I have been looking into getting a service dog for Dallon. There is a place in Lake Oswego, OR that raises and trains dogs specifically for children with autism. The dog is mostly for safety as far as I can tell. Since children with autism have speech and social delays, they are unlikely to be able to tell a stranger their name if they get lost, or respond to a strange voice calling their name. So if a child with autism gets lost, it can be very difficult to find them whether it be in the neighborhood, in a public place, a theme park, or out in the woods somewhere.
The dogs can go anywhere and are encouraged to go everywhere with their child. Children with these dogs tend to improve their social interaction skills because it is easier for them to have a conversation about the dog than themselves. They can bond with the dog which helps their social skills since they tend to not be able to bond with people as easily.
The dog is a big investment, though most of the cost is covered by fundraising. The program we're looking at in Oregon costs $13,500 for a dog, and it takes approximately a year to get a dog. They won't place a dog with a child under 5, so we can apply now and get a dog as soon as he is old enough.
The program has a web site:
If this works out, we should have a great addition to our family that will have the potential to really help Dallon to develop in a lot of different ways.
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