Hello All!
As a father of a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder, I have found it challenging as my son grows up to keep him safe. We have spent, and continue to spend, many many hours with flash cards, verbal and written cues, rewards, and pretty much everything you can think of to try to get Riley to understand what is a good choice and what is a bad choice. He does not understand how his actions may result in a safety related issue. Riley has gone out the back door in -20 degree weather with no coat or boots on, he has run out in the middle of the street many times without knowing if it was safe to do so, and will run away from me if he sees something cool at the mall. He is getting so big now that I can hardly pick him up to carry him anymore when he does these types of things. He is a big 5 year old boy and is about 65 pounds. Imagine trying to carry a boy like that who is trying to fight you to go someplace that he really wants to see!
Having a service dog in our family will help Riley so much. The dog will be trained to be not only Riley's little buddy, but will be able to help keep him calm, track him if he gets away from us, and keep him from getting into an unsafe situation. We can't wait until the dog comes! We just need to get the fundraising done before they will start to train the dog. We are tasked with fundraising $13,000 to get his dog going on training, so it will be a challenge. If you can find it in your heart to help us out in raising some funding for his dog, we would be forever greatful. We also appreciate any kind comments and thank you for your support.
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Autism Assistance Dog
from Website of 4 Paws for Ability http://www.4pawsforability.org/
4 Paws was the first agency to begin placing skilled Autism Assistance Dogs and continues to be the largest organization in the United States and the only organization placing in other Countries Autism Assistance Dogs with tracking. Having placed well over100 Autism Assistance Dogs to date, this type of dog continues to be the most requested and most often placed dog of all of our services. As the founding agency of Autism Assistance Dogs with tracking 4 Paws for Ability continues to provide the highest quality of dogs to every child that applies. 4 Paws, unlike almost every other agency does not pick and choose whose child will get a dog. As long as the child's physician approves the dog and it is safe to place a dog in the home, no family is turned away. We continue our services with no long waiting lists and continue as always to "partner" with our families to provide the dog their child needs.
Behavior Disruption - Touch
Another skill that is sometimes requested by parents with children who have Autism, is the ability to have their child walking in front of them rather than their having to have their hand on the child at all times. In these instances, a longer leash is used by the parent, which allows them to be in total control of the dog while they are teaching their child a new routine holding a second, shorter leash as they walk beside their new partners. As they approach the street, the 4 Paws dog is trained to stop and sit any time the parent requests them to and it is hoped that when the dog stops to sit the child will also stop, even if for a minute, giving the parent the time to catch up to the child and assist them in crossing the street safely. It is also possible for families to actually tether their child to the dog from the dogs harness to the child's belt loop. The parents maintain the child's safety by holding a leash attached to the dog to easily stop the dog using basic obedience commands. In this manner, parents may engage in such tasks as writing a check for their groceries without the fear their child will disappear in the few moments it takes to look at the check as you write it. Parents can ask the dog to either "stop" momentarily or "stop and sit/down" when more time is needed.
Behavior Disruption - Lap
The mission of 4 Paws Autism Assistance Dog Program is to provide friendship, companionship, unconventional, and unconditional love for the child. A source of comfort and consistency when environments change and anxiety might be high, to help the children with Autism and the other family members find a higher quality of life and bring a more independent life to the child and the support to encounter problems and obstacles set in front of them by Autism and overcome any challenges that they are confronted by.
It is also the hope of 4 Paws to provide a dog that will be the child's best friend and buddy, so that the child will relate to the dog on a higher social level than they ever experienced before, and transfer these accomplishments to the humans which also live within their home and/or school environment.With the number of children currently being diagnosed with disabilities falling in the Autism spectrum, at an increasingly higher frequency and at much younger ages that ever before; the need for Autism Service Dogs is on the rise. 4 Paws is proud to be the Autism Assistance Dog Program most recognized by national Autism organizations. We seek every day to develop more ways in which our dogs can help families with children that have Autism. We encourage parents to ask us about any situation, no matter how silly it may seem to them, which they hope a dog could help with; if it can be done and completed in such a fashion as to not effect safety issues for either the child or the dog, we will give it our best shot.
All over the country teachers and therapists have found that including therapy dogs or service dogs placed with children, into their therapy sessions, shows a marked increase in the child's participation and functional level.
Unique Challenges for Parents
Children with disabilities present a unique challenge to parents. Autism presents even more unique challenges than other more prevalent disabilities. The child with Autism does not connect well with his or her environment. Autism manifests itself most strikingly as impairments in communication and in the formation of social relationships. Children with Autism are often nonverbal, or when they are verbal they usually do not use the skill to actively communicate with other people in their environment.
Many children with this disability have a strong need for a structured, routine environment; change creates feelings or fear and/or anxiety. Some children even exhibit serious behavioral changes including, at times, self-injury.
Wandering
Another behavior common to Autism is a tendency to wander away. Parents often refer to their children as "Houdini," stating they are able to escape from even the most secured environment and the family usually has multiple locks on every door and window in the home. When this happens, the child may be in a life-threatening situation, especially if they are already out of the physical sight of their caregiver. Children with Autism often don't respond to their names consistently, if they respond at all. They rarely understand the many dangers in their environment; an approaching car; a stranger with ill intentions; an aggressive dog separated from the child by nothing more than a gate, which is quite easily opened. Many parents report that their greatest fears center around their child being missing or when out with their child that they might look away only for a minute and turn to find their child gone or darting out into the path of an oncoming car.
At 4 Paws, we understand the unique challenges for children with Autism.
We are the home of the first Autism Assistance Dog with Tracking (Search and Rescue). Recommended by top Autism organizations, Jane Pauley, and Ladies Home Journal. 4 Paws laid the ground work for Autism Dogs in the United States and Autism Dogs with Tracking skills, internationally! We have placed well over 230 dogs since opening our doors with the majority being Autism Assistance Dogs. Currently 90% of all applicants and families working towards getting their dogs are families with children with Autism. 4 Paws, unlike some newer agencies, is a nonprofit, 501c3 organization whose mission is to place quality service dogs. No one profits from our services except the families receiving our dogs.
Our Son Riley is living with Autism as well as a bleeding disorder and other health issues. This blog is to link our old & new friends and family together to help obtain an Assistance dog for him.
Riley needs an Autism Assistance Dog So that he can be safe and more independent. Riley is the coolest little boy and he deserves to be the free spirt he so desires to be. This dog would not only help him in his quest for independence but it will help to ease the huge amount of worring and fear we have for his safty. Riley does not understand the dangers everyday life can bring with it. He has walked out of our house in the middle of winter, ran into the street and darted away from me in the middle of the busy mall. Riley love to ride in mini vans and has jumped right in a strange van before to take a ride with what should be a stranger to him. But to Riley everyone is a friend!We are thankfull for what ever help you can bring to our quest.
Blog Archive
About Me
- The Van Vliet Family
- riley4paws@rocketmail.com
To make a donation
please mark Riley Van Vliet
in the memo section and send to
4 Paws for Disability
253 Dayton Ave. Xenia, Ohio 45385
If you would like more information about 4 Paws for Ability
www.4pawsforability.org
email: karen4paws@aol.com
Phone: (937) 374-0385
please mark Riley Van Vliet
in the memo section and send to
4 Paws for Disability
253 Dayton Ave. Xenia, Ohio 45385
If you would like more information about 4 Paws for Ability
www.4pawsforability.org
email: karen4paws@aol.com
Phone: (937) 374-0385
4 Paws For Ability
Autism Assistance Dog
from Website of 4 Paws for Ability http://www.4pawsforability.org/
4 Paws was the first agency to begin placing skilled Autism Assistance Dogs and continues to be the largest organization in the United States and the only organization placing in other Countries Autism Assistance Dogs with tracking. Having placed well over100 Autism Assistance Dogs to date, this type of dog continues to be the most requested and most often placed dog of all of our services. As the founding agency of Autism Assistance Dogs with tracking 4 Paws for Ability continues to provide the highest quality of dogs to every child that applies. 4 Paws, unlike almost every other agency does not pick and choose whose child will get a dog. As long as the child's physician approves the dog and it is safe to place a dog in the home, no family is turned away. We continue our services with no long waiting lists and continue as always to "partner" with our families to provide the dog their child needs.
Behavior Disruption - Touch
Another skill that is sometimes requested by parents with children who have Autism, is the ability to have their child walking in front of them rather than their having to have their hand on the child at all times. In these instances, a longer leash is used by the parent, which allows them to be in total control of the dog while they are teaching their child a new routine holding a second, shorter leash as they walk beside their new partners. As they approach the street, the 4 Paws dog is trained to stop and sit any time the parent requests them to and it is hoped that when the dog stops to sit the child will also stop, even if for a minute, giving the parent the time to catch up to the child and assist them in crossing the street safely. It is also possible for families to actually tether their child to the dog from the dogs harness to the child's belt loop. The parents maintain the child's safety by holding a leash attached to the dog to easily stop the dog using basic obedience commands. In this manner, parents may engage in such tasks as writing a check for their groceries without the fear their child will disappear in the few moments it takes to look at the check as you write it. Parents can ask the dog to either "stop" momentarily or "stop and sit/down" when more time is needed.
Behavior Disruption - Lap
The mission of 4 Paws Autism Assistance Dog Program is to provide friendship, companionship, unconventional, and unconditional love for the child. A source of comfort and consistency when environments change and anxiety might be high, to help the children with Autism and the other family members find a higher quality of life and bring a more independent life to the child and the support to encounter problems and obstacles set in front of them by Autism and overcome any challenges that they are confronted by.
It is also the hope of 4 Paws to provide a dog that will be the child's best friend and buddy, so that the child will relate to the dog on a higher social level than they ever experienced before, and transfer these accomplishments to the humans which also live within their home and/or school environment.With the number of children currently being diagnosed with disabilities falling in the Autism spectrum, at an increasingly higher frequency and at much younger ages that ever before; the need for Autism Service Dogs is on the rise. 4 Paws is proud to be the Autism Assistance Dog Program most recognized by national Autism organizations. We seek every day to develop more ways in which our dogs can help families with children that have Autism. We encourage parents to ask us about any situation, no matter how silly it may seem to them, which they hope a dog could help with; if it can be done and completed in such a fashion as to not effect safety issues for either the child or the dog, we will give it our best shot.
All over the country teachers and therapists have found that including therapy dogs or service dogs placed with children, into their therapy sessions, shows a marked increase in the child's participation and functional level.
Unique Challenges for Parents
Children with disabilities present a unique challenge to parents. Autism presents even more unique challenges than other more prevalent disabilities. The child with Autism does not connect well with his or her environment. Autism manifests itself most strikingly as impairments in communication and in the formation of social relationships. Children with Autism are often nonverbal, or when they are verbal they usually do not use the skill to actively communicate with other people in their environment.
Many children with this disability have a strong need for a structured, routine environment; change creates feelings or fear and/or anxiety. Some children even exhibit serious behavioral changes including, at times, self-injury.
Wandering
Another behavior common to Autism is a tendency to wander away. Parents often refer to their children as "Houdini," stating they are able to escape from even the most secured environment and the family usually has multiple locks on every door and window in the home. When this happens, the child may be in a life-threatening situation, especially if they are already out of the physical sight of their caregiver. Children with Autism often don't respond to their names consistently, if they respond at all. They rarely understand the many dangers in their environment; an approaching car; a stranger with ill intentions; an aggressive dog separated from the child by nothing more than a gate, which is quite easily opened. Many parents report that their greatest fears center around their child being missing or when out with their child that they might look away only for a minute and turn to find their child gone or darting out into the path of an oncoming car.
At 4 Paws, we understand the unique challenges for children with Autism.
We are the home of the first Autism Assistance Dog with Tracking (Search and Rescue). Recommended by top Autism organizations, Jane Pauley, and Ladies Home Journal. 4 Paws laid the ground work for Autism Dogs in the United States and Autism Dogs with Tracking skills, internationally! We have placed well over 230 dogs since opening our doors with the majority being Autism Assistance Dogs. Currently 90% of all applicants and families working towards getting their dogs are families with children with Autism. 4 Paws, unlike some newer agencies, is a nonprofit, 501c3 organization whose mission is to place quality service dogs. No one profits from our services except the families receiving our dogs.
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