Would you give $1 to give an Autistic Child a FRIEND?
My name is Dana, and I have a wonderful family. My husband, Jake, and I have been married for almost 8 years, and we have two wonderful boys: Dillon (4 years old, pictured at left) and Davis (1.5 years old). Jake is quiet but always full of laughs, Davis is bubbling over with excitement every day, and Dillon is a wonder as he sings happily and tells me that he did circle time in school. Those words from Dillon are just a treasure, because he didn't really start to talk until he was three years old. You see, Dillon has autism.
He was diagnosed as autistic when he was just a little over two years old. It was very hard to hear, but not really a surprise. Dillon didn't know who I was, and he had never called me Mommy. He ignored us when we called his name, pulled away from us when we tried to offer comfort, and struggled to even tell us how to meet his most basic needs.
Dillon's improved so much as he's gotten older and we've been in speech therapy, occupational therapy, social groups, and school. But there are still times that he really struggles. The sound of a blender or hair clippers can send him into a horrid meltdown, a simple change in his routine can disrupt his entire day, and he really has trouble making social connections with other people.
With your help, we can make a big difference in Dillon's life- by giving him a friend in the form of a service dog.
4 Paws for Ability (http://www.4pawsforability.org/) is a non-profit organization based in Xenia, OH that rescues many of their dogs from animal shelters and rescue groups. They then train dogs and match them up with special needs children. Dillon's autism service dog will help keep him calm during a stressful time (such as a change in his routine or a loud sound). The dog will help bridge social gaps between him and other children by allowing the him a comfortable and rewarding way to interact with others- centered around his dog. Other familes who have received autism service dogs have shared truly miraculous stories about what their service dog has meant to their child and family, and 4-Paws assures me that there will be benefits I haven't even imagined.
It costs from $11,000 to $26,000 to train a service dog. 4 Paws for Ability encourages families to help fundraise the money, as they are a non-profit organization. I know it's a tough time for many of us, but I've set a goal of trying to get 11,000 people to donate at least $1. I hope you'll consider donating. Thank you!
