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

Wed May 19 00:44:03 UTC 2010

I think that this is a very interesting conversation that brings up many 
important points.  However, I think that it is important to not generalize 
but rather to consider each situation individually.  I know of a career 
changed guide dog that was placed with a boy who has autism, and things 
seemed to work very well.  I understand that that is not always the case. 
In this particular case, it sounded as though the boy was able to take the 
dog places without his parents going with him, and there was a strong bond 
between him and the dog.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "solsticesinger" <solsticesinger at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2010 4:31 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Missing Washington Co. Boy Found After 
5-MileBarefootWalk

> Katrin,
>
> I think you raised some very good points in this message. I remember the
> study you're referring to, wherin the dogs exhibited high levels of 
> stress,
> and were more bonded to the adult caregiver than to the autistic child.
>
> I also really liked what you had to say about autistic children versus
> autistic adults, and the difference that mental maturity makes.
>
> I'm curious, and you certainly don't have to answer, if you'd rather not,
> but, did you get your dog from a program, or, did you owner train?
>
> Shannon and Caroline
> Are you a fan of Women's music? If so, join me each Wednesday evening from 
> 7
> until 10 eastern  for The Eclectic Collection: a Celebration of Women In
> Music.
> http://mojoradio.us:9090
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Katrin Andberg" <katrin at maplewooddog.com>
> To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2010 2:53 PM
> Subject: [nagdu] Missing Washington Co. Boy Found After 5-Mile 
> BarefootWalk
>
>
> Autism is currently classified in the DSM-IV.  The proposed DSM-V will 
> have
> autism simply as "Autism Spectrum Disorders" currently in the DSM-IV there
> is Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, PDD-NOS and I believe one other non verbal
> learning disability I am forgetting at this moment.
>
>
>
> I personally have an issue with many of the "service dogs" for young
> autistic children as in the vast majority of the cases the dogs are 
> expected
> to be Lassie (which we all know was a fictitional character) and baby sit
> the child.  There was a study done on 10 service dogs placed with autistic
> children from a Canadian program (the 1st program to place dogs with
> autistic children as service dogs) and after evaluating and documenting 
> the
> teams for a period of months after placement it was shown that 8 out of 10
> dogs were bonded to the adult care giver and could have cared less about 
> the
> kid.  Most dogs would also get up and leave the situation out of stress 
> when
> the child had a meltdown.  And a number also began exhibiting stress 
> signals
> and even to the point of growling at the child.  Not exactly the safest
> situation if you ask me.
>
>
>
> As an adult with autism who utilizes a service dog and knows 1st hand how
> much assistance my dog provides me I am 100% on board for task trained 
> (not
> simply emotional support, but truly task trained same as any other service
> or guide dog is) service dogs for ADULTS (or some teenagers) on the 
> spectrum
> who can make appropriate safety decisions regarding the dog.  But what 
> small
> child is routinely capable of doing that regardless of whether they have
> autism or not?  No other disability related program is trying to place
> working dogs with children as young as they are doing with autism service
> dogs.  And I have yet to see a case where any of these kids can
> independently handle their dog the way one needs to to be a good handler 
> in
> high stress public situations.  They are not mentally mature enough to do
> so.  No 6 year old kid is, in my opinion.  I am fully on board with in 
> home
> only or emotional support dogs which do not have public access for kids as 
> I
> believe they can help a child prepare for having a service dog later in 
> life
> when they are capable of making the proper decisions and take on the huge
> responsibility that having a working dog in public is.
>
>
>
> I know there is a large camp of people that does not and will not agree 
> with
> me on this.  I am just giving my point of view as an autistic adult who is
> partnered with a service dog and who most likely will chose to be for the
> remainder of my life due to the assistance my dog provides me.
>
>
>
> Katrin
>
>
>
> Katrin Andberg
>
> Katrin at maplewooddog.com
>
>
>
> --------
>
> Interesting article.  The use of dogs for autism is fascinating, and I 
> guess
>
> they make a really big difference in helping the person stay grounded and
>
> relate more easily in social situations.  Very cool.
>
>
>
> Althought I'm confused.  The report kept referring to the dog as a guide
>
> dog.  Is it just me, or would the dog in question be more properly 
> referred
>
> to as a service dog?  I think autism is one of those disabilities for 
> which
>
> the line between guide, other types of service and emotional support 
> animal
>
> are a little blurred, although I'm not sure currently how autism is
>
> classified in terms of disability...
>
>
>
> Tami Smith-Kinney
>
>
>
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