Having an assistance dog can change someone’s life for the better. While all assistance dogs can be impactful, there is a difference between service, companion and school facility dogs.
Service dogs are trained to help people with disabilities live more independently. The training includes meeting specific needs including pushing service buttons, picking up items, opening cupboard and refrigerator doors, counterbalancing an individual while walking and tugging off clothing.
Companion dogs provide support for children and adults with developmental disabilities. They help improve speech, coordination and social skills.
School Facility dogs comfort students in a counseling setting, improve motivation, and social skills.
The Ability Center’s Assistance Dogs Program helps connect eligible people with assistance dogs.
Devin and Nathan are two local individuals with autism who each received a companion dog from The Ability Center. The families of both boys are extremely pleased and grateful to be working with The Ability Center, which provides ongoing support. While each boy took some time to be connected with the right dog, they both shared that it was worth it.
“Sarah saved our son’s life”
Renee Palacios’ son Devin has an autism diagnosis. His autism manifests as a sensory processing disorder, which causes him to run away when there is a lot going on in his environment, including noise or large numbers of people.
Palacios recalls a day in 2016 that she will never forget. As her family headed out of church, with the band still playing and large numbers of people gathered, her son took off through the crowd and headed into a busy street. Renee had to lunge into traffic to get him, nearly injuring them both.
“At that time I thought, ‘there’s got to be a better way’. There’s got to be something to help this kiddo so he doesn’t freak out and run when he’s overstimulated,” she said.
Sarah, half golden retriever, half lab, became Devin’s companion dog after a 2 1/2 year wait. Now when Devin feels anxious, Sarah is trained to physically lay on him and lick him on the face. She distracts and calms him enough that he doesn’t run away anymore.
The community of Blissfield, where Devin lives, has embraced Sarah and bridged connections for Devin. Devin often comes home from school and talks to Sarah in his room for an hour about his day, which helps relieve his anxiety concerning the challenging environment of school.
“Potter is a Family Member”
Nathan, also diagnosed with autism, met Lewis, an assistance dog that his uncle fostered. Volunteers foster assistance dogs while they are being trained and waiting for a match to their person. When Nathan, 3 years old at the time, met Lewis, Nathan began chewing a sock. Nathan’s uncle laughed and said that Lewis likes to chew socks too. Nathan handed his sock to Lewis to chew. Lewis dropped the sock immediately, on the uncle’s command.
“It was such a cool experience to see my son with a dog, and just to see how well behaved he (the dog) was with my son, and then also how well he (the dog) listened to my uncle.”
After waiting for 3 ½ years and meeting several dogs, Potter, a yellow lab mix, was matched with Nathan through The Ability Center. Dana had concerns about bringing Potter into the home because Nathan vocalizes when he is happy, singing, dancing and emitting happy squeals.
“Potter got to experience that (Nathan’s vocalizing), and he did great. He didn’t falter,” Dana said.
Though Nathan doesn’t normally fight, in the dentist’s chair, he would scream, hit, bite and try to get out.
“With Potter, Nathan actually sits in the examining chair. … Potter just puts his head on (Nathan’s) lap…, she (the dental hygienist) said, ‘Oh my gosh, if people aren’t believers of what these dogs can do, this will make you a believer’.”
Simply by holding the handle on Potter’s vest or leash reduces Nathan’s anxiety and outbursts, especially in public. Dana no longer must leave full grocery carts before checking out because Nathan becomes upset. And she can now finish every time she starts cutting his hair.
Potter has also bonded with the family’s other son, Nathan’s brother Zach, who also has autism.
Dana explains, “What I didn’t expect was that Potter would be a two for one, because my other son (Zach) has also become very close to Potter… Nathan can’t take care of Potter, but my older son Zach can, and (that caring) is something that brings him a lot of comfort, caring for Potter and being able to snuggle with him”
