Credit: Infographic by Leon! Animation Studio, a 2D animation company specialising in explainer videos for charities & nonprofits.
Benefits
Every family’s story is different. Every autistic child is different. Every Autism Assistance Dog changes the world for autistic children. The primary focus of Assistance Dogs is to prevent their child companion from running into danger when they are out and about.
Attached via a belt to the child, these dogs listen and respond to the commands of the guardian/handler.
As the partnership between the child and Assistance Dog develops, our research shows that these special dogs can:
- Reduce anxiety and stress for the child and family
- Support the child in learning coping mechanisms
- Improve communication skills
- Increases confidence and independence
- Eases sleeping problems
Eligibility for an Assistance Dog
All applications are assessed for suitability and given special training to ensure that the partnership with an Assistance Dog is a success and has a positive lasting impact for everyone.
Assistance Dogs are trained from 8 weeks of age and it can take up to 2 years for them to reach the high standard required.
Our application process opens annually and we hope to take approximately 35 families onto our waiting list each year.
We have an extensive eligibility criteria which is reviewed and altered regularly, but the main requirements are:
- The child needs to be between the ages of 5-12 years old at the time of application
- The child needs to have an ASD diagnosis
- The child needs to be a significant flight risk.
- There must be someone at home with the dog, they cannot be left alone for long periods of time.