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I can remember going to the play ground when he was about 26 months old and seeing the other mothers chatting and sitting on benches. Where was I? I was standing in the middle of the unfenced region poised for flight. I didn't take my eyes off the child for a second my arms hovered nervously at my sides. I resembled a goalie during a penalty kick off. And sure enough with out any warning or obvious provocation the toddler took off like a bullet from a gun straight towards the traffic.
I can vividly remember that holiday at the beach. It was two months before his diagnosis of Autism. The other parents were placidly sitting on beach towels sunning themselves watching little ones frolic in the warm puddles left behind by the retreating tide. I once again was poised in goalie stance between the puddles and the surf. I was alone, watchful, the only parent standing vigilant and ready to dive. His little feet would be stomping in puddles one minute then fleeing towards the surf like an iron man in full flight the next. I could cope with an hour at the beach max, by that time I was a nervous wreck, physically exhausted not to mention incredibly wet and sandy from several rescue attempts. Sadly the children's father is no longer with us and my extended family joked while shaking their heads in disbelief. Apparently I needed to hire a surf life saver who owned a dog specialising in search, rescue and retrieval to cope with my little water boy. My comment was I didn't need to hire one I needed to marry one!
I can remember a respite care agency asking me if I'd like to interview a possible carer. Before even bothering to interview the potential candidate I asked the essential questions; How strong are they? Can they run like the wind ? Can they tackle a 23 kilo fast moving projectile with out injury to self or projectile?
We use to attend a kindy. My little boy attended in his wet suit. Instead of experimenting with the water play trough my wee lad preferred full body emersion clothes and all. It was later when he was diagnosed as autistic I realised this behaviour wasn't a fleeting fascination with water. This had been his only way of relieving his anxiety when surrounded by so much noise and stimulation.
Incredibly due to the intensity of parenting required I have only lost him once. It was just after dinner on a dark wet winter's evening. There was this frantic knocking at my front door. There stood my neighbour in his dressing gown clutching my little boy in his arms. Apparently he'd been taking out the cat when he'd looked across the road to see this little child commando roll out a window onto the concrete. With hardly a pause the child had jumped to his feet, rushed down the drive then turned and tore down the middle of the road chasing the tail lights of a car. My neighbour had tossed the cat one way, his coffee the other and sprinted in hot pursuit down the middle of the road after this small boy who was fast approaching a very busy intersection. "Hell he's fast," he'd said with obviously disbelief. I don't think I slept a wink until I'd had full security screens fitted to our windows.
Perhaps this little glimpse might have given you an inkling as to why our family would love an autism assistance dog. For those readers who are crying out, "Teach him to swim." or "Teach him his road rules." Please believe me we are trying. This little guy is involved in a very eclectic intensive early intervention program, which incorporates a gluten free/dairy free diet, gymnastics, swimming, horses, music, outings which are slowly teaching him to be at ease outside his garden gate and much, much more. I will never be able to repay those amazing people who introduced us and help maintain our early intervention therapy. The programme has changed all of our lives and filled us with hope that the future will indeed be a bright one. I believe early intervention is the key to changing these children's lives and helping them reach their potential. And for families who can't decide what form of intervention to try please above all else, "do no harm". Always keep a strong loving respectful nurturing environment as your foundation and build from that.
Teaching an autistic child is a long slow process which requires a dedicated team of people. So for our family the dog would be an absolute God send. At this point we can't leave the house with both children unrestrained without an extra adult. So for us the dog would mean independence and less isolation. The dogs aren't a cure for Autism. I don't believe there is a quick fix magic cure. But these wonderful dogs have the ability to enrich and broaden the lives of families with children with autism while providing added security some canine magic and much needed peace of mind.
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