[nagdu] Missing Washington Co. Boy Found After 5-Mile BarefootWalk

[Pickrell, Rebecca M (TASC)]

Hey, a friend just asked me if this kid is legally allowed to have his
dog at school with him. Anybody know? I'm thinking of Tracy's earlier
comment about how these dogs are more for the parents then the child.
Ideas?

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Pickrell, Rebecca M (TASC)
Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2010 10:30 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Missing Washington Co. Boy Found After 5-Mile
BarefootWalk

Sounds like the dog did its job, it touched him and he walked away. 
And as for guide dog or service dog, who really cares when you've got a
lazy reporter working under a deadline? 
If it bleeds, it reads.

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Ginger Kutsch
Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2010 6:37 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: [nagdu] Missing Washington Co. Boy Found After 5-Mile Barefoot
Walk

Missing Washington Co. Boy Found After 5-Mile Barefoot Walk
Autistic 10-Year-Old Reported Missing From Canton Township
POSTED: 6:31 am EDT May 17, 2010
 
CANTON, Pa. -- 
A 10-year-old boy who suffers from severe autism has been found
safe after he was reported missing from his Washington County
home.
 
Bradley Dallatore was reported missing shortly after 9 p.m.
Sunday by his parents in Canton Township.
 
Bob Dallatore, Bradley's father, said that because of his son's
autism, Bradley doesn't always understand boundaries.
 
"It's very common. They have no sense of danger. Don't understand
what they're doing when they're doing it. It's very
nerve-wracking to have him out there," Bob Dallatore said.
 
Police said Bradley wandered away from his home and walked five
miles, barefoot, along the railroad tracks near Washington Park,
where he was spotted by a neighbor.
 
A little less than two hours after he was reported missing, he
was returned home. Despite a route littered with trash and broken
glass, Bradley's mother, Linda Dallatore, said her son was not
hurt.
 
"It was wonderful to see him. Seeing the beautiful smile on his
face. The minute he saw me he gets this big old grin. He says, 'I
found you.' I said, 'Yes, you found me. But don't ever do that
again,'" Linda Dallatore said.
 
Channel 4 Action News first met Bradley in April 2008 when his
mother asked for help because Bradley's Washington County school,
Trinity West Elementary, wouldn't allow the child's guide dog on
school grounds.
 
The dog remains banned from the building and the Dallatores filed
a lawsuit in response.
 
Trained guide dogs can help calm children with autism, reduce
emotional outbursts and increase their mobility and
socialization.
 
Bradley now attends Pressley Ridge School on Pittsburgh's North
Side, where the dog is welcomed.
 
The new school is an hour away from his home, but Bradley's
parents said he is thriving there, thanks in part to the black
lab that can gently nudge him out of an episode.
 
"Once the dog starts touching him, he is able to refocus his
attention to the dog and then he's able to walk away," Bob
Dallatore said.
 
The family is considering getting a second guide dog that
specializes in tracking scents, in case Bradley wanders off
again.
 
For more information about service dogs, visit
4pawsforability.org.
 
AutismLink operates the Autism Center of Pittsburgh, providing
parent support and services in the North Hills, Moon Township and
the South Hills. For information about how a grant might be able
to help a needy family get an animal, call 412-364-1886.
 
Source:
http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/washington/23575737/detail.ht
ml

_______________________________________________
nagdu mailing list
nagdu at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
nagdu:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/rebecca.pickrell%
40tasc.com

_______________________________________________
nagdu mailing list
nagdu at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
nagdu:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/rebecca.pickrell%
40tasc.com