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Will You Help Make A Dream Come True?
Jaden Cornelius :: David Nahodil :: Zachary Findall :: JC Bowen :: Michael Ewing :: Owen & Annabelle Luschei
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Multipurpose Service Dog Will Help Benjamin Deal With Ataxia, Araflexia, Hypotonia, Epileptic Encephalopathy, and DD
Let me tell you a little bit about me. I am 4 years old and have been diagnosed with ataxia, developmental delay, araflexia, hypotonia, and epileptic encephalopathy. Whew, that's a lot to say. I started walking on my 3rd birthday, and now braces help to support my legs, but even with the support I tend to lose my balance and fall. I cannot talk yet, but I understand more and more as the days go by. I don't understand the concept of danger and that scares my parents a lot. And would you believe that in spite of all my disabilities and limitations I am still a very happy, fun-loving kid who loves to go to preschool and church. I also enjoy wrestling with my dad and younger brothers. I always have a smile on my face. I love to laugh, and all animals, big or small, have a very special place in my heart. Please help me raise money on behalf of 4 Paws. Your help will be a life-changing act for me, children like me, their families, and the dogs. You can mail a check or money order to 4 Paws for Ability, Inc., along with a donation form. Please make sure you write "In honor of Benjamin Babboni" in the memo section of the check or money order so I receive credit for your donation. 4 Paws for Ability, Inc. a non-profit agency taking the 'dis' out of disability
235 Dayton Ave, Xenia, Ohio 43585 (937) 374-0385. Jessica needs service dog to help battle Hypotonia & Congenital Heart Defects
One thing that a service dog could help Jessica with is Mobility. Jessica has Hypotonia, which means she has extremely low muscle tone that inhibits her strength and ability to walk. Jessica needs to walk in order for her to build strength. Therefore, a wheelchair would be counterproductive to her development, but it is difficult for her to walk any distance without becoming weak. Jessica’s heart conditions also play a role in her weakness. Jessica is mostly non-verbal, which is very frustrating for her; she knows what she wants but cannot tell you. A service dog could help her communicate and prevent unnecessary stress in some cases. When Jessica was 15-months-old she had to have life-saving open heart surgery to repair her severly deformed heart. It was a grueling time for all of us, but Jessica has pulled through miraculously. She will need further surgeries in the future, but we will not know the extent until the time comes. Think of how much easier her recovery will be with a companion dog by her side to help her through when the time arrives. Jessica also likes to wander away from our home as well as her school classroom. Her service dog will be able to track her and help keep her safe.
Jessica also attends weekly sessions for Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy in which she works very hard at trying to live a regular life. A service dog is not a cure-all for Jessica, but anything that would help make life a little easier for her is worth everything to us. It is very expensive to train a service dog to help Jessica, anything you can do to help us would be more appreciated then we can tell you! 4 Paws For Ability, Inc. is a non-profit agency taking the 'dis' out of disABILITY! For more information contact Karen: Mailing Address: 253 Dayton Ave. Xenia, Ohio 45385 e-mail:karen4paws@aol.com Phone: (937) 374-0385 - Training Center Address: 207 Dayton Ave. Xenia, Ohio 45385. To make a donation please visit www.4pawsforability.org under special instructions type "In honor of Jessica Luberger." And please click here to go to Jessica's personal website! Please "Pause" for Gracie: Help this undiagnosed little girl live a more full life with a service dog.
Gracie was born with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) - a condition that occurs when the baby is not growing at the normal rate during pregnancy. This can result in many debilitating birth defects. Early in life we noticed Gracie was not reaching goals like sitting up on her own. When it came time to check developmental milestones, doctors found she was not progressing. In general, Gracie is mostly a happy girl. She seems to have her own kind of sense of humor and can break out with hysterical laughter-even after a meltdown fit sometimes. She is able to tell us what she wants with the aid of her DynaVox communication device and can walk with assistance. She also loves to be exposed to extremes in the weather like strong winds, rain, and snow.
What You Can Do We need to raise $13,000 to unite Gracie with her service dog! Send a Check. You can make a direct monetary donation by sending a check to 4 Paws For Ability, Inc. a 501c3 organization. 253 Dayton Ave, Xenia, Ohio 45385. Your donation is tax deductible. Please be sure to specify Donation made in Honor of Graceanne D'Alberto. Questions? Contact us at graciesdog@hotmail.com. Thank You for your kind generosity.Gracie's fundraiser will be held October 2, at the VFW Hall in Mattydale, NY. Sincerely, The D'Alberto Family- Mark, Bethany, Gracie, and Cecilia Child with Severe Anxiety Disorder & ADHD Needs Companion Dog!
From the moment Tess opens her eyes, her intense spirit is impossible to ignore. She is a smart, creative, loving and very busy little girl. Tess's abilities are greatly impaired on a daily basis due to severe ADHD and Anxiety Disorder. She is constantly on the go, and rarely stops moving. She is sensory-seeking, so she is forever touching, moving, and chewing on things. Tess relies heavily on constant order in her life to compensate for the significant difficulties she experiences with organizational skills and impulse control. Any sudden change in routine can throw-off the entire dynamic of her day. Unfortunately, medication to manage Tess's ADHD is not an option because it causes her to have terrible side-effects. Although Tess has a big personality, she can be defensive, hypersensitive and self-conscious at times; this is largely due to her short stature. After much investigation, Tess was diagnosed last August with Mosaic Turner Syndrome, a genetic abnormality, which affects 1 in 2000 girls (www.turnersyndrome.org). Due to the nature of this particular syndrome, she does not grow at a typical rate. Fortunately, she is not severely affected and her heart and kidneys are normal. The majority of girls with Turner Syndrome will also be infertile and have various degrees of learning disabilities.
You can make an on-line donation in Tess's honor at www.4pawsforability.org, or you can send a personal check. Please make all checks payable to 4 Paws for Ability and mail them directly to: 4 Paws for Ability 253 Dayton Ave. Xenia, Ohio 45385. Please indicate on the memo line of your check that your donation is "In Honor of Tess Tuhy." THANK YOU!!!! With Sincere Gratitude and Love,
Safety A Critical Issue: Zach Barbour Needs Seizure Alert Dog!
With each seizure, it is a scary reality that Zach could get injured and it has happened in the past. His doctor has recommended that Zach get a seizure alert dog to alert us before he has a seizure. By alerting us, hopefully, it will help prevent some of the injuries that have occurred in the past or even more serious ones from happening. 4 Paws for Ability trains dogs for people with a wide range of disabilities including seizure alert dogs. The dogs actually sense when a seizure is about to occur and warn the person of the oncoming seizure. It is believed that the dogs are able to smell chemical changes in the body several minutes before the seizure occurs. Often the dog will develop a behavioral pattern that the owner recognizes, as alerting to when a seizure is going to occur. The person can then get in a safe position before the seizure starts. Before Zach can receive his seizure alert dog, we have to raise $13,000, which is a fraction of the cost to train the service dog. We are asking you to help us reach $13,000. Any donation you make toward Zach's seizure alert dog is tax deductible because 4 Paws for Ability is a 501(c)(3) under the IRS for donations. For each dollar you donate, it gets Zach closer to having his service dog. All donations should be made directly to 4 Paws for Ability. Please make sure that you include Zach's name in the memo portion of your check. 4 Paws for Ability Thank you for your time and consideration! We look forward to any time and support you can provide! If you have questions or would like additional information, you can call us at 765-430-6029 or visit 4 Paws for Ability's website at www.4pawsforability.org. We can't do this without you! Sincerely, Tom and Jenny Barbour Mendel Elementary School Student Needs Autism Service Dog
Like other children with Autism, Moira has difficulty making friends and is often lonely. Other children don't understand Moira's outbursts, "TV talk" and stemming mannerisms. Our hope for Moira's dog is that it will fill several needs in her life. First and foremost, it will be a companion for her. We also hope her dog will serve as a bridge for conversation with others. On a more practical note, the dog will be trained to give intervention when Moira is exhibiting stemming activity (like hand flapping or TV talk) or when she begins to go into a meltdown. The dog will also be trained to tether, which means that Moira will be attached to one part of the leash and an adult will have the other and the dog will keep Moira from running off. This will be a great help when we shop or go for walks. We need your help to raise the funds for an autism service dog for Moira. All money is tax deductible and goes to 4 Paws for Ability in her name. If you can help, please either go to the 4 Paws for Ability website or mail a check to: 4 Paws for Ability High-functioning Verbal Child Needs Autism Service Dog!
I am very fortunate that my son is high functioning and verbal, although he does have great difficulty expressing his emotions verbally. He shows much affection and empathy, traits usually not associated with autism. Kameron has a hard time making friends, going to school, going to appointments, and he has at least 3 - 5 doctor appointments a month. Kameron is afraid of the dark and has great difficulty going to sleep. He doesn't want to close his eyes. He is also very scared of bugs - any kind of bugs. This makes it hard for him to go outside without one of his brothers. Kameron is like all other boys in so far as he loves to draw, paint, watch movies, swim, and sometimes even go to the park. He loves to talk and asks a lot of questions.
Kameron loves all animals, especially dogs. It doesn't seem to matter what the size or breed is. When we're in public, at a friend's house, or at a family gathering, Kameron always can be found playing with the family pet(s). While other children are running around the yard or through the house in a burst of energy, Kameron can be found in a corner with the family pet. His behavior is wonderful when he is in the company of a dog. The more responsive the dog is with him, the happier and calmer he seems. And the loud barking noise? His grandma's dogs (Havanese) always bark loudly when Kameron comes to visit. He no longer covers his ears, but gets down to play with them right away. He has finally associated the "loud barking" with, "I'm so glad you're here! I want to play!"
The service dog would be trained for behavior disruption - preventing melt-downs before they occur. Anyone who has a child with frequent melt-downs knows how wonderful this would be! Lots of the anxiety that Kameron has that leads to melt-downs is associated with simple daily tasks that most children his age find effortless. We would like to do whatever we can to help Kameron feel better about himself and enhance his ability to cope in a world he finds extremely stressful. By the way, we all love Kameron just the way he is! His autism is simply a part of him and makes him who he is. We wouldn't change this loving, caring child for the world! PLEASE VISIT KAMERON'S WEBSITE AT: 4paws4kameron.weebly.com Sincerely, Training service dogs is costly. It costs 4 Paws an average of $22,000 per dog placed. At 4 Paws they partner with the child's family who become volunteer fund raisers for 4 Paws and make a commitment to raise a minimum of $13,000 for the agency in order to qualify for a dog. Dogs are trained to specifically address the needs of each child. If you would like to help by making a personal donation, please send your tax-deductible donation to: Please Help Piper Duddles Find Her Special Friend
She is currently in speech therapy and we partake in activities which help her work on her other issues, such as texture problems, oversensitivity to sounds, social interactions, a fear of children, etc. One "activity" we have found that helps her the most in EVERY area is dogs. Since Piper's grandmother, Mimi, along with her dog, Teddy, moved in to help us, Piper began speaking again! We saw a change in her that was night and day.
The dog will also be trained in tracking should she, GOD forbid, get away from us or "break out" of the house as she is a Houdini. The dog will also be trained in behavior disruption which means when he/she notices Piper is stuck in a "loop" or is injuring herself, the dog will interrupt it. Most importantly is what the dog cannot be trained for… that is the unconditional love that is shared between a child and their furry companion. For a child who has no child friends (not for lack of trying) the bond is even stronger and that much more special. If you would like to make a donation to help Piper, you can click on the donate tab and make a donation via credit card. Please be sure to type "In Honor of Piper Duddles" in the Special Instructions box on the last page while donating. To make a donation by check, fill it out to: 4 Paws For Ability
To visit Piper's website, click here. Let's help Geneva get a Multi-Purpose Service Dog
She is a very friendly and active girl. Loves the outdoors, camping, riding her bike, and swimming. But socially she is behind her peers. Sometimes daily life is a struggle for her. Meltdowns interfere with daily activities. We will be receiving a multipurpose service dog for Geneva to help redirect her and help with the meltdowns. We hope that this will also help her socially. I am volunteering my efforts for 4 Paws for Ability to raise money, so other disabled children can benefit from 4 Paws. Donations are to be made directly to 4 Paws for Ability, 253 Dayton Ave., Xenia, Ohio 45385 in honor of Geneva Powell. Thank you, Help Angel Solis Cope
I have two sisters but we are very different. It's very hard for me to deal with places where there are a lot of people. Even going out to a restaurant or any public place is a challenge for me. It's hard for me to understand danger, in fact, once I managed to open a window in my house that had access to the roof, and I stayed there for a little bit of time until my neighbor told my parents I was there.
It's very hard for me to go to sleep at night. I just have lots of energy even if it's after midnight. When I am anxious I bite my clothes and even my house furniture. You can help me and my family make this dream come true by making a tax-deductible donation (by mail or the website) in the name of Angel Solis to:
4 Paws for Ability
Miracle Micro-Preemie in Need of an Autism Service Dog
As he continued to fight for survival at home we found multiple additional medical problems that have lingered on. He was diagnosed with severe reflux, aspiration of fluid in his lungs, paralyzed left vocal cord and failure to thrive. Caleb did not thrive like his brother and was not growing, as he should. At 1 year and 4 months of age he received a feeding tube. Till this day he still has the feeding tube and could not sustain his life without it. He receives multiple therapies and is in an inclusion special education kindergarten class outside of our district. He has a physical, occupational and speech therapist. Multiple physicians follow him on a regular basis. Last summer we received the diagnosis on the Autism Spectrum of Pervasive Developmental Disorder.
Caleb segregates himself from others even at home. His brother and younger sister will play together and Caleb will be off in his own world. He cannot attend play dates or go to our neighbor’s house to play with the children without one of us by his side. Any functions for his friends are out of the question. We feel strongly that an autism service dog would benefit Caleb. A whole new world will be opened up for him. Our fears of Caleb running off will be minimal which will alleviate some of our stress. Caleb has escaped while we were a sleep at night and luckily our neighbors spotted him and brought him home. You can help us realize our dream for Caleb. We could not thank you enough for donating your funds to the nonprofit agency 4 Paws For Ability in honor of Caleb. They will be providing a service dog for Caleb and we are committed to fund raising in support of their mission. All of our Thanks! The McGhee Family. Tristan's CP and Epilepsy mean it's time for a Multi-Purpose Service Dog
His neurologist had never seen an infant go through what Tristan was going through. This lasted for 2 long months. Tristan was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and Epilepsy. We finally had his seizures under control with medications, or so we thought. In the past year Tristan has begun to have seizures again. We are unsure why. We have increased medicines and nothing is fully helping. Tristan's type of seizures are also changing. Tristan has been given the opportunity to receive a Multi-Purpose Assistance Dog from 4 Paws for Ability. This dog will be trained for both mobility and to alert us before Tristan has a seizure. Tristan and his dog will become an inseparable team: Tristan's Dream Team. Tristan's dog will be trained just for Tristan. His dog will be able to smell the chemical change in Tristan's body several minutes before the seizure occurs and he can then alert. Having a mobility dog will help Tristan with opening doors and other numerous tasks while Tristan is in his wheelchair. Tristan's 4 Paws dog will also aid in medical procedures, therapies, and most importantly, be there to comfort Tristan at all times. Another undeniable benefit will be an added buffer between his disabilities and the awkwardness and uncertainty other children will feel about his situation. After talking with other 4 Paws families, we are assured that this will help bring interest and acceptance to his school years. And Tristan's Dream Team will give his family peace of mind, help us to relax, and know that Tristan will be in good "paws" with his dog. 4 Paws for Ability is one of only a handful of organizations that will place a service dog with a young child. With your help, Tristan's Dream Team can come true. Tristan will have his other teammate in less than a year after our fundraising is complete. 4 Paws for Ability asks us to work with them in the fundraising process as volunteers to raise $13,000 (half the cost of the dog). You can make a tax deductible donation to Tristan through 4 Paws for Ability. Please send them a check or money order and include Tristan Bowling in the memo portion of the check. You can also help Tristan's Dream Team come true by donating to 4Paws at their website. www.4pawsforablility.org and make sure to include Tristan's full name. Thank you so much and look to see Tristan's Dream Team together in the next year. Thank you for your support and generosity, Christa Rentz and Chris Bowling. Mail donations to:
You can also visit Tristan's website at http://tristanshope.blogspot.com for updates, pictures and future fundraisers for Tristan's Dream Team and his mission through life. Little Drake seeks Seizure Service Dog from 4 Paws for Ability
Exactly one month later, he had his second seizure. This time it was a tonic-clonic seizure. My husband called 911 and they worked on him in front of our house for about half an hour trying to stop the seizure and stabilize his oxygen levels. From there, he was taken to the nearest hospital, where he was intubated. He continued having seizures. They could not get him completely stabilized so he was life flighted to a nearby children's hospital. He spent the next three weeks in the PICU on ventilator support. Nobody knew why he was so sick. Drake was tested for viral and bacterial infection, immune deficiencies, head trauma, and more. Nothing gave them any clues. Then he suddenly started getting better. He went home on anticonvulsants, but otherwise seemed healthy. During follow-up visits, we were told that we would likely not see any more seizures, but if we did, we could increase his meds, and that once we had the right dose and he made it two years seizure free, we'd start weaning the meds.
Since that seizure in September, he has continued having seizures at least once a month, though more recently we have been seeing many other seizure types: as often as 10 in a day. We have only "caught" him seizing during sleep a handful of times, but suspect it happens more frequently. It's difficult to get a good night's sleep when you are always fearing what may happen if he has another bad seizure and we aren't there to get him the help he needs! He's now on his fourth medication, with little success, and we are beginning to fear it may be Dravet Syndrome. Since September, Drake has also been tested and determined to have global developmental delays. He did not start walking until he was nearly 19 months old. And five months later, he still frequently stumbles and falls. His language is at about a 12-month level. He has never experienced any sort of separation anxiety or fear of strangers. He will often try to wander away from us and to him, nobody is a stranger. He loves water and would do anything he could to get away from us, and play in any puddle, pond, or pool he sees. As you can imagine, these things combined are a huge cause of anxiety for us. Drake has terrible mood swings and behavioral issues as well. We have not yet determined if this is due to the epilepsy, a side effect of meds, or some other condition not yet diagnosed. He was tested for autism and it has been ruled out at this time, though many of these things are indicators. He has frequent tantrums, some lasting as long as an hour, that include very loud screaming, hitting, kicking, and banging his head on the floor or wall. If we try to touch him or comfort him, things will only escalate. These tantrums can happen at any time for any reason (or no reason all), making it very difficult to leave the house with him.
Drake currently attends an early intervention program two days a week. He makes the 12 mile drive on a bus - the absolute highlight of his week! He is a charming little boy with the brightest blue eyes you've ever seen and the most infectious laugh. Even his teachers and therapists find it difficult to resist his charm. When he smiles, it's impossible to be upset with him about the objects he was just throwing or the wild tantrum he just had because you didn't understand what he wanted. Drake lives with mom (Kristen), dad (DC) and big brother (Kevin - 5). Dad works from home doing computer support and mom is currently unemployed (due to job elimination) and attending school part time for nursing (thanks to Drake's inspiration!). Kevin also has some developmental delays and attends a special education preschool program four days a week. Kevin tries very hard to be a good big brother, but sometimes between Drake's seizures and behavioral issues, he starts feeling a bit neglected and acts up too. We don't spend much time thinking about the future for Drake. We try to live each day to its fullest, dealing with each day's victories and challenges as they come. We hope that one day the seizures will stop and he will lead a normal childhood and life. But if the seizures do not stop, and if more problems creep up in the future, our biggest hope is just for him to be happy. We will do all we can each and every day to ensure he knows he is loved and cherished and that we want nothing more than for him to be happy. I don't recall how I discovered 4 Paws, since I do a lot of online research, and it was about four to five months before we sent in the application. We would have sent it sooner, but thought perhaps Drake was too young to qualify. We were also starting a new medication around that time and were hopeful that we would gain better seizure control (sadly that hasn't been the case). Our biggest hope for the service dog is that it will detect his seizures. That would give Drake the freedom to play in a room without someone else parked right by him, and it would reduce our anxiety (especially at night) greatly. The dog will also be trained in tracking, tethering, and behavior modification techniques. Perhaps someday, our family will once again be able to enjoy family outings without the fear, anxiety and embarrassment caused by unexpected seizures, wandering, and meltdowns! Our family is partnering as volunteers with 4 Paws for Ability in order to raise funds for Drake's special service dog. If you donate in his honor your tax-deductible donation will help us qualify to receive that service dog. You can donate online, or make your check payable to 4 Paws for Ability and please be sure to reference "In honor of Drake Current" in the memo portion of the check or in the special instructions box online. Thank you from the Current family. Amy Brooks seeks Autism Service Dog for little Jacey
You see, at about the age of two, we knew Jacey was delayed. We began speech and physical therapy in hopes of getting her back up to age level. Six months passed and she still was not speaking and her meltdowns were just as bad as before. When the team came back in and told us that it was Autism, that Jacey was right in the middle of the spectrum, I was shocked. I think time froze after that. The following days were a blur. I came up with reasons why the diagnosis couldn't be possible, but eventually gave in to reality. Since that time, I have learned a great deal. One of the greatest things that I have found in my searching of treatments and therapies is Autism Service Dogs. Currently, we cannot let Jacey go for even a second because she will run from us. A service dog would allow Jacey the ability to have more freedom when we are in public by having Jacey tethered to the dog and being able to walk with the dog. A service dog would also be able to track and retrieve Jacey if she were to get away from us, comfort her when she is upset or having a meltdown, and keep her from dangerous activities and bad behaviors. It would give me another set of eyes to keep Jacey safe.
This is where you come in! Jacey has been accepted to receive a service dog but we must meet our fundraising goal of $13,000. We have signed on as volunteers for 4 Paws (a 501 c3) to raise money in Jacey's behalf. I know that I can't achieve this goal on my own and this is where I need you. Help me help Jacey. You can go to www.4pawsforability.org/donation.html where there are directions for donating online. Be sure to include Jacey's name in the notes so that it goes toward our goal. Sincerely, Amy, Jacey, and the entire Brooks family. Bradley Shonkwiler doesn't speak...needs Autism Service Dog
One day, after about two days of his crying, his mother took him to the emergency room. They finally discovered that that his bowels were full and he couldn't potty on his own. It was a terrible experience for him. And for those who love him. His constant companions at home are his parents, his 16-year-old brother, 12-year-old sister, and nine-year-old sister. The older kids enjoy playing with Bradley. He loves chasing them and getting piggy back rides, in fact, the piggy back rides are his favorite activity. Near the end of 2009, Bradley's mother, Tracey, heard about 4 Paws for Ability while attending an Easter Seals event in Dayton, Ohio. "The gentleman who runs the event is paraplegic," she says, "and he has a service dog through another organization. Bradley had been crying the entire time we were there until the service dog took notice and licked Bradley's face. After that, we could've stayed all day." The entire idea of a service dog became interesting, and in a month or two, after some serious research, Bradley's parents applied to 4 Paws for Ability. His parents hope that with intensive home therapy, he will gain fluid communication whether it is with speech or sign language. They also hope that Bradley will learn some independence. They hope and dream that their son will be a functional young man when he comes of age. "I'm hoping," says Tracey, "that by having a service dog for Bradley that he'll want to stay in our world for longer periods of time that he won't want to go to that other world that only he can see, and that through that four-legged friend he will want to become a part of this world more and more." Bradley has been approved for the placement of an Autism Service Dog. As a part of the application process, his parents have agreed to partner with 4 Paws to fund raise at least $13,000 to see that he has an Autism Service dog. You can help make Bradley's family's dream come true by making a tax-deductible donation (by mail or the website) in the name of Bradley Shonkwiler to:
Very Rare Chromosomal Disorder Hinders the Life Of a Nine-year-old GirlNine-year-old Girl Suffers From 9 P Minus Syndrome (1 in 200 world-wide) - Life-Threatening Seizures Happen All the Time~~Seizure Service Dog Will Help Her Live A More Enriched Life
I have what's called absent seizures, where I stare off for 30 seconds to two minutes sometimes, and I also have Grand Mal seizures. My grand mal seizures are very dangerous because I stop breathing and my entire body constricts. My mom has special medication for me that relaxes my muscles enough until an ambulance can get to me.
I am nine but intellectually I am about five. I get lost easy because if my mom looks in her purse, or ties my sister's shoe, I am off looking at something, touching something, or making a new friend: these things are not safe and this brings me to the reason of why I NEED 4 PAWS FOR ABILITY. They provide service dogs trained for kids just like me.
I need to hold fundraisers and be able to reach the community for help and support. My mom has spoken with lots of mothers who have gone through this process, and by using the media have been able to reach their goal. I need the media to help me reach my goal. Please help us. Here's our contact information: Contact: Shannen Reyes
Service Dog needed for Mason, who has multiple seizures daily
He was only a little over two years old when he had his first seizure. After several admissions to the children's hospital and numerous tests we were left to believe that Mason was experiencing febrile seizures, and the good news was children typically out grow these type of seizures. In the meantime every time Mason would get sick we had to monitor his fevers and be sure to keep on top of them. Mason continued having seizures for almost 18 months. Then they seemed to stop, so we thought we had the right diagnosis and he would be seizure free. That was true until July 23, 2008. The day his baby sister was born he had one of the first seizures that he had in nearly 2 years. He then began having multiple seizures almost every day, some days it would be as many as 20.
He had several CT scans, and MRIs, but so far the doctors are unable to determine why he is having the seizures and have diagnosed him with a seizure disorder. We have tests done every two to three months continually trying to find out why. He is on medication and it helps but he still has days where he has multiple seizures. The tricky part about Mason is his seizures are very quick usually 30 seconds or so, so if we are not with him every single minute we miss when he has them. Most of the people who are around Mason cannot recognize when he is having a seizure: he just seems to slip into his own little world briefly and then returns to normal. This is why we have chose to get Mason a seizure alert dog. With the help of the service dog anyone helping to care for Mason will be able to recognize through the alert of the service dog when Mason is having a seizure. We feel that this is the best chance Mason has to really determine how many and how often he is having seizures. Not only that but this service dog will be able to help prevent Mason from going into a dangerous situation if he is about to have a seizure.
We have been given a opportunity by a unique organization called 4 Paws For Ability. 4 Paws is a nonprofit organization that helps families with special needs acquire service dogs. Mason has been approved for the placement of a Seizure Alert Service Dog! As a part of the application process we have agreed to partner with 4 Paws to fund raise at least $13,000 in support of their mission. Once we have reached our goal, Mason will be placed in a class and given the dates we will be able to come to 4 Paws to receive his service dog. It costs 4 Paws a minimum of $22,000 to train and place one service dog which is why we are committed to raising at least $13,000, and with your help we can make this happen! While it does cost much more than this to train and place a dog like the one that Mason will receive, any money that we raise over our fundraising goal will be used to help another family meet their fundraising requirement! Mason will be expected to take care of the dog which will be a huge benefit for him. Most importantly it will give him a constant companion that will not only be there unconditionally, it will also give him the confidence he needs to become independent. If you would like to help Mason achieve the independence, safety, and support a service dog will provide for him. Please consider making a tax deductible donation to 4 Paws For Ability, Inc at 253 Dayton Ave. Xenia, OH 45385. Be sure to include "In Honor of Mason Ohler" on the memo portion of your check so that Mason will receive proper credit. Visit us at www.4paws4mason.yolasite.com or email us at 4paws4mason@neo.rr.com We thank each and every one for your support and prayers for Mason and our family. Service dog will keep Tyler Grieb safe and help him connect with others
"Tyler is a bright, loving, energetic, funny little boy," says his father, Scott Grieb. "He loves music and spends a lot of his time listening, singing, drumming and dancing. He has a very good memory for words, musical pitch and rhythms, and his daily and weekly routines." Tyler takes great pride in new accomplishments and skills, and feels great frustration when he can't communicate with his parents or master new tasks. He still can't use language very functionally, speaking in memorized chunks of words rather than sentences with pronouns and verbs. He has little sense of time or the future. "We have many hopes for a service dog in Tyler's life," says Emily Nehus, his mother. "Tyler is emotionally connected with the adults in his life, but hardly notices other children. We hope a dog will be his friend and companion, and help him make contact with other children, who are initially attracted to Tyler but give up when he doesn't respond. To our knowledge, he has never spontaneously spoken to another child." "Tyler is becoming stronger and more curious about his world," Emily says. "We hope a trained service dog can help keep Tyler safe, help locate him if he gets lost, and provide 24-hour-a-day companionship." Each service dog that 4 Paws graduates costs $22,000 to train and place with a child. Scott and Emily have partnered with 4 Paws for Ability and, acting as volunteers for the nonprofit agency, are committed to raising $13,000 for Tyler's dog, thus contributing towards 4 Paws' mission of placing service dogs such as the one Tyler will get with children who need them. Tyler's parents are asking that you support Tyler and 4 Paws for Ability by making a tax-deductible donation in honor of Tyler Grieb. More information about 4 Paws for Ability, Tyler, and Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum may be found at:
Tiny angel needs service dog for seizure support and balance
Korigan has a lot of medical problems, including:
The service dog we are seeking from 4 Paws for Ability, a nonprofit agency located in Xenia, Ohio, is to help with balance and seizures. She is so excited about getting a "helper doggy." She wants so badly to be more independent and I think a service dog will be just the thing! I am acting as a volunteer for 4 Paws in an effort to raise funds for her. All donations are tax deductible and go to 4 Paws for Ability in Korigan's name. If you can help, please either go to the 4 Paws for Ability website and click on "donate," or mail a check to: 4 Paws for Ability Twin brothers Denver & Jackson desperately need service dog
Denver tends to have meltdowns due to the lack of communication, and just recently started to self harm by biting his arms and hands. A poor sleeper, he is up and down all night: rocking, banging head and wandering the house. This causes major concerns to his sensory needs. Kristina Bartels, their mother, takes over the story. Looking back there were always red flags, even when they were first born, but we always viewed them as individual issues...or just as quirks of their personalities. Jackson was always crying and was very stiff all the time...didn't like to be fussed with, held, or massaged as a baby. He always wanted the same routine and would become very cranky if it changed. Always needed to be in control of everyone and thing. Still does. Denver was VERY quiet...loved being held, but didn't seem to seek out interaction. With very poor eye contact, he played with only one hand, and had physical therapy when he started to sit up because of issues with balance and muscle tone: hand flapping, spinning, rocking, crashing, and always in his own little world. Before their birth, my husband and I had read about how close twins can be. Not our boys: from the beginning, it seemed they had no clue about each other's presence. We became more concerned when the twins went to their 18-month checkup. By this time, Jackson used phrases rather than words, and Denver only had a three-word vocabulary. I started putting more things together and it was like a light bulb went off when I read and talked to people about Autism and Sensory Processing Disorder. Some people thought I was just exaggerating everything because the boys were born four weeks early and Denver had breathing issues at birth, was transferred to a special hospital, and stayed in NICU at Rainbow Babies for 14 days. We thought that when he came home healthy it would be the end of any major health issues or problems, but in my gut I knew there was more going on and I pushed the doctors to get them looked at. THANK GOD!!! At many levels they seem like average toddlers. Jackson loves cars, trains, motorcycles, anything with small parts and a lot of compartments, and dancing with Mom. Denver loves any kind of book (including phone books), cars, jumping, dancing, animals, and he loves, loves, loves water. Anything liquid and he dives in head first, wanting to get his whole body involved. For example: fruit cups or water on the floor tempt him to try to bathe in it. It also causes problems when we try to go out to eat: you can imagine the reactions of uneducated people.
We are unsure about Denver's hearing. Sometimes he seems to hear, but calling his name or asking him something usually brings no response. "Stop" and "hot" are not in his vocabulary. Denver also has issues with awareness of his body. He falls, crashes, and hurts himself often and he loves to climb and spin. But because he is clumsy and never puts out his hands to break a fall, we are constantly monitoring him. Plus Denver also is very oral. He tries to eat everything that he finds, edible or not. He has a severe speech delay and at the moment says only "Dada," "Yeah," and occasionally "Sis." Jackson can become aggressive to others during meltdowns. Our escape artist, he is a real thinker and likes to "figure" things out. He got out last summer and we found him by Sandusky Bay, which is 50 yards from our front door...and has steps leading to the water's edge. Go the other direction down our road and there is a big pond with no barriers at the edge. He hates water and wet things, but I don't feel confident that he wouldn't fall in. He tries to be very independent but either gets himself in a situation that is unsafe or gets very scared and has a meltdown. He has issues with being touched, especially regarding his hands, and refuses to hold hands with anyone while out. While at restaurants, stores etc., he gets anxious at times due to all the people, lights, noises, and his inability to run or get away. While trying to be independent. he is still very unsure of himself and always needs to be told that he is okay. How will a service dog help our sons? I hope a service dog will help keep them safe in the home and out...help Denver interact more with people, help with behavior disruption, and help give Jackson a sense of independence and calmness when we are somewhere unfamiliar, plus help with his meltdowns. These boys desperately need more help in being able to lead a "normal" life and do "normal" activities. We have been pretty much stuck in the house for two-and-a-half years. I'm afraid to take them anywhere alone because of safety issues. Our own highly trained service dog will give me an extra set of eyes, comfort, and help. It is just not fair to keep them in the house. More than anything, we want them to be happy! We don't want fear or autism to control their lives. We want them to do everything everyone else does. They deserve to experience being independent...to be able to explore this world...and not see their situations as curses but just being on a little bumpier road. I want them to know that we as parents have given them the ability to grow. They must know that we have never held them back or felt sorry for ourselves or them. Or assumed they couldn't do something and didn't try. When we first started talking about autism, someone said, "You know, they will probably never be football stars or doctors." That may be, and that's okay, but I am not one to think negatively. I will not put a limit on what they can do!!! It's up to them, and I will give them all the support they need to get to THEIR DREAMS!!! If you would like to help our family's dreams come true, consider making a tax-deductible donation in the boys' names to 4 Paws For Ability, 253 Dayton Ave. Xenia, OH 45385. Make sure to write Denver & Jackson Burkhart in the memo area of the check. If you make an online donation, please say in honor of Denver & Jackson Burkhart. Thanks from the entire family. Andrew Riley needs service dog for multiple challenges
Andrew has bilateral hearing loss and a difficult to control seizure disorder. Andrew also has a visual processing disorder which essentially makes him "blind". While he can visualize objects, he can not process and identify what he is seeing. On top of this, Andrew also has a swallowing disorder which makes it necessary for specialized feeding. We are now faced with the pending date of G Tube insertion. The seizures Andrew has been diagnosed with have also included Infantile Spasms, which is a very serious diagnosis in a child. Due to the severity and frequency of Andrew's seizures, he is termed as "Global Delay" because of the interruption they cause in his daily learning and processing of information. This is despite of being on multiple medications and therapies. At two-and-a-half-years of age, we are still waiting for Andrew to take his first steps or say his first word.
4 Paws for Ability is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping children and adults with disabilities. The dogs are specially chosen and trained specific to each individual's needs. We fundraise on behalf of 4 Paws For Ability in order to minimize the wait time and allow us to participate in the process of placing a dog with our son. A tax deductible donation can be made directly to Andrew Riley's fund through 4 Paws for Ability, an Xenia, Ohio-based non-profit organization that trains service dogs for people with disabilities. The Riley Family Autism places Joshua Bontrager in harm's way.
After many medical tests, consultations with a Neuropsychologist, and evaluations with First Steps and a program through the local school system, Joshua Bontrager was finally diagnosed with Autism in January of this year. It is news that no parent wants to receive, but we are thankful to finally have an official diagnosis, which puts to rest some of the questions we've carried, and also provides us with opportunities to further explore treatment options and other ways to maintain a safe and happy life for Joshua.
At five years old, his speech level is that of a two-and-a-half year old, and he cannot comprehend the consequences of many of his actions; including ones that could be potentially dangerous. We have had to install locks on the doors, windows, and cabinets throughout our home, as Joshua is undeterred by most child-proofing equipment and has an incredible ability, and frequent desire, to escape.
Our major concern at this point is his safety, as his physical abilities combined with his delays in comprehension can often place him in harm's way. We were encouraged to recently learn about 4 Paws for Ability, an organization which trains assistance dogs and provides them as companions for people with disabilities. In the case of a child like Joshua, for instance, an assistance dog would provide security and a calming presence, all the while helping to keep the child out of danger. Our family has been approved to receive an assistance dog for Joshua, and we are hopeful about the difference this opportunity could make in our lives. Our lives have been profoundly impacted by the harsh realities of Autism. Despite the difficulties, however, we are thankful for what we have learned about love and patience, and the increased understanding and awareness we now have about other people who are living with disabilities. We are thankful for our family and friends, and our faith in God, all of which have been great sources of strength for us in the hard times. And we are thankful that organizations like 4 Paws for Ability exist to help improve the quality of life for people with Autism, and give peace of mind to their families. Thank you for taking the time to read our story. Please consider making a donation to 4 Paws for Ability in honor of Joshua Bontrager, as your contribution will undoubtedly make a difference in the life of a child like Joshua. All donations are tax deductable and can be made online at www.4pawsforability.org or sent to:
Help Bianca Merino get her Loyal Companion to Battle Autism
"Autism," says Bianca Merino's mother, "affects every aspect of our lives. From the moment I started to see some delays in Bianca's development, our lives changed. The worries started and have not stopped. She was diagnosed when she was three-and-a-half years old." Every day as nine-year-old Bianca grows, she also claims more independence. She wants to cook by herself, stay in her room alone, and watch TV alone. She is a huge fan of Hannah Montana. There are times when she refuses to interact with her four-year-old brother, who doesn't yet understand why she pushes him away when he wants to play with her. When the family goes to the mall or the grocery store, Bianca wants to walk down other aisles by herself, but of course, she can't. It breaks her mother's heart.
"I want to give her the independence that she claims and deserves," says her mother, "but I can't. A service dog would be wonderful for Bianca. She'll have the companionship that she needs and more of the independence that she demands, and a higher level of safety. This is why we're raising funds to get a specially trained autism service dog that also does search and rescue from 4 Paws for Ability. This new friend, and new member of our family, won't give up on her and might help her make friends. Plus," she says, "this will create a stronger bond with her little brother." There are times that Bianca wants to interact with other kids her age, but she doesn't have the proper language skills to interact well, and usually other children lose interest and walk away. At such times, her facial expressions reveal the frustration and pain she feels.
"I know that they say that autism service dogs are not the cure for autism," says Bianca's mother, "but in my heart I feel that it may be the key for her treatment. If not, at least we will have tried, and in the process we'll have this wonderful dog that will understand and help us all be more at peace with her autism." The Merinos must raise the $13,000 required to train their special dog to Bianca's specific needs, and look to the community to open its heart to this sweet little girl whose life will change significantly once she has her service dog. All funds go directly to 4 Paws. Learn more about 4 Paws for Ability by going to http://www.4PawsForAbility.org. All money donated in Bianca Merino's name will go for the training of her autism service dog, and the donations are tax deductible. People and organizations can donate online at the 4 Paws Donation Page, or pay by check to:
If you prefer making an online donation, please reference "In honor of Bianca Merino" in the box asking for special instructions. Sam needs an Autism Service Dog to help him learn to cope
Sam has no real friends. A characteristic of autism is the lack of social skills. Couple that with his inability to communicate effectively and you can see why he has no friends. Nobody ever comes over to play or calls him for a playdate. He has never been invited to a birthday party. Sam frequently wanders. He wears an ID bracelet and is registered with the local police department but there is no way to track him if he gets lost. He has wandered away several times and returned to his parents only by the grace of God. He must be constantly supervised, even in his own home, because he has sustained mysterious injuries in the past that he cannot explain.
Sam's parents have spent a fortune getting Sam the medical care and therapy he needed, at the appropriate time for each treatment. With the biomedical intervention, ABA therapy, PT, OT, and speech therapy, Sam can now care for the family cats independently and has learned to be gentle with them. He is a whiz at the computer and is a leader in his resource classroom at school where he is well liked by his peers and teachers. He can form sentences with prompting and is interested in reading. He is finally to a point where he can help care for his own animal and as a pre-teen, is entering a very turbulent time with hormones and changes. An autism service dog is exactly what he needs at this stage of his life...a friend.
Dogs who receive this highly specialized training are expensive. It costs $13,000 to raise and train a service dog like the one Sam will get. 4 Paws has a unique opportunity which allows families to raise the funding for one dog in order to qualify for a dog and make the placement process faster. Most agencies have a waiting list that is at least 5 years long. You can make a donation today in HONOR OF SAM that will bring Sam closer to getting his service dog and you will be supporting a very necessary and worthwhile local organization. Please put IN HONOR OF SAM BERNOTAITIS in the MEMO section of your donation check and make the check out to: 4 Paws For Ability. Mail to: 253 Dayton Ave., Xenia, OH 45385. Your cancelled check is your receipt for tax purposes. We greatly appreciate your support. Come visit our blog at http://4pawsforsam.webs.com/ High-functioning, verbal child needs Autism Service Dog!
We're very fortunate that our son is high functioning and verbal. He also shows much affection and empathy, traits usually not associated with autism. Over the past seven and a half years, our family, like any family who has a child with special needs, has strived to provide our son with as many tools and opportunities as possible to help him cope with some of his challenges. Of course not all of our choices or methods have worked but we continue to try anything new and hope to learn from our mistakes. Graham used to be terrified of dogs, no matter the breed or size! It was most likely the "bark" that proved to be too much for his sensitive ears. However, he still had a desire to approach dogs to pet and hug them. After much exposure and reassurance, Graham was able to overcome his fear of dogs, and their bark, and fall in love with them, all breeds and sizes! When out in public, at a friends house or at a family gathering, Graham always gravitates to the dogs, usually the bigger ones! While the other children are running around the yard or through the house noisily, we will find Graham trailing behind the family pet or even laying on the ground with it! The dogs never seem to mind too much. It's almost as if they can sense he is different from other kids! Graham has been participating in a therapeutic horseback riding program for a year now. When he is riding "Leonard" he is calm, focused, proud, happy and relaxed. This behavior is also present when he is in the company of a dog. The bigger the dog, the happier he seems! In a perfect world, we would love Graham to have a larger dog to love, hug, squeeze and lie on top of! But, if this were a perfect world, he wouldn't have a disability in the first place. So, instead, we'd like to do what we can to help him feel a little better inside of himself, and by the way, we love Graham just the way he is! His autism is what makes him who he is and we wouldn't change that for the world! We hope that in giving Graham an "in-home companion dog" we would be able to alleviate some of the stress in all of our lives. Graham would be able to fulfill his many sensory needs just by having constant contact with his own dog. I'm sure that his younger brother and Lucy will also appreciate being squeezed less often! The dog would accompany him around the house making Graham less fearful going from room to room. Hopefully, Graham would stay in his own bed all night with the dog to keep him company and not be so afraid of the dark. Most importantly, Graham would never feel alone. The dog would be trained for behavior disruption allowing us to prevent melt-downs from happening before they occur. Anyone who has been here when Graham needs to take his medication knows how helpful this would be! Lots of the anxiety that Graham feels while doing tasks, that may seem simple for a typical child his age, like getting dressed, using the bathroom, brushing his teeth, getting ready for the bus, putting a shoe on, eating a meal, taking his daily medications and vitamins, having his nails cut, wearing a back pack, putting his own coat on, transitioning from the house to the car or bus, would subside with the dog there to help him cope. If you would like to help by making a personal donation, please send your tax-deductible donation payable directly to 4 Paws For Ability, 235 Dayton Ave., Xenia, OH 45385. Please write: In honor of Graham Laughlin on the memo portion of the check, or donate online at 4 Paws for Ability. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Sincerely, Amanda & Eric Laughlin, parents to: Graham age 7-autism spectrum disorder and Myles age 4-the best little brother in the world. Let's help Tucker Davis get an Autism Service Dog!
What makes my family different besides my great kids? Tucker has Autism as well as Bipolar Disorder, Tic Disorder, ADHD and Restless Leg Syndrome.
Because of Tucker's disabilities, we, as a family, face many obstacles. It is hard to go to my sons' concerts and sporting events. Tucker is easily over stimulated in those environments and is unable to self soothe. Which may lead to a meltdown or he may go into escape mode and run away without regard to personal safety. Taylor and Chandler are afraid to have friends over, because they never know how Tucker will act, afraid of embarrassment when their brother has a meltdown or explosive episode. We love to vacation, but this causes obstacles as well because of the break in routine. Sometimes Tucker does a Houdini act and I am unable to find him anywhere. I cannot count the number of times he wandered away this past summer when I was watching him like a hawk with his other two brothers keeping an eye out too. Embarrassing but true, it is impossible to keep hold of Tucker's hand 24/7.
As Tucker's mother, I hope his certified service dog will not only be his constant companion, but will also provide a launch pad for social interaction. In cases of escalating behavior, the dog will be trained to come alongside him, offering Tucker the opportunity to self-soothe before behavior gets out-of-control. We visited the 4 Paws facility in July and were so impressed with the volunteers, staff, the training the dogs receive, and especially the new puppies. Tucker is so excited about his new friend. He cannot wait to bring his "special dog" home so he can love and care for it. If you would like to help our dreams come true, you can make a tax deductible donation to 4 Paws For Ability, 253 Dayton Ave. Xenia, OH 45385; just make sure to write in Tucker Davis's name in the memo of the check. If you make an online donation, please say in honor of Tucker Davis. Thank you. Finn Watson, busy escape artist, needs service dog
Mom and Dad want a service dog for Finn through 4 Paws because they want him to be able to be more independent as he gets older. Right now, Finn has a tendency to escape if he sees the opportunity. Apparently playing in a stranger’s backyard in the rain with no shoes on holds a special allure for him, but not so much for Mom and Dad!
Finally, Griffin’s mom and dad believe that an SD will allow him the opportunity for companionship that he does not find with his peers at this time, and could possibly be a gateway to friendship with other kids in the future. Your tax deductible donation for a service dog for Griffin would be so appreciated. Monetary donations can be made directly to Griffin Watson’s fund through 4 Paws for Ability, which is an Ohio-based non-profit organization that trains service dogs for people with disabilities. William is his family's hero and he needs a service dog
Although Down syndrome is a visible condition, William is often misunderstood and often places himself in harm’s way as he navigates through our complicated world. So why is he our hero? Because despite those challenges, he works so hard – very hard to overcome his low muscle tone, difficulty in communication skills, and his developmental delays. Because of his determination, we are able to embrace the positive things Down syndrome brings to our life while we continue to address the challenges. He has accomplished so much in his short life. He has already taught us invaluable lessons and has touched many hearts with his tenderness and the unconditional love he freely shares with everyone. Despite the incredible gains he has made, we have made little progress in dealing with safety issues. William is still not aware that he should look before he runs out in the street or in a parking lot. William is the ultimate escape artist. He has learned to disarm our door alarms, climb over the fence to explore our neighbor’s swimming pool and check out anything he finds interesting. William is full of love for everyone and everything. He does not distinguish between "safe" people and strangers who may harm him. After reading an article in the newspaper about the difference a service dog made in the life of another boy who has Down syndrome, we knew in our hearts that we had found our answer.
We are committed to raising $13,000 for 4 Paws. By making a donation in William’s honor you will be helping them train dogs just like the one William will receive and getting us one step closer to William’s dog! By supporting 4 Paws for Ability, you will be giving William a constant, trusted companion that will be able to help William refocus, prevent meltdowns, and to keep him from darting into a busy street or going off exploring by himself. If William were to wander off, his dog would be able to help us find him and bring him back. You can help us with this miracle...this answer to William’s PEACE, our peace of mind and his safety. William doesn’t like loud noises, like thunder, fireworks, the Movie Theater or large crowds. He goes on sensory overload. William’s service dog would be by his side letting him know that’s its okay and help him refocus when he melts down. A service dog can also help break down social barriers for William. Many people don’t know who to approach or communicate with a child who has special needs, but they are willing to approach a dog. A service dog can reduce the isolation that William sometimes experiences. William will finally have a best friend. Support comes in many different ways, so please follow your heart. We welcome your prayers and encouragement, your financial gifts, or your own ideas and creativity in planning/hosting a fundraiser. Anything you can do to help would be greatly appreciated. If you would like to help by making a personal donation, please send your tax-deductible donation payable directly to 4 Paws For Ability, 235 Dayton Ave., Xenia, OH 45385. Please write: In honor of William Burke on the memo portion of the check. Click here to follow our blog. If you have any questions about 4 Paws, please visit http://www.4pawsforability.org. Thank You for joining us on our journey...Ed, Carol, Craig, William, and Ashley Burke Kathryn needs autism service dog to protect, calm, and love her
A smart child who knows all her ABC's, she can count to 20 and even recognize a few words by sight rather than picture. However, Kathryn is mostly non-verbal. With the help of her special school, she's getting better using words. They aren't always used appropriately and she spends most of her time repeating songs or stories in a manner that is not recognizable. She understands words, but when they are repeated back they seem to be jumbled. Kathryn is learning to defeat locks and baby gates. Once she got through the front door locks and was found across the street in the park in the two minutes it took her mother to go to the restroom. She has learned to build steps over the baby gates to get past them, building them the same on both sides so she can just climb up and over without falling on the other side. Fear and any concept of danger are unknown to her. She doesn't come home on her own, or respond when her name is called, yet she's is very curious and independent with an adventurous spirit.
Dogs, cats, and fish are very important to her. Socially, she's in her own world and is usually left alone by her peers, since she doesn't acknowledge them if they try to initiate play. They don't understand that she isn't being rude. Stability, structure and routine are a luxury that Kathryn and her family do not have. Currently her dad is serving in the US Army in Iraq. Being a military family has its own challenges but throw in the inability to understand the constant changes and you have a child whose world is very chaotic. An autism service dog will help the family provide her with a valuable constant stabilizer in her ever changing world. Having an autism service dog will help Kathryn be able to allow someone into her "bubble" that understands her world and doesn't judge her or force their world on her. She needs a dog that will just love her and be her best friend. She will be able to explore the outside world with her friend at her side to keep her safe without having to be glued to her parents for safety. If she gets too adventurous, the family will have that extra nose to sniff her out and help them find her. Finally the family will be able to do things as a family without one always being left behind with Kathryn. They love her to pieces, but the phrase they most often use to describe family outings with her is like "trying to herd cats." "4 Paws won my heart with everything they do and with the amount of integrity they do it with," says Kathryn's mother, Regina. "I am just in the beginning stages of this journey with 4 Paws for Ability, and have only had contact with a couple of people, but they are amazing." It will be necessary for the family to raise funds to train this special service dog. Anyone wanting to support Kathryn can make a tax-free donation to 4 Paws for Ability. Please be sure to include "In Honor of Kathryn Ross-Schmid" with your donation so that the family receives credit toward their fundraising efforts. Jaden Cornelius needs Seizure Alert Service DogJaden Cornelius is a bright, energetic, and friendly child who attends kindergarten, loves science fiction, and has a very high vocabulary. His mother, Beth, a rehabilitation counselor, is raising him within a supportive network of family and friends. When Jaden was three, he began having seizures. He was diagnosed with a form of Epilepsy, and is being treated at the Cleveland Clinic. Most of his seizures happen when he is asleep. One side of his body will start to shake, his eyes will open, and there is a risk that he may stop breathing. This means that he cannot sleep alone, which will increasingly hinder his independence as he ages. It will also limit his participation in sleepovers, campouts, and similar social activities with peers. A seizure alert dog could not only allow Jaden to sleep safely in his own bed, without an adult, but could also accompany him on campouts and sleepovers. This would mean not only increased independence and the confidence that comes with it, but the ability to have fun with friends and not be left out! Recently, Jaden also has had some seizures while awake. While awake, Jaden may either have a seizure of the same type he has while asleep, or he could have an absence seizure, which would cause him to lose focus, stop whatever he is doing and be unable to move for however long the seizure lasts. The absence seizures last from 30 seconds to a few minutes and may be mistaken by someone unfamiliar with his disorder as a child just not paying attention. This means that everyday activities like playing on a slide, going swimming, and even eating, can be dangerous for Jaden, as a seizure could cause him to fall, become immobilized in the water, or choke on a bite of food. A service dog will alert his mother, grandparents, aunts, teachers or other adults that Jaden is having a seizure.While there are some activities that will still require adult supervision, with a seizure alert dog on the job, the adult can be a little farther away, yet still available in case of emergency. This will allow Jaden the ability to play with friends without the necessity of an adult always staying immediately by his side. He will be able to have enough space to share secrets and negotiate relationships without an adult constantly hovering over him in a way that affects his interactions with other kids his own age and the development of healthy peer relationships. While Jaden continues to be the same loving, social child he has always been, the adults who know him best have seen a real change in his moods and his ability to control his temper since his diagnosis. This is because a side effect of his anti-seizure medication increases his aggression and makes him more easily frustrated. Jaden is being taught that although it is more difficult for him now, he is still in control of his own temper and responsible for his own actions.
Jaden is a child with so much potential and a seizure alert dog can help us make sure that he has everything he needs to grow into a well-adjusted, happy, and successful adult. Your tax deductible donation can be made directly to Jaden Cornelius's fund through 4 Paws for Ability, an Ohio-based non-profit organization that trains service dogs for people with disabilities. Please indicate that your donation is specifically for Jaden Cornelius on the memo line of your check or on the PayPal note for online donations. Donations can be sent to: 4 Paws for Ability, 253 Dayton Ave., Xenia, Ohio 45385. For more information on 4 Paws for Ability, please visit 4 Paws for Ability online. Thank you ahead of time for considering a donation for Jaden. You have our heartfelt gratitude! Lonely boy needs an autism service dog
Derek has a love for the water, so every chance he gets he will take as many baths as you will let him. Because he does this just for the opportunity to feel the water, we got him involved in a few swimming programs so that he could do what it is he loves to do. He enjoys every bit of his time in the water, connecting with his trainers and the water. Derek also enjoys his playtime at the park, going bowling, and going to the library to play in their tree house. He has a love for books, and especially enjoys The Little Critter Series by Mercer Mayor, and Curious George. Getting through one day is very trying for Derek, as he has challenges adapting to the many different backgrounds and noises he encounters at places such as the grocery store, school, in the car, in a crowd, on the street or even when too many people are gathered in one place. Derek is an only child and he struggles to make friends because he is unaware of what is socially acceptable, and this interferes with his ability to make friends. He does a lot of arm flapping and loud noises and this tends to make other children shy away from him. By school age, most children have many friends whom they play with, go places together and even have sleepovers, but Derek's interests are much different and he does not understand what friend making is, so he is usually found playing alone that can be very lonely for him. Everyone needs a friend and because Derek does not have that ability yet, we have decided that a service dog would be the best thing for him, to serve as his companion and to help him open up to more people and help him with his many different challenges. Thanks to 4 Paws for Ability, Derek now has hope for a brighter happier future to have a friend. FASD victim Zachary needs a service dog
In persons with FASD, the corpus collosum (processes information between right and left brain) may be damaged and may not function adequately. There may not be as many pathways between the two sides of the brain, and so information may pass slowly or ineffectively. People with FASD have permanent brain damage, which can lead to learning disabilities, behavior problems, memory deficits, attention deficits, hyperactivity, or mental retardation. This is "static encepha-lopathy," meaning brain damage that doesn't get any better and doesn't get any worse.
It broke my heart. Zachary wants to be like every other 13-year-old child: he wants to be able to interact socially with his peers, not feel frustrated and upset while trying to do simple tasks that most people do not have to think twice about doing. It is Zachary's hope and ours that an FASD service dog will help him accomplish these simple goals and desires. A Solution for Zachary and what we need help with 4 Paws for Ability, a nonprofit organization located in Xenia, Ohio has the answer. This organization trains Service Dogs for kids with FASD. 4 Paws was the first agency to begin placing skilled FASD service dogs with children and continues to be the largest organization in the United States placing FASD service dogs. The dog will be trained specifically for Zachary based on his disabilities. Besides being a loving and loyal companion to him, the dogs training will include how to respond to Zachary and calm him whenever he has a disruption in his behavior.
Tether: While in public places, my husband and I must always be watching Zachary so he does not slip away. With the help of the Service Dog, Zachary will wear a special harness that is attached to the dog and the dog in turn will be controlled by either my husband or me. If you can help, please either go to the 4 Paws for Ability Website's Donation Page (please make sure to write "in honor of Zachary Rowe" in the special instructions box on PayPal which will appear on the last page of the process), or mail a check to 4 Paws for Ability, 253 Dayton Ave., Xenia, Ohio 45385. Please write "in honor of Zachary Rowe" in the memo line of your check. Your donation will be tax deductible and will be a blessing to Zachary's family. Thanks! Pituitary Brain Tumor Slams Tiny Tot
They explained that Vinnie has a pituitary brain tumor. My family and I were devastated. No words can explain the feelings we had. Since that diagnosis, his seizures have been ongoing and have not yet been controlled by medication. Vinnie's seizures cause him to have speech and learning delays. He has behavioral therapy that work with him three to four times a week to help him in these areas. They also help him with his autistic behavior and unchangeable routines that tend to frustrate him and us. It's so hard for us as parents to watch him go through so much and not be able to do anything about it. But, that's not quite accurate: we can do something about it. There is an organization called 4 Paws for Ability. They train seizure alert dogs to help children just like Vinnie. This dog will be a constant companion and will be able to recognize the signs of an oncoming seizure, and comfort Vinnie during and after a seizure. This dog will also be able to accompany him to all his doctor appointments, hospital stays, and stores where there are crowds, etc. This will help our little boy feel at ease in any of the tense situations he's likely to experience. We need to raise money to pay for the special training of this service dog, and we need your help. Because 4 Paws for Ability is a nonprofit agency, your donations in Vinnie's name are tax deductible. Thank you for either giving online sending your donation to: Assistance Dog Needed to Help Emily Manage Disabilities
She is a sad little girl who has trouble keeping in tune with the world around her. It took us some time to find out that her brain was misfiring every two minutes. Emily is an active 10-year-old girl who adores animals. However, she does not talk to many people, and will not make eye contact with people. She has generalized anxiety disorder when upset or overwhelmed, she lacks social skills, becomes easily frustrated, has meltdowns, and tries to hurt herself by pulling her hair, slapping herself, biting, and tearing off her clothes.
She has a sister who is 13 and is sometime overwhelmed because of Emily's disabilities. That's true of Mom and Dad as well, but we all love and support her. We the family made a communication breakthrough when we truly realized that there is a normal girl inside this special mind who just can't get out in typical ways. Now we are asking for help in getting Emily a best friend to go everywhere she goes. We hope to turn her frown upside down. There are so many ways a 4 Paws for Ability Assistance Dog will help Emily that it's difficult to know where to begin! We are fundraising for that special dog. All donations you make are to be designated in honor of Emily Lowe and are to be made to 4 Paws for Ability. And since 4 Paws is a nonprofit agency, your donations are tax free. Caden Butler Modaff seeks Furry Coping Mechanism
When I was about 15 months old, I started using all of the cool words that I knew but by the time I was 18 months old I could only say two words. I also started lining everything up in the house and stacking whatever I could. I got really upset when anyone would touch my lines or stacks and once I have what mommy calls "a meltdown," I can't calm myself back down. I get frustrated very easily and don't like when my routine gets changed which is a problem because both my big sister Ryley and I have immune deficiencies that cause us a lot of trips to the doctor and hospital for blood work and surgeries. People outside of my house are really scary and I don't understand when they want to talk to me or touch me; I try to hide my face whenever I can. Thank goodness I have a blankie and a pacifier that I can take places with me. If I can't hide, I sometimes try to run away, which scares my parents because they are worried that I will get hurt or lost. I have been in speech therapy and have a lot more words now but still use a lot of gestures and pictures to communicate with people. I can only eat food in the form that I first meet it which means I still eat baby food and have trouble eating out unless they serve eggs which I love! I also can't sleep very well and most nights end up in my mommy and daddy's room; I have a lot of night terrors and can't go back to sleep very well on my own. After lots of tests my doctors decided I have a form of autism called PDD-NOS and some Sensory Integration problems. When I don't know what to do now I look for my blankie and pacifier or my parents. My parents have to help me a lot which is sometimes hard on my sister because my parents don't want her to have to grow up too fast or miss out on activities because they are afraid I will get too scared or upset.
We applied and are very grateful that we have been accepted into the program. In order for me to qualify to receive a dog, we need to raise $13,000 for 4 Paws for Ability. After we raise the money, my doggie angel will be chosen for me, and then we'll get to go to our own training which will be tough but a lot of fun and we just can't wait. My dog will be trained just for me. He will be trained primarily in tracking to help my family find me if I get lost or wander off, tethering which is a cool anchor system that will help keep me from bolting in public, and behavior disruption so that I can learn to calm down on my own. Daddy says this isn't a cure, but it will give me another coping mechanism and that its going to really help our family. Mommy says its going to improve my quality of life and give me and my sister a chance to just be a kids. We have a website if you'd like more information or just want to see some more pictures, just ask my grandma if my sister and I are cute kids. You can find us at A Dog for Caden. If you would like to make a donation you can donate online at 4 Paws for Ability or you can mail your check or money order to 4 Paws For Ability, Inc., 253 Dayton Avenue, Xenia, Ohio 45385. Just please make sure that you mark your donation In Honor of Caden Butler Modaff so that I receive credit towards my requirement. All donations are tax deductible; I don't know what taxes are but I hear daddy talk about them a lot so this must be important! If you ask me if I want a service dog, I would probably say “"No," but I say "No" to everything, even if I really mean "Yes." Trust me, I can't wait to get my service dog, and maybe it will even help me say "Yes" when mommy asks me if I love her. Welcome to Tali's World
A healthy baby girl...or so they said. She was learning above her age. Shortly after the age of one she started to have seizures. The doctors didn't know why. Mom searched for a doctor to tell her why Tali was having seizures. After many doctors, a lot of tests, and a lot of seizures, Mom did find one doctor to tell her that with the markings on her body and the MRI testing, Tali had Tuberous Sclerosis. Continuing...Tali, now age two-and-a-half, has lost her ability to talk and drink out of a cup, along with other things at that age due to seizures. As the years have gone by we have had a lot of Speech and Occupational Therapy (OT). Tali is now 15 years old. And has found out recently that she has three brain tumors. Doctors have tried all seizure medication. None work to stop them. The Ketigenic Diet, which did work, but had to be stopped because it became too dangerous. Now she has paralyzed vocal cords. Tali has to raise a total of $15,000.00 for a Multipurpose Assistance Dog. Trained in Seizure Alert, Behavior Disruption, Tracking, and Tethering.
Also, a multipurpose service dog offers more freedom to her parents by allowing them to shop and do other things around the house with little worry about having a seizure without warning. What a way to ensure that and the child is much safer...and less stressed. All donations you are making are in the honor of Tali and are made to: 4 PAWS FOR ABILITY If you could please include Tali Radicke's name on the memo line on the check or money order or on the website Donation page, so 4 Paws for Ability will know where the donation should go...Thank you from Tali's family. Up, Up, and Away! is JT's motto!
I I'm also a very independent kid who loves to get up and go - away - as fast as I can. I've managed to get away from my school aides and my parents on several occasions. I like to visit the local parks and make friends with strangers, particularly other dads and granddads. My family would like your help to get me an autism service dog to keep me out of trouble and away from the neighborhood pond. You can do this by sending a tax-free donation in my honor to 4 Paws for Ability. Thank you. Multiple disabilities mean Khiera needs a seizure service dog
As you can imagine Kheira has dealt with SO many problems in her life already, and has many more to come. Her first 2 surgeries happened when she was only 19 hours old! They were to close the hole in her spine and to place a "vp shunt" into her skull to drain the water from her brain and keep it at a certain level. She has had 8 other surgeries, mostly on her hips, because they keep popping out of place. When she has hip surgeries she has to be in a cast that goes from her toes all the way up to her chest. Kheira is small for her age and very delayed. She has NO problem making friends though, but the kids her age tend to run off to play leaving Kheira sitting in her wheelchair watching. The biggest challenge with Kheira's disability is the seizures. Although they are getting less severe to where she doesn't need to go to the hospital each time, they are becoming more frequent. The longest one she has ever had lasted an hour and 45 minutes. She has been life flighted to Akron Children's hospital 4 times for seizures. Now her seizures only last up to 3 minutes at the most but she has them EVERY day, as many as 9 in one single day.
Here's where you come in! WE NEED HELP! We found this AMAZING organization called 4 Paws for Ability; they provide service dogs for any child with a disability. Many service dog organizations do not place dogs with children, so you can imagine our excitement to finally find one who did! We have committed to 4Paws to fundraise the amount of money it takes to train this special dog for Kheira. Some of the things the dog will do for her are:
Any donation is helpful. It doesn't matter if it's $1 or the entire $14,000. Every penny counts. Please make checks payable to 4 Paws for Ability and note that the donation is "in honor of Kheira McClanahan" on the memo line of your check. Mail it to 253 Dayton Ave. Xenia, Ohio 45385. Or go to www.4pawsforability.org to make an online donation in Kheira's honor. All donations are tax deductible. Thank you so much for your help! The McClanahan Family Heart defects and Asperger's fail to slow down rambunctious Benjamin!
Benjamin was born with 3 major heart defects. When he was a week old he had open-heart surgery to correct two of his heart defects. Two years later he had to have another heart surgery to correct the third heart defect. The next day after coming home from his second heart surgery his little sister came into the world and changed his life again.
Let us explain the picture of the children in the dog crate. Last year we rescued a golden lab named Jack from the shelter in Tupelo, MS. He was an amazing dog and Benjamin and Emily adore him.
Benjamin also has what is called Sensory Processing Disorder. This is where his senses are heightened and he has a hard time with loud noises and bright lights. A service dog would also help him deal with these problems. He also has a little problem of running!! The problem is he likes to run out of the car and into the parking lot when we go to the store. The dog would be great to help him slow down and be more aware of what is going on. When we heard about 4 Paws we were so excited! We finally could get some help. It was such a relief to know that one day Benjamin would have a special friend to sleep with him and keep him company. This organization is amazing! If you could help Benjamin get this special friend that could help him, please donate to "4 Paws for Ability"” and write "in honor of Benjamin Shawa" on the check. Thanks to everyone for your prayers, love and support! Isaac Egan battles anxiety
Last year, when most children were excited about transitioning from school into summer, he was so overwhelmed, he couldn't eat for three weeks. Part of Asperger's Syndrome is the inability to read social clues. He has no idea why other children don't want to play with him. Adding to this problem, he will rock gently or make noises when he's in a situation he isn't prepared for.
Having a loving and loyal companion will improve Isaac's quality of life immensely; and maybe having a side-kick will help him gain back some of the confidence he's lost. The dog will be able to help disrupt self-stimming behaviors like making loud noises or rocking, by putting a paw or a laying furry head on him. I pray that the calming effect of the dog will help Isaac sleep, and the persistent dark circles under his eyes will finally disappear. We are so excited at the thought of watching Isaac learn and grow with his new best friend.
He is very smart, however he doesn't have a sense of fear. Andrew doesn't know to wait for a car coming, or not to run off. He is an "escape artist." Even though we have multiple locks on our home doors, he still manages to get out. A service dog will provide added safety for Andrew. It will also provide a companionship that he lacks with other children. With a service dog, we will be able to go out in public as a family. Russellville Family Seeks Four-Legged Solution
Ten-year-old Matthew Shatterly has faced many challenges in his life. He has developmental delays and High-Functioning Autism. Children with Autism tend to wander away, and they are unaware of environmental dangers such as traffic, bodies of water, or the ill-intentions of a stranger. Matthew needs a strong companion at his side EVERY DAY who is trained to provide the special assistance he needs. In addition to providing constant companionship and unwavering friendship, these 4-legged wonders are specially trained in tethering and tracking (i.e., search and rescue). Based in Xenia, OH, 4 Paws for Ability strives to provide service dogs to families and children who struggle with life's daily challenges and who would otherwise be turned away by many other agencies. 4 Paws trains a variety of assistance dogs, included but not limited to: seizure assistance, mobility assistance, hearing ear dogs, and autism assistance dogs. Some of the dogs even serve a little time in the Rover Prison Rehab Program as a stepping stone to becoming a certified service dog. You can help bring some magic to Matthew's life by making a tax-deductible donation to 4 Paws for Ability. Please indicate on your check's memo line that it is "in honor of Matthew Shatterly." For additional information, please contact Jason or Dea Shatterly at (479) 280-0452 or e mail them at hoggirl@gmail.com. To contact 4 Paws directly, call, (937) 374-0385 or visit their website at www.4pawsforability.org.
I am extremely curious which is why we have extra locks on the doors so that I can't wander off and explore alone. I realize I am different in many ways but my mom reminds me that it's okay because everyone's different. My parents are so proud of me and the progress that I have made; I just need some extra help. An autism service dog will give us that help adding support, security, and unconditional friendship, which will help me on so many levels. 4 Paws for Ability have approved my application to receive an autism service dog. 4 Paws for Ability is a non-profit (501c3) organization taking the 'dis' out of disability by providing trained service dogs with people in need. My service dog will be trained in behavior modification, tethering, and tracking which will help me feel calm and connected, while helping my family feel more secure.
With your help, I can receive a service dog within 9-12 months after our fundraising is complete, unlike other agencies that would put us on a 5-year waiting list. 4 Paws for Ability asks us to work with them in the fundraising process as a volunteer to fundraise the cost of training one dog. If you donate in honor of Zachary Findall you'll not only be supporting a wonderful organization but your tax-deductible donation will help us qualify to receive a service dog for Zachary. Make your checks payable to 4 Paws for Ability and please be sure to reference "In honor of Zachary Findall" in the memo portion of the check or in the special instructions box online at www.4pawsforability.org. My family and I are so grateful for your support.
Dylan was generally a happy baby. He met all his milestones: sitting by four months, rolling over, crawling by seven months, and walking a couple days after his first birthday. By two, he was saying one-word phrases, could go through his A-Z book, tell you all the colors and names of the pictures, and say most of the alphabet.
By three-and-a-half, Dylan started losing more and more of the already limited vocabulary he had, and on top of that we thought he was having a hearing problem: we'd call him over and over and he would not respond. He finally had a hearing test, and the results came back fine. Then there became less and less eye contact; many times it was like he was looking right past/thru you. At a loss, we were told that he was a boy, that boys are usually slower, and he'd improve once he got into school. So, we just tried to shift and focus on getting him ready for kindergarten. During this time, to our surprise, we found out we were expecting another baby. It was a happy surprise but also scary. Here we were, lost as to what was going on with Dylan, and now he was going to have a sibling. At this time too, he slowed down his eating. But he still needed to use a certain kind of sippy bottle or he would literally not drink. In addition, he'd bolt, often running into the street or parking lot. We've had SO many frightful moments losing him. And, a few times he got lost at our local mall where security had to be called upon. I had to buy a stroller with a stand on/ sit on plate just so I could make sure he'd be close by. At four years old we tried to get him registered for kindergarten, but were told if he was not able to follow directions and go to the bathroom himself we should probably hold him back. I was disappointed, and now with a new baby, taking Dylan to private preschool was not only costing money but it was becoming difficult to take him to school. I had to leave the baby in the car as I had to drag Dylan out of the car kicking and screaming to the gate, and when I got to the door, sometimes it took the staff 15-20 minutes to get him from me. By now, exhausted with no extended family and two young ones to care for; everyday after I dropped Dylan off my heart ached more and more. Often, I would cry myself to sleep feeling like I was a horrible mom!
A couple of days later, the director of the district called to set up an appointment for a specialist to go to Dylan's preschool to evaluate him. Dylan had reached a peak and we found out that he was autistic, which we confirmed with a neurologist in 2007 at Stanford. It was a shock, and we went through the blame game, guilt etc. But, to this day we are ever so grateful to the school district for jumping in when they did and finally giving us an answer to our justified concerns! Dylan has been in the SDC class in his school district for five years now. He has come a LONG way from where he was and the teachers have each nurtured his growth. But, as a fifth grader he is still far below the average and his comprehension is a tough challenge this year, with word problems in general. He has few friends, and can still get fixated on something he likes and be very repetitive. Other kids shy away and Dylan isn't too aware of socializing.
By two years, Casey was still not talking much (just jargon). We were fortunate, though, as Dylan's teachers and therapist were also keeping an eye on Casey's development, and when he turned three, their concern prompted approval for Casey to get into speech therapy. We thought Casey was just echoing Dylan at first. Then, after about the fifth month the therapist mentioned more repetitive jargon and behavior, and I mentioned at home sudden tantrums began to pop up more frequently. The red flag came up full throttle after I'd mentioned Casey having a meltdown while he would bang his head on the floor. And, of course hand flapping when extremely excited. So, he was re-evaluated and tested and in Jan. 2007 Casey was diagnosed with borderline autism. He has been one very lucky boy, and because of Dylan's teacher and staff he was able to get that window of opportunity that Dylan missed. He was put into a preschool socializing class 2x a week with speech therapy 2x and put into the SDC summer preschool class. This earlier intervention has made such a huge difference that Casey is blossoming so much more!
Dylan had no memory of our dog, and after an unfortunate incident with friends' three BIG dogs he started to develop a sort of phobia of all dogs. But, we occasionally talked about it, and we continued making occasional attempts to keep exposing Dylan especially. He's skittish with our friends' dog but loves to play fetch with him every week after his piano lesson. I'd heard about service dogs for autistic children and that's where our journey eventually led us to 4 Paws for Ability. Having no idea about service dogs; I looked into a handful of websites and after an infomercial on TV started emailing and looking into 4 Paws and a few other providers. The discouraging aspects to the other providers unfortunately was the very LONG waiting lists but most importantly, the dog could only be trained for one child. So, after another TV special aired I contacted Karen via email expressing my concerns. After a year of delay and putting it off the final push came when Dylan (now 10) got lost at the great mall. He walked out of Dave & Busters and ended up halfway across the mall in the food court sitting in a coin operated car! I contacted Karen again about getting a service dog to be trained for both our sons and she told me we could! And, we are now approved for placement for a 4 Paws autism service dog that is going to be trained specifically to meet Dylan and Casey's needs.
He is an only child, adopted at birth. His family has seen him interact with other dogs and knows that for him to get an Autism Service dog would benefit him greatly. Alexander has been accepted to receive an autism service dog from 4 Paws for Ability, Inc. 4 Paws will train a dog specifically for Alexander's needs. Here's how it would work for him:
You can help make Alexander's family's dream come true by making a tax-deductible donation to:
Two years ago Whit was diagnosed with Autism and Global developmental delays. Autism is a neurological disorder that affects 1 out of every 156 children in the U.S. How it manifests in each child varies. Whit does not understand danger. He cannot be trusted to stay near us while in public. He must either be in a stroller, shopping cart, or be held tightly by the hand. He is old enough now that he dislikes all of these options and avoids them whenever and however he can. Whit often runs away when we get him out of the car, sometimes going straight into the street. Other times he runs away without any clear direction. Unlike other kids, he will not always come back when his name is called. Instead, he may run away faster. Whit does not recognize strangers as potential danger. Simple day-to-day acts that we take for granted like brushing our teeth or wearing clothes are often too much for Whit to handle. When Whit is overwhelmed he screams. If we can't fix whatever is bothering him fast enough he escalates to hurting himself, hitting his head or biting his hands in frustration. We recently applied and were approved for an Autism Assistance dog for Whit. 4 Paws for Ability is a 501c3 non-profit that works to place highly trained service dogs in the hands of disabled children and adults. An Autism Assistance dog is trained in Behavior Disruption. When Whit is engaged in repetitive or self injurious behaviors the dog intervenes by nudging him or comforting him by snuggling. The dog is trained to have Whit tethered to him when out in public. This serves the dual purposes of keeping Whit safe and giving him the independence he so desperately wants and needs. Autism Assistance Dogs are trained in tracking (search and rescue skills) which could be the difference between minutes vs. hours of looking for Whit should he run away or hide from us. Other organizations that offer Autism assistance dogs have 3-5 year waiting lists, but 4 Paws for Ability has found a way to speed up the process. Parents commit to raising the $13,000 needed to train a service dog rather than waiting for the organization to raise the funds for them. By taking on this responsibility, we avoid a long waiting list and get Whit the help he needs now. Whenever possible 4 Paws for Ability trains dogs found at rescue groups and shelters, providing a second chance for a dog who otherwise might never have a home. We can't raise $13,000 alone; we need the help of our community. Please consider making a tax deductible donation to 4 Paws for Ability in honor of our son Whit Warren. For more information on Whit, click here, and to see a video of his story, click here. Help Wanted: Must Be Friendly, Intelligent, Well Trained, Have Four Legs, and Furry!
Ruben was diagnosed with Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD), a defect in the ventricular septum - the wall dividing the left and right ventricles of the heart. He was also diagnosed with Patent Ductess Arteriosis (PDA). In a persistent PDA, such as Ruben's, there is an irregular transmission of blood between the two most important arteries in close proximity to the heart. He was also diagnosed with delayed growth of the skeletal and muscular systems resulting in a slower growth rate, poor/weak fine and gross motor skills, scoliosis, speech delays (even though he has an extensive vocabulary), and torticollis.
Out of sheer determination by Ruben, along with his family, friends, and caregivers, Ruben was able to prove the doctors wrong. Everyone who knows Ruben also knows that he is very bright and full of life, he just had to find a way to overcome. By the time Ruben was four, he was speaking and comprehending above his age level. He showed great interest and a high level of understanding in all things mechanical. At the time, we didn't know it, but Ruben was showing classic signs of Asperger's Syndrome (AS). AS is known by many as High Functioning Autism. Although he was able to come out of his shell and is thought to be "normal" by those who only see him on a limited basis, Ruben struggles every day with the symptoms of AS. Children with Autism tend to wander and are unaware of environmental dangers such as traffic, deep water, or the ill intentions of a stranger. When withdrawn within himself, he will not be aware of his environment or respond when called. Ruben has a very hard time connecting with his peers. His personality may seem dry and rigid, causing some children his age to consider him "weird" and be put off. Stimming and repetitive activities are also symptoms of Autism that tend to draw attention. Stimming is usually characterized by an inability to remain still and include actions such as; swinging the arms, hand flapping, pacing, rocking, facial or muscular ticks (reminiscent of Tourette Syndrome), vocal noises, etc. Ruben's stimming is very noticeable and affects the way others view him. Such social awkwardness, along with hypersensitivity to sensory stimulation, make the day-to-day actions most people take for granted an exercise in dedication and constant work for Ruben. Today Ruben is in a mainstream 6th grade classroom. He has accomplished so much over a short period of time, and dispelled the grim prognosis given to him, including a suggestion to institutionalize him. He is completely aware that he is different from his peers, however that does not stop him.
The cost to properly train an amazing dog like this is $13,000. Although most organizations offer "free" service dogs, Ruben would be put on a waiting list years long while they raised the funds to cover the costs of training. 4 Paws For Ability understands the urgency parents have to get assistance to their children. Because of this, they have made it possible for the parents to participate in the fundraising, eliminating the long and often frustrating waiting list for a "free" service animal. You can help bring magic to Ruben's life by making your tax-deductible donation to 4 Paws For Ability on Ruben's name. You can mail checks directly to 4 Paws at:
This will be the first service dog of its kind to be placed in Southeast Alabama. Thank you, Wiregrass, for making this a wonderful community to live, work, and play in. We will be organizing several fund raisers to help us reach our goal. No one wishing to help will be turned away. There is no job too big or too small. Thank you so much for helping out a child in your community and helping to raise awareness of Autism and how children can overcome.
Skyler has trouble crossing the street on his own, he has big temper tantrums when he is frustrated, and will throw things or hit others. He has been found in the apartment building screaming, burying himself in the rocks in the planters, and acting like he didn’t know where he was. Skyler loves matchbox cars, Legos, and movies. He plays alone but would love to play with others. Sometimes he doesn’t know how to act around other kids and ends up hitting them. An Autism Assistance Dog would be a strong companion for Skyler, trained to provide the special assistance he needs. The assistance dog would accompany Skyler everywhere, acting as a safety feature. Based in Xenia, Ohio,4 Paws For Ability is a non-profit organization that provides service dogs to families and individuals. 4 Paws trains a variety of assistance dogs, including but not limited to seizure assistance, mobility assistance, hearing ear dogs, FASD dogs, and autism assistance dogs. 4 Paws was the first agency to place skilled autism assistance dogs and continues to be the largest organization that provides this type of assistance in the United States. 4 Paws is the only organization that places autism assistance dogs with search and rescue skills. Here are some of the ways Skyler's life will change when he has an Autism Assistance dog:
We would love to have you help us by contributing toward the training of a service dog for Skyler. You can send a check to this address (please be sure to reference Skyler Kratz on the check or donation link): 4 Paws For Ability, Inc.
For my son, the dog would provide safety, social and emotional needs. Right now Owen has a stuffed dog that he takes everywhere. He has been asking me for a dog for years. His therapists use his stuffed dog as a motivational tool. Owen is a very happy little boy and has a lot of enthusiasm. He wants friends very badly, and it can be difficult with his language delay. He also has a lot of anxiety and sensory issues. He tries very hard and never gives up, but there is much he is not able to do which can be very frustrating.
Three times I have heard her choking or just happened to check on her while she was having a seizure while on her back. When she has a seizure and is on her back her airway is blocked. After a seizure she falls into a deep sleep. I'm constantly afraid that I will wake up one morning and find Annabelle died because I didn't hear her when she had a seizure at night. To have a dog that could alert me to her seizure would allow me to actually sleep at night without the guilt and fear. An assistance dog could save her life. We all love dogs and the the assistant dog would be a huge source of comfort. I can't fully express the joy a multipurpose assistant dog would bring to our entire family. You can help us by making a tax-deductible donation to 4 Paws for Ability in honor of Owen and Annabelle Luschei. For more information about Owen and Annabelle you can contact Angie Luschei. And here's a special website we put up to keep track of your generous donations. Thank You for reading about our family and helping us make our family's dream come true. Angie Luschei.
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Autism is a neurological disorder that affects his perception of the world around him and his response to others and the environment in which he lives. Michael loves to run from his parents, he thinks it is funny, a game; but this love of running has nearly gotten Michael run over several times. Michael has also escaped from his home and back yard on several occasions and once in the mall. This is a terrifying experience for his parents and also for his siblings. Michael is also non verbal. He typically will not respond when his name is called and cannot tell you his name or where he lives.
This dog will be trained to accompany him everywhere, to track him if he gets lost, and will be tethered to him to prevent him from running away. The dog will be trained to comfort Michael and help him calm himself when he is frustrated. It would also act as a “social magnet” making it easier for other children to approach Michael and make friends. Michael’s parents (Adam and Jamie Ewing) and his sisters (Angela, 8 and Jana, 18 months) are asking for your help to raise the funds necessary to train Michael’s dog.
However he struggles with something that most of those children don't. Jude has struggled with behavioral issues all of his life, and this is often obvious to people around him. He has an independent spirit and a curious nature, which often puts him in harm's way. From a very young age, he's been an excellent escape artist. However he has little sense or understanding of environmental dangers, such as drowning, traffic, or the ill intentions of a stranger. Most children would respond or run towards a familiar voice in such a situation. Jude would likely not run towards them, and may in fact run the other way. Jude was born with Autism. It is a neurological disorder that is more and more heard of yet still widely misunderstood. Autism affects the areas of the brain controlling language, social interaction, and creative and abstract thinking. He actually has a very large vocabulary, but does not always use it properly. Since he often needs the proper prompts and cues to express himself, it can be difficult for him to communicate his needs or wants. He also relies on familiarity and scripting in attempt to converse with others. In addition, his brain has difficulty processing the sensory information that he perceives. Many times sights, sounds, smells, and touch can overwhelm him. This usually leads to outbursts and a desire to flee the situation.
Jude's family accepts all of these differences as part of who he is. This acceptance doesn't lessen the stress they constantly feel, especially in situations that can be potentially dangerous for him, like any public place. It doesn't make it any easier to ignore the dirty looks, and disapproving glances from people who don't know Jude. Individuals that simply see a child who is screaming, crying, running away, or being dangerous. It's easy for them to assume that he's just a brat or that he has bad parents, because despite his having a handicap there's no outward evidence of it. His family's acceptance though, leads to one thing, a single goal for his life - his happiness. This is where you can help. Jude has been accepted to receive a service dog from 4 Paws for Ability, Inc. Based in Xenia, Ohio, 4 Paws For Ability, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, strives to provide service dogs to families and children that struggle with life's daily challenges and who would otherwise be turned away by many other agencies. 4 Paws trains a variety of assistance dogs, including but not limited to seizure assistance, mobility assistance, hearing ear and autism assistance dogs. Some of the dogs even serve a little time in the Rover Prison Rehab Program as a stepping-stone to becoming certified service dogs. Jude has qualified for an Autism Assistance dog. As Jude's family raises money for 4 Paws for Ability, they earn a point for every dollar. When they reach their pledged goal of 13,000 points, 4 Paws for Ability will begin training a dog specifically for Jude's needs. In potentially dangerous situations, Jude will be tethered to the dog to prevent him from running away. The dog will assist Jude with therapy, provide sensory input, interrupt undesired behaviors, and be a comforting and calming companion. It would also act as a "social magnet," making it easier for other children to approach Jude. The dog will also be trained as in search and rescue, to track and find him if and when he would run away. It would also be a huge source of relief for Jude's family, empowering them to lead a fuller, happier life. "We have discovered a magic that exists between children and dogs, a magic that can become a life-saving miracle for a child paired with one of our Autism Assistance Dogs," states the 4 Paws website. You can help make their dreams come true by making a tax deductible donation to 4 Paws For Ability, 253 Dayton Ave. Xenia, OH 45385; just make sure to write in Jude Bell's name in the memo of the check. ### For additional information contact Colleen and Josiah Bell at (573) 749-3522 or email them at colleen@4pawsforjude.com or visit their website. To contact 4 Paws for Ability directly call (937) 374-0385 or visit their website.
After giving birth to my third son, David, I knew something was not right. My little guy was treated and released for dehydration a few times and admitted for testing twice. The only thing found was an emptying delay. He was diagnosed with reflux and put on medication. At three months, he was put on Nasal Gastric tube feedings. Nights were endless with belly pain resulting in screams of anguish. The doctors tried their best, but nothing worked. After I became critically ill and landed in the hospital, a woman told me about nursing services I might use to help with David. That service sent a wonderful nurse and she spent 10 hours a night helping me for about two years. David had his G-tube placed January 2005. We still were hoping that he would grow out of this, but we didn't know what "this" was. Time passed. David suffered with many ear infections, colds, congestion, and pneumonia. He had long, uncomfortable nights. We felt so helpless. David never ate baby food, besides what we would smear in his mouth in an effort to provide some nutrition. We wanted him to eat so badly, and it was hard to see him scream and cry when we would try. When he was three, he started to accept French fries perhaps twice a month in small amounts and then Ritz crackers and Cheetos…and eventually the cheese off pizza. Right now he eats either no food in a day or, at the most, a quarter of a cup of the foods I mentioned. He can't talk very well, so we don't know the reasons for all of this.
David was put in the hospital because he developed Gastroparesis. They had to put a nasal gastric decompression tube in to release the pressure in his stomach. We were relieved that David responded to other treatment measures and surgery was not necessary. At that point, we wanted to go home and we blamed food for David's agony. We did, however, return to the hospital's feeding program, and completed it. The best part about the program is that they got David to sit quietly in front of food. They also got him to take bits of Trix yogurt! David is on his feeding pump every three or four hours for an hour, four times a day. He is doing well, and looks good, and we pray that some day he will thrive on his own. David will be going to Kennedy Kreiger Hospital in late 2008 for a two-month inpatient program. Now on to why we applied to 4 Paws for Ability for an autism service dog trained in search and rescue. He runs away. We've lost him on several occasions. It's hard to believe how fast he is. I always have to be a step ahead of him because just when I think he will stay, he's gone. David has no idea about strangers and he treats every place like its home. He just learned how to open the front door of the house and no matter what kind of blocks we put up, he figures a way to get around them. He won't hold our hands. Either he's gone or makes a spontaneous decision to chase a butterfly into the road or mix in with a nearby group of kids. David sleeps in our bed and refuses to sleep without us, and our hope is that he will feel secure enough to sleep in his own bed with his service dog. David loves dogs, but has no clue that he could actually bring one home to keep and to wake up to in the morning. Having a service dog will change David's life; he will be happier and safer, and may be more able to socialize. We will breathe easier knowing he has a best friend that will be there for him and vice versa. Some of David's behaviors are just starting, and we hope that we can teach him safety along the way. He has learned some things, but we have a long road ahead. We need your help to raise the funds for David's dog. All money is tax deductible and goes to 4 Paws for Ability in David's name. If you can help, please either go to the 4 Paws for Ability website and click on "donate," or mail a check to: 4 Paws for Ability A Little Boy's Hope for a 4-Pawed Friend
I have Autism. I'm not really sure what that is, but I get really scared when I am alone or in the middle of the night. When I get really upset or scared, I become dis-orient-ed and can hurt myself. Sometimes for no good reason, I will just go for a walk or a run. It's fun. My mommy doesn't like it too much though. I really like the water, but I can't swim at all. I'm taking classes, but sometimes my teacher sounds like Charlie Brown's teacher and I don't understand her. The lifeguard at the YMCA looks funny when she jumps in after me. I keep her on her toes. I like people too, and no one would ever hurt me. Cars are cool, and fast, and I like to run after them. Mommy doesn't like that either. My mommy says a friend from 4 Paws could really help make me feel safe and keep me safe. My friend could go places with me, and help keep me from being scared at night, and even help mommy find me if I wander away. I just lost a pet dog a few months ago, she use to keep me safe, so I can't wait to get a new friend… Will you help me get a new friend? Thank you for reading about me… bye!
My new friend can also help me at home by sleeping with me. I hate to sleep by myself, I get scared (but don't tell anyone, ok?). My friends at 4-paws have said they will try to find a special Autism Assistance Dog for me to take to school with me and be my new friend. If you would like to help me get my new friend that would be GREAT!! You can send money to 4-paws for ability and put my name on it and it will count towards me getting my new friend. Thanks so much for reading about me. Love, Josh.
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The disorders listed here
Hi, my name is Benjamin Babboni, and I was selected to receive a multipurpose service dog from 4 Paws for Ability. 4 Paws is a wonderful non-profit organization that places service dogs with kids with disabilities. My goal is to help raise $13,000 on behalf of 4 Paws for Ability so they may continue to place service dogs with kids.
Jessica is Amazing, Hilarious, Bright, Brave, and the light of my life. She is also a four-year-old little girl who was born with Down Syndrome, Visual Impairment, Hypotonia, and Severe Congenital Heart Defects. Jessica has faced several obstacles, but there are many more to come in her life. We would do anything to make these impending challenges easier for her to overcome. With your help Jessica could receive a service dog from 4 Paws for Ability to assist her.
As Jessica gets older it becomes harder and harder to prevent her wandering, she seems to figure out all the locks and gates!
Graceanne Marie D'Alberto is a seven-year-old with severe development disabilities. She has been seen by some of the top pediatric physicians in the country at Boston's Children's Hospital and Cleveland Clinic, yet she still remains undiagnosed.
Recently Gracie experienced some of the joys of a service dog at school. In this environment, she reached out to the dog, and was open to the attention. The experience had a very calming effect on her behavior. After a professional recommended a service dog could be beneficial
for Gracie, we learned more about how these loving animals could drastically change her quality of life.
Tess Tuhy is a happy, highly energetic seven-year old girl with a personality much larger than her tiny size. She would like nothing better than to have a dog as a companion. Tess absolutely loves dogs and has a friend with an In-Home Companion Dog from 4 Paws. It brings Tess great joy to spend time with Aubrey, her friend's companion dog. Tess's life is beautiful, with many challenges. 
Tess receives growth hormone injections every night and will continue to do so until she is 13 years old. At the age of 7, she stands at the average height of a four-year-old. Even at this young age, kids can be cruel; one can only imagine the anxiety that this causes her each day. After a day at school, she finds it almost impossible to focus on her homework and manage the demands of home-life that would otherwise be effortless for most children. As a result of the daily challenges Tess faces, her companion dog will be trained in behavior disruption to assist in calming and redirecting her as needed. 
Zach, our son, is six years old. Since he was a baby, he has been having seizures. It has been a difficult road trying to figure out what medications help Zach lessen the number of seizures that he has on a daily basis. His doctor has told us that the medications may never be able to completely control the seizures that he experiences. Currently with the medications he is on, he is only having three to four seizures a day compared to days where he has had 21 seizures in one day.
Moira Carrano is a 4th grade student at Mendel Elementary School, Yokota AB, Japan. She was diagnosed with Autism when she was 18 months old. Like other children her age, Moira enjoys riding her bike, swimming, playing with toys, and being with family. 
By Jamie Liebzeit. My child Kameron, will be nine this October 2010! He's beautiful, funny, caring, compassionate, smart, loving, loves pets, is full of energy and happens to be on the autism spectrum called PDD/NOS. Unfortunately, Kameron also has a number of other issues like ADHD, ODD, Learning Disabilities, Anxiety, Asthma, and is Emotionally Impaired. This all also makes him feel anxious, irritable, worried, scared, annoyed, over-sensitive, hesitant, angry and alone. He is also very sensitive to loud noise.
Kameron has two brothers; Austin 10 years old and Prestin 6 years old. Austin also has ADHD and tries to help Kameron out as much as he can. Since Kameron refuses to be in any room alone, Austin often goes to bed with him, takes him to the bathroom, and helps him to calm down when he's anxious. Austin said, "I just need a break, I need to play with my friends. I sure hope he gets a service dog!" Prestin also has ADHD. He just loves to play, and is a bundle of energy. I really need to spend more time with Prestin, but Kameron requires a great deal of my time. I am a single mom that can't be in three places at once. I think this service dog would be great. I would be able to spend quality time with all three of my children.
We hope that by providing Kameron an "autism dog" we will all be able to alleviate some of the stress in our lives. The dog would be able to fulfill many of Kameron's emotional needs, by being a constant companion for him. I'm sure his brother's will also appreciate not being followed around all the time! The service dog would accompany Kameron around the house and in his school, allowing him to be less fearful going from room to room. Hopefully, Kameron will finally be able to stay in his own bed the entire night since he will have his "companion" with him. Kameron would never feel alone, or afraid to wake up in an empty room.
Meet Piper. To anyone who doesn't know her, they may think she is like any other pre-schooler, but she isn't. Piper has Autism and Sensory Perception Disorder. We noticed the changes started when she turned 18 months old, at which point she began acting deaf.
Not only will the Autism Service Dog be able to go everywhere with Piper to help her feel comfortable in the "Big Scary World," but the dog will also be trained in tethering to help us in public. Both the dog and Piper will wear special harnesses so they can walk together without fear of her running away when she gets overwhelmed, as she still does not respond to her name.
My name is Laurie, and I am a mother of an eight-year-old girl, Geneva Powell. 
Hi. My name is Angel Solis. I'm six years old. I love playing soccer and gymnastics, and I enjoy drawing and doing puzzles.
I have hard time at school because I been diagnosed with Hyperactivity Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Learning Disorder, Sensory Hypersensitivity, ADHD and Aspergers, and it's hard for me to communicate and express my feelings. When I can't do this I get very frustrated, and I cry and scream a lot.
Caleb started out life with the hardest battle any child could have. He was born at 24 weeks gestation weighing 1lb 6oz. He was one of 3 triplets. He has a surviving brother, Ayden. Caleb endured every problem a micro-preemie could encounter. He has a long list of illness he has overcome that it would have been understandable if he did not survive. After 4 months and 11 days, 3 surgeries and escaping death by a thread multiple times in the NICU he came home with a heart and lung monitor and on constant oxygen.
We understand his diagnosis can be a result of his difficult start and also genetic. He is an extremely loving child with a huge heart of gold. He was nicknamed the “Mayor” of his preschool because everyone on the staff loved him. He has never met a person that did not smile from ear to ear after receiving one of his hugs. 
By Christa Rentz. Meet our son Tristan. He is a four-year-old boy who is full of love and determination. When Tristan was only four months old he began to have numerous sudden "jerks." After numerous tests we found out that Tristan's quick "jerks" were seizures. Next thing we know his seizures increased and he was having 200-500 seizures in a 24-hour period.
By Kristen Current. Drake Current, age 24 months (May 2010), has epilepsy. He had his first seizure at nine months of age. We took him to the ER, but by the time we arrived, he had regained all normal function. After listening to what had happened, the ER doc felt it had been a seizure. They did a CT scan, which was normal.
For five months things were great. No more seizures! But we noticed that he was not making any more developmental gains. Before we had a chance to mention that to his doctors, he had yet another status tonic-clonic seizure, but thankfully this time, only a three-day hospital stay. Another EEG and MRI. The MRI was normal. But the EEG showed something this time. He was finally given the official diagnosis of epilepsy.
He's happy to go to the park or to play with friends. However, a 10-minute trip to a store is a nightmare every time. We now try to take turns going places, so one parent can stay home with Drake whenever possible. If we both must go somewhere at the same time/together, we do everything we can to find a babysitter to stay with him at home. 
I am the mother of a beautiful girl, Jacey Brooks, who has autism. Let me tell you a little bit about Jacey. She will be turning three in June 2010. She was diagnosed with Autism on February 2nd, 2010. That is a day that will forever be with me. The diagnosis was devastating, yet relieving; it was overwhelming, it was surreal.
Jacey loves animals and bonds with them so well. I would love for her to have an Autism Service Dog that could give her the love and comfort that she doesn't seek from us as much as from animals.
Five-year-old Bradley Shonkwiler was three when he was diagnosed with autism. In his situation, he doesn't speak, or indicate when he's hurt, hungry, or upset. He just "acts out," and his parents are left trying to figure out what's wrong.
My name is Mimi Reyes, I am nine years old I was born with a very rare chromosomal disorder called 9 p minus syndrome, which means that the short arm of my ninth chromosome was deleted when I was conceived. It's how God made me special. With this comes some issues that I face that other children don't face. I have seizures all day every day.
I also have what's called sensory integration disorder what that means is that my nervous system cannot handle all of the sensory stimulation that is in the world all at once. So right now as you're reading this, the a/c might be on, people around you might be talking, a motorcycle might go by and make a roarrrrrr and your brain tells your body, "Hey it's okay..." My brain cannot sort the senses coming in fast enough for me to understand it. Through behavior therapy I am learning how to deal with this part of myself, but believe me it's very tough...
The service dog will cost 4 Paws for Ability $22,000 to train and place. This program has a very unique approach to the placement process and allows the family to raise $15,000 for the agency so the agency does not have to place their kids on a waiting list. 
Mason Ohler is a fun, energetic, and friendly child who will be attending kindergarten in the fall. Mason was born in September 2004 and everything was wonderful, he was a sweet quiet baby. But in November 2006 Mason's life was changed. 
Mason had had multiple EEGs done. In the past we were not able to capture seizure activity during the tests. This changed in 2009, Mason had to have a stress EEG and he had five occurrences on the EEG. This was both good and bad news. Good because we had finally caught the type and location, bad because Mason was past the five-year mark
and we knew this was permanent. 
Mason has also started to have some behaviors which we believe are brought on by the medication he has to take such as tantrums, and he hates to be touched. Mason is also afraid to sleep alone in his own bed. He has been having nightmares and gets scared pretty easily. So the dog will also be trained to do behavior disruption to help calm Mason in stressful situations.
4 Paws for Ability, an organization that trains service dogs to assist people who have developmental or physical disabilities, has accepted six-year-old Tyler Grieb to receive a service dog. Tyler, son of Scott Grieb and Emily Nehus, has been diagnosed with autism, a mild seizure condition, and a rare brain disorder called agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC), in which the bundle of nerves that helps the two sides of the brain to communicate with each other never forms.
Written by Stacy Gibbons. Korigan will be 4 in June 2010. She was born three weeks late and was only 4 lbs 15.5 oz. I knew from the begining that she had some problems but no one else seemed to see it. 
She is a tiny sweet little angel with the biggest heart. She is always thinking of others. When a new magazine comes to the house she will open it up and start telling me what all she wants to buy for her friends.
Two-and-a-half-year-old brothers Jackson (left) and Denver (right) Burkhart need a very special service dog, for entirely different but equally compelling reasons. 
Denver is always on the go and has no regard for his safety. And when he sees something he wants, he is very persistent. Examples: trying to get to the stove while I am cooking, and sticking his hands in the seal of the oven door while it's on. He doesn't play much with his seven-year-old sister, Ariel, or his twin brother. At times seems to be unaware of anyone around him. 
Andrew Riley is a very handsome, wonderful two-and-a-half-year old boy. It gives us so much joy to have him in our life and, just like any parents, we want to do everything we can to make his life better.
We are hoping that a highly trained service animal will improve Andrew's long term quality of life by alerting and providing comfort before, during and after seizures. The dog can also help to be Andrew's eyes and ears and provide a much needed source of support and comfort to him as he meets the upcoming challenges in his life. 
On March 4, 2005, we were overjoyed to welcome our second beautiful son, Joshua, into our family. Around the time of Joshua's first birthday, however, we started to notice elements of his development which caused us some concern. He was not speaking, and was not responding to us when we spoke to him. His behavior seemed different than other children his age. Over the next few years, we walked through the long, difficult journey of seeking answers to the questions looming in our minds. What was afflicting our son? And what could we do to help him?
Joshua is an affectionate little boy who likes to hug and snuggle. He loves letters and numbers and enjoys coloring, climbing, and running. He also has many struggles which affect his life and the life of our family on a daily basis. Autism makes it difficult for Joshua to focus, communicate, and process information.
As Joshua's parents, our goal is to fight this disease alongside him by providing all the help we possibly can. Speech and occupational therapy sessions at Joshua's special preschool and our local hospital have made some improvements in his ability to communicate with us.
What choices do parents have when they discover their child is autistic? That the child can't communicate well with anyone, that socially the child is in another world, and that this beautiful child has no understanding of words like "safety," "home," "name," etc? And that for parents, the words "sleep" and "rest" may become strangers, while "stress" becomes their close companion?
Safety issues present major challenges. Some nights Bianca has trouble falling asleep, or wakes up in the middle of the night and wanders around the house and kitchen. Even though the Merinos have an alarm system, her parents are always afraid that they might be in a deep sleep and unable to hear her.
Usually sweet and cooperative, Bianca can change moods unexpectedly. No one knows why. According to nonprofit 4 Paws for Ability, a well-trained autism service dog helps in this and many other areas, and 4 Paws has a high success rate training dogs and families. Convinced that the child and dog will form a close bond, her parents also believe that this new family member will reduce the stress for everyone.
This is Sam. Sam is 12 and has autism. Because of Sam’s disability, he has frequent meltdowns due to his frustrations and inability to communicate effectively. The behaviorists say he is a very "complicated" case. As he grows larger and stronger, he becomes even more of a challenge. Sam's rages have broken lamps and furniture, and caused bodily damage to himself and others.
Living with Sam is certainly a challenge for the entire family, especially his big sister, Rachel (age 17) and big brother, Seth (age 18). Family outings and events are planned around what Sam can tolerate and the house looks more like a therapy center than a home. For many years, the older kids didn't bring friends home because they were embarrassed by their brother's unpredictable behaviors. They love their brother but they don't always know how to interact with him. Mom and Dad can no longer go away overnight because there's nobody qualified to care for Sam for more than a couple of hours. Mom has adjusted her work schedule to be home when Sam's home whenever possible.
4 Paws for Ability trains autism service dogs who can interrupt a meltdown, soothe frustration, be a friend, and can act as a social bridge between Sam and other children. The dog is also trained at tracking and can be tethered to Sam in public to prevent him from becoming lost. If he does get lost, the dog can find him quickly. 
Our "Graham Cracker" will be eight this April! He's beautiful, funny, caring, compassionate, smart, loving, sociable, full of energy and happens to have autism. Unfortunately, his autism also makes him feel anxious, irritable, worried, scared, annoyed, over-sensitive, hesitant, angry and alone.
My name is Heather Davis. I have three wonderful sons - Taylor, Chandler, and Tucker. Taylor is a sophomore in high school. He enjoys playing music. He plays percussion in the band, snare on the Drumline and piano for the 5th grade choir. Chandler is a 5th grader and he enjoys singing in the 5th grade choir (especially since brother is the accompanist) and student council class president. Tucker is a 4th grader and likes to ride his skateboard and play on the computer.
Tucker looks like any other 9 year old boy. He is a spunky and vivacious fourth grader at his local elementary school. He loves swimming, skateboarding, riding his bike, cartoons, hula-hooping and video games, but not school so much. Tucker has struggled with behavioral issues all his life, and his actions let many people know it. Tucker lives 'in his own little world.' However, sometimes this world gets interrupted, leading to meltdowns and explosive outbursts as he reaches sensory overload.
The problem then becomes the stares and glares from others who don't know Tucker. Time after time I have heard about how he is bullied and made fun of at school or what a brat he is or that I am a bad parent and I don't know how to handle my child. Tucker has a handicap, but doesn't have a wheelchair, or crutches, or a service dog... 
Griffin Dennis "Finn" Watson, of central Illinois, is an utter delight to his parents and family. He is sweet-tempered and loves to be bear-hugged and kissed. As the middle brother (between Jackson, 8 ½, and Samuel, 2 ½), his lot in life is already a difficult one, but somehow he manages to be cheerful about it. He also manages to stay out of his brothers’ fights, preferring to watch from the sidelines with a smile on his face.
Finn has an autism spectrum disorder known as Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). He was diagnosed in September 2008. 
Finn also does a lot of "stimming" (engaging in self–stimulating behaviors) throughout the day. His stim of choice is hand flapping and wringing. While these behaviors are harmless, they are a distraction for him and others, and will become less socially appropriate the older he gets. A service dog is trained to stop the child from engaging in these behaviors (too bad they are not able to potty-train him too!)
According to Ed and Carol Burke, "If we were to pick living heroes, our answer would be our kids and in particular our son, William." William Burke has grown into a handsome young boy with an infectious personality and laugh. Every moment of every day he is an overcomer. William has Down syndrome. It’s a condition in which extra genetic material causes delays in the way a child develops both mentally and physically. It’s not indicative of the many strengths and talents that each individual possesses.
That’s where 4 Paws for Ability, Inc. comes in. They have accepted William into their program and will be training a multipurpose assistance dog specifically for William's needs. As you can imagine the cost to raise and train these dogs is high, up to $26,000. 4 Paws has a unique approach to fundraising which helps their kids get dogs much faster, as much as 5 years sooner than with traditionally run organizations. 4 Paws partners with the family and also works with the family to raise a portion of the the cost of one service dog in their community. 
Kathryn Ross-Schmid is one of the 1:150 children in the United States diagnosed with autism. She was diagnosed right before she turned three years old. To the outside world, Kathryn looks like any other five-year-old child, loving and energetic with an infectious smile and gentle spirit. However, spend a few minutes with her and you will see that there are distinct differences. Kathryn is trapped in her own little bubble that few people are allowed in or would understand even if they were allowed in. 
Kathryn is very sensitive to noises and has meltdowns if there is too much stimulation. She is more sensitive to pitch rather than volume. She loves music and is usually calmed by it. Crowds do not seem to bother her since she rarely notices other people unless they get into her "space."
Derek Mummert is six years old and he was diagnosed at the age of three with Autism. He is an amazing little boy with a lot of love in his heart and he is full of spirit. Derek is full of energy and is always on the go doing something. Whether it be rummaging in his toy box to find just the right toy to spin or jumping on his little trampoline, his energy is endless.
Written by Lisa Rowe. Zachary is a 13-year-old boy living in Central Ohio. Zachary has had to overcome many obstacles in his young life, he has fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) along with secondary disabilities. 
Because of this disability, Zachary has trouble with daily living skills, abstract thinking, cognitive skills, social skills, impulsivity, frustration levels, safety issues, and making the correct choices. 
I have done extensive research into the potential benefits a service dog could provide Zachary. What sealed my decision was watching him not be able to interact socially with his peers due to his disruptive behaviors and inability to read social cues correctly and worse yet not understanding why "no one wanted to be his friend."
Behavior Disruption: When Zachary has emotional outbursts the dog will be trained to interpret this as a signal to lay its nose or foot on him gently nudging him to stop, even if only for a few minutes. 
Vinnie Rodriguez is just two years old. In those two years, he has been through a lot. Right before he turned one, he got very sick and was hospitalized with seizures. During his hospital stay, he underwent a series of tests. After the tests results came back, the doctors came in and asked us to have a seat.
Emily Lowe suffers from multiple disabilities ranging from autism, mental retardation, frontal lobe disorder, to sensory overload. And she often acts out by having temper tantrums and throwing herself to the floor. 
Unaware of danger, she couldn't tell you whether something is hot or cold. She would not be able to cross a street by herself. And she would never be able to call 911. She seems at time to be living in her own little shell and needs a best friend.
I'm Caden Butler Modaff, and I love trains and tractors. I have a mommy who says I have beautiful blue eyes. I have a daddy who thinks I am super smart and strong, and I have a sister Ryley who thinks I'm funny. I also have autism.
My mommy found out about a nonprofit organization, she calls it a 501c3, called 
Tali Radicke is a beautiful and unique fifteen-year-old girl born with Tuberous Sclerosis, who started having seizures at the age of one. Tali was born on June the 3rd in Seguin, Texas.
A multipurpose dog could help Tali improve safety and security at home, in the public, and at school. This service dog will help improve behavior by lending support to Tali as she copes in highly stressful situations and with routine changes. 
I'm J.T. Stuart - a smart guy with a sense of adventure and no fear of danger - all traits that get me into lots of trouble and require someone to watch me every minute of every day even if the area has been "J.T.-proofed." I love to get hold of scissors and alter my clothes. Petroleum jelly and zinc oxide ointment are fun too, especially if someone is trying to catch hold of me! 
like being around people so much that I never want to go to sleep. "Late to bed, early to rise and always keep my dad by my side" is my motto so if I wake up in the middle of the night to find myself alone in bed I just go into my parents' room and jump in between Mom and Dad! 
Kheira McClanahan needs your help! Kheira is 8 yrs. old. She has multiple disabilities. Spina Bifida (which means her spinal cord didn't develop normally and when she was born she had a hole in her back exposing her spinal cord), Hydrocephalus (there is too much fluid on her brain and it doesn't drain correctly), and Epilepsy (a seizure disorder).
With her having these seizures every day it makes it impossible for us to leave her unattended for even a few minutes. We never know when she's going to have one, so that means she is NEVER out of our sight. All these things together make her a very frustrated little girl. The simplest things like brushing her hair, giving medications, and changing her diaper turn into battles. She gets upset so quickly when she can't do something on her own. She hates being dependant on us for everything!
Written by Benjamin's father. Benjamin Shawa is a special five-year-old who has high functioning autism, or sometimes known as Asperger's. Benjamin has had a rough go in his short life. 
Benjamin is a very active little boy and sometimes just needs some help calming down. This is a hard task since he is our BIG little boy. He weighs about 60 lbs!
A service dog would be a great help for Benjamin in helping with his outbursts of energy and his rambunctious behavior. It is hard for my wife to handle him sometimes, and especially when we are in the public, it is hard to control him.
Written by Melodie Robinson. When my son, Isaac Egan, was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome (a form of high-functioning autism) and Attention Deficit Disorder a year ago, the daily struggles we faced with him finally began to make sense. 
Unfortunately these behaviors only further the rejection by his peers, and make him vulnerable to bullying. Thankfully, these are the symptoms that are addressed by Autism Service Dogs.
Andrew Johnson is a non-verbal six-year-old with autism. He was born with a left sided arachnoid cyst. He attends our local public elementary school. With the assistance of a device called Dynavox, he is able to spend one quarter of his school day in a typical kindergarten classroom.
No offense to cat lovers out there, but this Russellville Family needs some help that only a furry canine can fulfill, and they need YOUR help also!
"We have discovered a magic that exists between children and dogs, a magic that can become a life-saving miracle for a child paired with one of our Autism Assistance Dogs," states the 4 Paws website, 
Hi. My name is Zachary Findall. I am a warm-hearted typical active 6-year-old boy who enjoys swimming, drawing, and playing trains with my two little brothers. The difference between my peers and myself is that I am extremely sensitive to loud sounds, sights, and touch. 
My Daddy is in the Navy and out to sea a lot so having a companion to keep me safe helps him to sleep better when away from us. 4 Paws for Ability will train a service dog to fit my needs and the needs of my family. My dog will also help to expand my social and emotional skills while giving me responsibility and independence. 
Written by Cheryl Hung on behalf of Dylan and Casey Hung. For the longest time, we couldn't have kids (two miscarriages) five years of infertility treatment, acupuncture, and then six months later found out we were expecting! 
By now we had to bring him to sit with us otherwise he could sit in the corner of the room and just play by himself with his video boxes which he would line up or push around like cars or a train. I had a gut feeling despite being constantly told things like, "He's just delayed, he'll catch up." Something was not quite right.
Sudden anxieties, in particular his extreme uneasiness to change, and just the daily routine of bathing had become so challenging. Meltdowns were constant. Frustrated and at wit's end with no answers from his doctor; I wrote to the school district explaining all our concerns including that Dylan shouldn't have to be held back just because he couldn't go to the bathroom and follow directions. 
Now, Casey was a healthy baby at 8 lbs. 10.5 oz! He was always a happy baby, smiling, making eye contact. As we'd become a little more aware since Dylan's diagnosis, of course we watched with caution and he grew quickly and met all the milestones as well. 
After our dog Tiffany passed away when Dylan was two, we knew one day we would like to have another dog. With both boys diagnosed with Autism it seemed a great thought to have a dog. Yet, just barely getting the boys potty trained and trying to fulfill and manage their needs (doctor and especially dental appointments where Dylan has to be sedated) are already a challenge.
Alexander Tryon is a loving and kind four-and-a-half-year-old diagnosed with Autism at the age of three. He has a very large vocabulary, but does not always use it properly. He requires a lot of sensory input to keep his body under control. 
Every parent has hopes and dreams for their children. As they watch them grow, these dreams change and grow. Our dreams for our four year old son Whit are simple. We want him to be able to walk through a store without worrying about if and when he will run off. We want to be able to get him out of the car and not worry that he will run into traffic. We want him to not scream and hurt himself when he's upset. When we take him to the park, we want the other kids to WANT to play with him, and not exclude him because he makes weird noises, or because he doesn't understand their games. 
Eleven-year-old Ruben Spice has faced more challenges in his young life than most face in a lifetime. He was born with congenital heart defects that required his hospitalization multiple times since he was two weeks old (including open heart surgery at three months and heart catheters at two years and again at four years). 
When Ruben was 3 years old, he was taken to another specialist due to severe developmental delays. His family was told he would be nonverbal and so mentally delayed that he would never be able to attend school. They were devastated. 
Recently, Ruben's mother was informed by an online friend about service animals specially trained for children with Autism. Upon further research, it became obvious 
Skyler Kratz is a healthy and active six-year-old boy. Skyler lives in Wisconsin with his mom, fatherly role model, two-year-old sister and newborn brother. He was diagnosed with autism on Dec. 27, 2007. We have always known he was autistic: it just took three years for doctors to agree. 
We are raising money for a multipurpose assistance dog for Owen and Annabelle Luschei. Owen is five years old and has autism. Annabelle is three years old and has epilepsy.
Annabelle is creative and full of energy. She has suffered from seizures for the past two years. It is scary for everyone when she has a seizure. We have had many ER visits. I have trouble sleeping because I am afraid she will have a seizure at night and choke. 
Michael Ewing is a highly energetic six-year-old boy. At first glance, you would think he is a typical, average child. He loves to climb, to run, and to jump. 
His family wants to get him a service dog to assist him in his daily life and social interactions. Michael has been accepted to receive a Service Dog from 
Everyone has had heroes in their lives, those amazing people in the world who've made a difference in your life or the lives of others. Jude Bell is one such hero. He's a wonderful five-year-old boy who has completely changed the lives of all who meet him and get to know him. He has a great sense of humor and loves to make people laugh. He's loving and kind. He is a handsome boy who may look like any other child you meet. 
Other times, he has trouble focusing because he can't fight the desire to seek out sensory input. This leads to sensory seeking activities that alienate him from those around him. Every moment of every day Jude fights against his natural tendencies to be afraid, anxious, or overwhelmed. He strives to communicate and be understood. His greatest challenge though, may be in trying to make friends.
David Nahodil I'd like you to meet a happy, active four-year-old, my son, David Nahodil. He has a certain vibe that seems to make everyone who meets him fall in love. He has such animated body language because he struggles to find words. Born July 4, 2004, he started out life with serious digestive issues that often escalate. David was recently diagnosed with PDD 
We spent six weeks at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in the outpatient feeding program while living at the Ronald McDonald House, but we had little success. We are happy with the tools we were given, though. 
Hi, my name is John Bowen, but my family calls me JC. I am three years old. Mommy says I am different because I live in my own little world and sometimes I can't break out of it. I don't answer my mommy and can't make friends sometimes because in my world it's just me. 