programs for wheelchair, balance, and the most recent would be for ASD. 
 
A page we "like" on facebook has just recently started a blog that we are FOR SURE following :) It is about a little boy named Sam, his service dog, and his family!


Sam is a little boy who was diagnosed early with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) at an early age. Sam's Mom was proactive and enrolled him in early educational programs (YAY! Great job mom!) One of Sam's therapists told Mom about Guiding Eyes for the Blind's program for Autism Service Dogs.
 
Of course mom got right on that and after everything was said and done they were in training to receive Hagrid! I will let you follow and "like" their page on your own as well as read the full story on their blog! 
 
Blog is HERE!! 
Facebook is Here! 
If you would like to donate to Guiding Eyes for the Blind so they can continue to offer service dogs of all shapes and sizes to people of all ages Right Here! 
 
 
 
Thanks so much for reading today :)
 
~Mommy 

14 comments:

  1. Bless you for the work you do with a loving and giving heart. :)
    Blessings,
    Goose

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Goose. That brings joy to my mommy!

      ~Mason

      Delete
  2. Oh, what a great cause!! See, doggies can do so much to help, I'm gonna see if I can use some of my treatie money to help.

    Kisses,

    Ruby

    pees: tell you Mommy we are proud of her!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aww thanks Ruby! Dat be so nice of you and all you guys' supportz make mommy so happy!

      Delete
  3. God bless you for this beautiful post. What a great cause. Thank you for the work that you do.

    Anne and Sasha

    ReplyDelete
  4. That is a fantastic programme! You've got to hand it to those service dogs and the people who train them... Deccy x

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great Blog and we wish you well. We joined you on Facebark. Have a wonderful day.
    Best wishes Molly

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thats wonderful mason's mom ...i can tell how much you love your work....not far from where we live they train dogs for the soliders coming back from the war also...i think that is a great idea also....my mom says i have a very loving heart and that we should start visiting the nursing homes around here....
    have a good one
    stella rose

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank you so much :-) Hagrid has been a true Miracle for my family!

    ReplyDelete
  8. He looks very great and awesome. For me it is a chance to visit them. He is very adorable and I am also wishing to get such one of them.

    Illinois German Shepherd Breeders

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. what kind of service dog do you want? you should train one of your pups

      Delete
  9. That is a terrific cause and the dogs provide a great service. Our mom is a special education teacher. At one time she worked with students with extremely severe physical and cognitive disabilities, teenagers who where functioning in an infancy range, one of the only time these kids showed a response to the world around htem was when the therapy dog visited.

    urban hounds

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi! May I ask how you found our post?!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for commenting! Please be respectful, I do not like to bite!