03/05/08

Get to know Christopher!

Since 2003 I've been pondering the idea of Service Dogs (SD). Of course I was aware of the support that Guide Dogs for the Visually Impaired and Mobility Assistance dogs could provide. I had also heard about Seizure Alert Dogs and dogs that were trained to help individuals with Hearing Impairments. Somewhere along the way a few articles made their way across my path telling about how Service Dogs were now being trained to support those with "Invisible Disabilities" like Autism, Psychiatric and Behaviorial Disabiliteis. Dogs were even being used to aid those that suffer from Schizopherenia and Panic Disorder.

The more I learned about the skills that were taught to dogs which are trained to help children with Autism...the more excited I became about the possibilty of a SD learning to assist Christopher. There was only one problem... we were renting and had no yard suitable for a dog.

After reading several books and researching online I decided that we should submit an application to an agency in Xenia, Ohio, called 4 Paws for Ability. They were the first agency that began to train dogs to help children with Autsim, among other disorders. The Executive Director, Karen Shirk, started the agency in 1999 after experiencing firsthand the limitations a disability could bring. Karen is affected by a Myasthenia Gravis and utilizes a wheel chair. Her first Service Dog, Ben, became the model she developed to begin what is now a lifeline for many families.

Every 4 Paws dog is trained for several weeks at a correctional facility. This arrangement is a win-win situation for both the dogs and the inmates, who are able to experience unconditional love and acceptance, as well as commitment to another living being, sometimes for the first time in their lives! You can see videos of inmates training the dogs on the 4 Paws website as well as read life-altering testimonials by these inmates.

4 Paws doesn't stop there: In the U.S. a Service Dog can only be certified for Public Access by receiving a minimum of 120 hours of training over a period of no less than six months. The dogs trained by 4 Paws, receive upwards of 500 hours of training, with the human handlers being trained for over 60 hours. Very few Service Dog agencies even allow dogs to be placed with individuals under the age of 18. Because of the laws pertaining to this field, an adult must be the "handler" and accompany the dog and child at all times when the dog is out in public "working". 4 Paws has extensive experience in certifying parent-child "teams" for public access working Service Dogs.

How will a Service Dogs help Christopher? Several ways: this special animal will provide him with an opportunity to safely access a variety of environments which will result in improved communication and social skills. The dog's presence will offer a calming influence and provide a sense of security for Christopher. Emotional outbursts will occur less often. In a nutshell: Christopher will have more independence and autonomy, and become a viable part of the community at large.

The other factor that convinced me that 4 Paws was the right agency for us is that the dogs receive case-specific training. Beyond the minimum of 6 months of Public Access training, several additional months of training will take place using video of Christopher. 4 Paws provided us with a script of scenarios they wanted us to video tape. These situations included Christopher going to the doctor, playing, "self-stimming" (vocalizing "eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee", rocking, pacing and hand-flapping to name a few), having "meltdowns" and interacting with those close to him. This video then becomes the tool used to communicate to the dog what signals it will learn in order to assist its "human". In fact some of Christopher's "self-stimming" behaviors will become the "signal" or "command" taught to the dog. The dog is then trained to interrupt the behavior by nuzzling the child or putting a paw on the child. Also, many children like Christopher require deep pressure to calm down overly-aroused regulatory systems. For this reason a larger breed of dog will likely be chosen who will provivde much needed weight to help calm Christopher by lying on top of him! Up until now, Amy or I have "squished" Christopher on the couch by making him the middle of a sandwich or used "burrito wrapping" with a blanket as a calming technique.

Another significant concern is Christopher's safety: both physical and emotional. Because of his impulsivity, he often darts out into the street or a parking lot without looking. Christopher's dog will be trained to be tethered to him with a dual leash attached to me or Amy. This will afford an opportunity to keep Christopher from running out into danger. Additionally, Christopher's dog will be specially trained to specifically track Christopher in the even that he were to wander away. This is especially important since Christopher has no sense of danger and is now tall enough to reach the "flip locks" on all our exterior doors. Christopher's emotional safety is intertwined with a great sense of vulnerability. Children with autism and developmental disabilities are easily taken advantage of and exploited. Christopher is more social than most children with autism and while he might be timid, it does not take much for him to make a friend. Some estimates state that 90% of individuals with Developmental Disabilities will be abused at some point during their lifetime. It is my hope that while a service dog will provide a "social bridge" for Christopher, especially with other children, perhaps the presence of a large dog will deter someone with less than honorable intentions.

Last, but certainly not least for Christopher, a calm, intelligent service dog will be a reassuring friend who can allow Christopher to communicate his increasing anxieties and worries as my illness progresses. Christopher has great difficulty verbalizing emotions. Without requiring words, a service dog can provide immense emotional support and will be a consistent comforting presence to be beside Christopher when I die.

The BONUS for us is that 4 Paws will also train our "multipurpose service dog" to assist both Christopher and myself with mobility tasks. The dog will be trained to open lever-handle doors, push buttons (elevators and the button for automatic doors) and retrieve objects. When Christopher and I are both out in our wheelchairs (he uses his for extended outings due to fatigue from his very low muscle tone) these tasks will be invaluable! All you need to do to recognize this is to spend an hour or two in a wheelchair (available for free use at your local store... just TRY shopping from one! I dare ya!).

Christopher can tell you "Mommy" has "ALS". He knows it makes my muscles tired. He also knows that it means that I will die. What he doesn't know is what life will be like "without Mommy". Christopher is scared. So am I. ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or “Lou Gehrig’s Disease”) has an average life expectancy of 3-5 years. I've had ALS for 3 years. Won't you help?