"Social dogs" are an incredible benefit for autistic children, dogs that can help those with sleep disorders, prevent the child from drifting away, keep them calm and relaxed, and help them get into school. The process of getting an assistance dog can be quite simple, but it takes time and effort. You will have to fill out an application form and face an interview: sometimes it is also necessary to sign an agreement, make a contribution to the association / institution and take a course for dog management.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Application Process
Step 1. Generally, once the type of assistance has been chosen, the request procedure begins
To get a social or assistance dog for your child, you have to follow a specific process that can vary from one institution to another. All assistance programs follow guidelines for selecting and training the dog. In any case, most services follow a rather standardized procedure.
- To obtain an assistance dog, you usually have to fill out a form with details of the household and residence.
- Documentation relating to the psychologist, physiotherapist, and / or other specialists who follow the child must also be provided.
Step 2. In addition, the documentation relating to the diagnosis is required, as well as a detailed description of the pathology, its severity, and any medical particularities
- At this point you need to explain how autism and any clinical problems affect the child's daily activities, and what limitations they impose. Daily activities include the ability to take care of oneself, such as washing, dressing and feeding.
- You must also provide a detailed description of all the precautions to which attention should be paid: limitations due to the disease, medical treatments or treatments that the child is undergoing.
- It is also important to indicate whether the child is using a support, such as crutches or a wheelchair.
Step 3. You must demonstrate that you can take care of the assistance dog
The next section of the form is to assess whether you are capable of handling the dog. The agency must be informed about the inhabitants of the house, if there are other pets, and what type of dog you are looking for.
Tell who will be looking after the dog, if the parent or child, and if you can provide food and care for the dog
Step 4. Also communicate why your child needs an assistance dog
The last part of the form is used to determine the type of assistance required. Also specify whether the dog will stay in school with the child, and give your opinion on the benefit the dog could have on the child.
Step 5. Pay any application fees, and leave your references
Some associations may ask for a contribution for the management of the practice and the service. You will also be asked for a medical certificate stating your statements.
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Generally the statements are made by the therapists who follow the child.
For example, occupational or behavioral psychologists who can confirm the condition, and describe the benefits that can be obtained from supporting the child with an assistance dog
Step 6. You will be contacted for an interview
Requests are first of all verified by the head of the association.
- If the manager believes that the necessary requirements are in place (that the services requested are compatible with the dog's training), an interview with the family is carried out.
- The interview is used to understand what type of activity the dog will have to carry out and, consequently, the training path.
Step 7. Sign the agreement
After having done the interview, the association will draw up an official document and will discuss with the family for a possible contribution. Not all associations or entities require a contribution, but if necessary, check availability in this regard.
- The association will provide all the necessary information material.
- After reading it carefully, if you think this is the right way, you just have to confirm and proceed with the next steps.
Method 2 of 3: Contribution and Training
Step 1. Find out how to support the association in training costs, if necessary:
training is time-consuming and expensive. The associations live on contributions and donations, both public and private, and on initiatives to raise funds.
- You could organize a community engagement event, a themed dinner, or the sale of baked goods to raise funds. The community can thus help the family and the child, and support the association.
- You can also ask friends, family, neighbors, and acquaintances to help you support the cause.
Step 2. In America, guarantees are requested, coming from public or private spheres
In Italy it is not necessary, generally the request for a social dog is free, or in any case it does not require financial support.
- Even for the care and maintenance of the dog, there are no external interventions, it is the foster family that takes care of it.
- As mentioned above, abroad there is the possibility of requesting guarantees; to learn more, refer to extraordinarydogs.org..
Step 3. If you need to raise funds, consider collective financing, better known as crowdfunding
This relatively new type of financing can develop in different forms; to see some examples, search the web for Kickstarter and Gofundme.
- In practice, you create a website and, through social networks, inform friends and relatives of the fundraising for the assistance dog.
- These sites also connect people in need of funds with those who wish to donate for good social purposes.
Step 4. Take the course
In America, to start the course, you must first have collected the amount necessary for the service; in Italy, where it is not necessary to pay to obtain the service, when there is availability of trained dogs, the course can be started.
- Along the way, you and your child will work with different dogs until you find the right one for your needs.
- Once the dog has been chosen, the following period, which may vary according to the association and the training path, is dedicated specifically to the child and his training.
Step 5. Complete the training before taking the dog home
The last phase of the training involves everyone: the child, the family and the dog.
- The training is usually managed by the trainer in charge, by experienced trainers or by practitioners under the supervision of the manager. The final part of the training lasts one or two weeks and is the most intense part of the journey.
- Once finished, you can take your new assistance dog home.
Method 3 of 3: Understanding the Benefits of a Social Dog for Autism
Step 1. The assistance dog gives the autistic child confidence, as well as significantly improving his or her quality of life
The presence of the dog serves to reassure the child, makes him feel protected and helps him fall asleep without too many tears, even in the absence of the parents.
Step 2. The dog helps the child to express emotions and feelings
The autistic child does not easily understand the affection of the parents, while, by becoming attached to the dog, he is able to accept the feelings of the parents towards him.
Some autistic children will never be able to physically show affection due to sensory problems. However, this does not mean that they cannot express themselves through speech, writing or alternative forms of communication
Step 3. The dog ensures that the child does not walk away
A typical behavior of autistic children is to distance themselves from their parents, because they do not realize the dangers, and parents experience severe stressful situations.
- The child is often connected to the dog with a small harness, or holds a leash to guide the dog; this allows the child not to feel constrained, but, at the same time, remains close to the parents since the dog is trained never to move away from them.
- The dog also helps to cross the road safely. Sometimes it happens that autistic children start running on a busy street; the dog is trained to wait on the pavement until the road is clear in order to cross without risk.
Step 4. The dog is able to keep the child calm even during lessons
Allowing the dog to stay in the classroom prevents the child from straying from peers. The benefits are significant: it facilitates the relationship with the class and the teacher, and keeps him more focused during the lesson.
- The familiar presence of the dog gives the child greater serenity, limiting violent episodes at school.
- The dog also provides a source of unconditional love and acceptance, which the child cannot get from students, teachers, or even therapists.
Step 5. Know that even though the dog can help, a child will always need an adult trainer sometimes
The latter ensures control over the dog and prevents the dog from compromising the environment. Be aware that public school does not usually provide a dog trainer.
Step 6. Understand that most programs offer specialized training to meet a child's needs
Ask for all the information you need from your association / reference body.
Step 7. The dog can be trained with your child's specific needs in mind
Each autistic child is unique, so it is often possible to customize the training to prepare your dog specifically for your child's needs and problems.
