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News & ArtsTuesday, January 12, 2010
Animals Boy Needs Dog for Mental Stability
Posted by Charles Mudede on Tue, Jan 12, 2010 at 8:25 AM
I kept my mind open after reading the first section of this story:
HILLSBORO — Every day, Scooter Givens tries to hit his third-grade classmates and instructors at Patterson Elementary where he attends class for children with severe autism.Sounds that surprise him, especially crying children, can send the 9-year-old Hillsboro boy into yelling, flailing "meltdowns," which have lasted more than an hour.
Eric and Wendy Givens know Madison, a trained autism service dog, can calm their son; they've seen the German shepherd do so at malls, in parking lots, at restaurants. But the Hillsboro School District won't allow the dog in school, saying Scooter is doing well without the shepherd.
My mind remained open while reading this argument against the school district's decision to keep the dog and the boy's public education separated:
"It makes Scooter easier to teach," said Wendy Givens. Madison "would help mitigate Scooter's disability in class."Disability Rights Oregon attorney Joel Greenberg equated the situation to a person who is blind being told he does fine with a cane even though a trained guide dog is more effective.
"Essentially, the school district is saying, 'we get to pick the tool,'" he said.
My mind, however, closed upon reading this description:
If something startles Scooter and he works himself into a violent on-the-floor "meltdown," the dog puts his paw on the boy. If that doesn't work, Madison stands over him and then lies down on Scooter. The flailing and yelling stop almost immediately, and Scooter can get back on task, said Wendy Givens....Clearly, this is not the best solution to the problem. Why? Because it's not scientific. This business of pawing the boy, putting a hairy body beside the boy—it might work at home, but it's far more mystical than sensible. A guide dog for the blind makes perfect sense to everybody. We can directly see the connection and function: The dog has eyes that work; the human has eyes that do not work; the blind human uses the dog's working vision. But what exactly is the connection between the boy's meltdowns and the calm body of the dog? How does this work? Why does it work? The answer is in the air.
What is needed is a solution that is based on something tangible, practical, and as universal as public education. The boy's dependency on the dog is fine for private situations, but not for public ones (the school district's decision is correct). Public solutions, meaning scientific solutions, must be impersonal and coherent.
2
In Charles's impulse to put aside all tools that he cannot understand we see the roots of neoliberalism.
3
Oh please. The man who posts mystical abstractions about the universe everyday demands a scientific reason for why a dog calms down an autistic child. Why don't you demand the autistic child to scientifically justify why a loud noise causes him to scream for an hour. Or a scientific reason for the compulsion to hit another child, the same child, everyday. Make sure you demand these scientific reasons from the 9 year old autistic kid. He is the only one who knows how his mind works.
You just hate dogs because they know how to love and you don't.
You just hate dogs because they know how to love and you don't.
4
Maybe a book by Temple Grandin would provide clues - she's autistic and writes about connections between autism and animals. I only read Thinking In Pictures which was more about autism but have been curious about the others...
5
"How does this work? Why does it work? The answer is in the air."
Just because you don't understand it does not mean it cannot be understood. You are clearly no scientist so please stay out of scientific speculation.
Just because you don't understand it does not mean it cannot be understood. You are clearly no scientist so please stay out of scientific speculation.
6
Umm...it's perfectly scientific. Many things in science (perhaps MOST things) are not fully understood. Things like gravitation, things like Selective Seratonin Re-uptake Inhibitors, all kinds of things.
If there is a predictable cause and effect which is measurable, observable, and effective, it is scietific. You do not apparantly understand the term.
If there is a predictable cause and effect which is measurable, observable, and effective, it is scietific. You do not apparantly understand the term.
8
I'm not sure what point this inane post is trying to make. It will be kind of hard to move beyond the "mystical" and "intangible" until we have a full grasp behind the "scientific," "coherent" reasons behind autism.
9
what about the people who are severely allergic to dogs? We're supposed to suffer and/or die so this kid can remain calm at school?
11
Having read works by Temple Grandin, the austic engineer and animal scientist, I have to disagree. I suggest you read Animals in Translation, about the differences and similarities in the the brains of animals and autistic people.
12
The impersonal and coherent solution is the one that works most effectively to solve the problem at hand. There is a noticeable link between this child's behavior and his connection to the dog, making the child able to function better in social situations. To disregard the 'private solution' in the public sphere, just because every detail of that connection is not understood puts you in the position of making a personal decision on a valid therapy.
The seeing eye dog and the autistic helper dog share the same role in helping their human function better in the larger world.
The seeing eye dog and the autistic helper dog share the same role in helping their human function better in the larger world.
13
It's fairly well documented that children with severe autism often bond and communicate better with pets and animals than with other people. Autistic children are often excellent at reading physical cues and body language, where they can struggle with verbal communication. I'm sure with even a cursory look, the foundation of a scientific reasoning can be had.
14
I'm calling "bullshit" on this one. Charles, you should stick to subjects you know something about.
I am a parent of a disabled child. The kinds of things that help my child get through life without discomfort and "tantrums" are very "non-scientific" and intangible. "Barney" videos are one of them. Fiber optic light toys are another.
My experience is telling me that this issue is more about the school district making shit up so they don't have to accomdate a dog in the classroom. It's too hard for the teacher to schedule breaks for the dog to get outside to pee or something.
I also disagree with your assertion that the dogs services are non-scientific. Have you ever heard of Temple Grandin? She is (or was?) an autistic woman who had some very unorthodox methods for calming herself. One method was a full body sqeezing machine she invented. Sounds to me like the dog is providing a very similar therapy. You should look it up. Do some research before you start spouting off about what you think is valid or not.
This kind of stuff makes parents of the disabled crazy. No one knows my child better than me yet they all want to tell me what's best for him. And, schools? They just want to do what's easiest for them. And cheapest.
OK...I'll get off my soapbox now. Thanks for listening.
I am a parent of a disabled child. The kinds of things that help my child get through life without discomfort and "tantrums" are very "non-scientific" and intangible. "Barney" videos are one of them. Fiber optic light toys are another.
My experience is telling me that this issue is more about the school district making shit up so they don't have to accomdate a dog in the classroom. It's too hard for the teacher to schedule breaks for the dog to get outside to pee or something.
I also disagree with your assertion that the dogs services are non-scientific. Have you ever heard of Temple Grandin? She is (or was?) an autistic woman who had some very unorthodox methods for calming herself. One method was a full body sqeezing machine she invented. Sounds to me like the dog is providing a very similar therapy. You should look it up. Do some research before you start spouting off about what you think is valid or not.
This kind of stuff makes parents of the disabled crazy. No one knows my child better than me yet they all want to tell me what's best for him. And, schools? They just want to do what's easiest for them. And cheapest.
OK...I'll get off my soapbox now. Thanks for listening.
15
Science has virtually nothing to say about what causes autism, why it manifests as it does, and how it can be managed or treated. I'm all for the pragmatic in this situation, even though it may lead to an epizootic of dogs in schools to provide calming.
Were we to apply a one-size-fits-all public/scientific solution to, say, the problem of intractable pain, we would simply induce comas in everyone whose suffering interferes with normal function. See? Impersonal and coherent.
Were we to apply a one-size-fits-all public/scientific solution to, say, the problem of intractable pain, we would simply induce comas in everyone whose suffering interferes with normal function. See? Impersonal and coherent.
17
If there were children in the school who were allergic to dogs, then I can see the school board saying that no one child's rights to a public education supercedes another's. But what we have here is an arbitrary judgement call, more than likely based on the liability variable.
The ADA guarantees equal access, and reasonable accommodation. Animals have a long history as help mates and are often used as therapeudic aides for people with depression, terminal illness, and in homes for the aged. Dogs are trained to hunt, sniff out bombs, drugs, tumors, and all manner of other services. How is it so hard to understand that a dog might be trained to calm a child? Or that a child might respond to a dog in a high stress moment of aggitation?
If everything that someone didn't understand were to be banned, where would we be? I don't understand Charles most of the time. Does that mean he should not be allowed to write?
The ADA guarantees equal access, and reasonable accommodation. Animals have a long history as help mates and are often used as therapeudic aides for people with depression, terminal illness, and in homes for the aged. Dogs are trained to hunt, sniff out bombs, drugs, tumors, and all manner of other services. How is it so hard to understand that a dog might be trained to calm a child? Or that a child might respond to a dog in a high stress moment of aggitation?
If everything that someone didn't understand were to be banned, where would we be? I don't understand Charles most of the time. Does that mean he should not be allowed to write?
19
Temple Grandin and many others have found connections between physical pressure and anxiety in autistic people. There's nothing mystical about it.
20
Why! Look! One google search and 30 seconds later I have found some "scientific" research on the subject.
http://www.grandin.com/inc/squeeze.html
http://www.grandin.com/inc/squeeze.html
21
Woo-hoo, Charles, you may well be on the way to a "most-commented" post here. Of course, Frizzelle and Savage apparently sleeping in this morning helped.
22
I'm torn on this one. I do think that a 9 year old autistic child should have any reasonable provision to help him learn. However, there are two things that keep tripping me up. First, as @9 points out, there are enough people with dog allergies that it might be impractical in the first place. Second, it seems to me that a major part of teaching a child with a disability is teaching him how to deal with real life situations. In his adult life, it's impractical to think that he would always have his dog around to help calm him. I'm not sure which way to lean!
23
My understanding is that there are established reasons why the dog is effective when regarding autism. I volunteered at a center that specialized in teaching autistic students and they used some "unusual" methods to calm kids.
Many children are soothed by specific sensory experiences, like soothing music or colored lights. Others specifically respond to physical pressure. The center I worked for sometimes draped heavy blankets on a child to bring them out of an episode. I imagine this is closer to what the dog is actually doing.
Unusual ways of managing autism don't appear as scientific because what works vary so wildly from child to child. I would trust the parents.
Many children are soothed by specific sensory experiences, like soothing music or colored lights. Others specifically respond to physical pressure. The center I worked for sometimes draped heavy blankets on a child to bring them out of an episode. I imagine this is closer to what the dog is actually doing.
Unusual ways of managing autism don't appear as scientific because what works vary so wildly from child to child. I would trust the parents.
24
eh. Dog in the class room.
If the kid calms down when a dog steps on it and the rest of the kids actually get to learn something as a result, let the damn dog in.
you would think that the school would prefer less interuption of the normal kids learning process rather than worrying about a dog peeing periodically.
unless this is one of those undisciplined kids whose parents have abdicated child training for a 'diagnosis' of autism. In that case, the school is right one.
My nephew has autistism, REAL autism. he is 19, 6 feet tall, and non-verbal and unable to feed himself, with physical disabilities to boot.
. If a dog stepping on him made the burden of his care on his parents one iota less, I would say bring in a pack of dogs to hop up and down on him.
If the kid calms down when a dog steps on it and the rest of the kids actually get to learn something as a result, let the damn dog in.
you would think that the school would prefer less interuption of the normal kids learning process rather than worrying about a dog peeing periodically.
unless this is one of those undisciplined kids whose parents have abdicated child training for a 'diagnosis' of autism. In that case, the school is right one.
My nephew has autistism, REAL autism. he is 19, 6 feet tall, and non-verbal and unable to feed himself, with physical disabilities to boot.
. If a dog stepping on him made the burden of his care on his parents one iota less, I would say bring in a pack of dogs to hop up and down on him.
25
Charles, is this the actualisation of some kind of deep-seated trolling instinct that, I dunno, maybe as a self-styled philosopher you feel would be "beneath" you to act out in the conventional fashion (i.e. by visiting other blogs' comment sections and stirring up shit)?
Or did you sit down this morning and think to yourself, "Hey, how can I get more comments than that Savage bastard? I know! I'll say something derogatory and ignorant about disabled children and animals!"
Or did you sit down this morning and think to yourself, "Hey, how can I get more comments than that Savage bastard? I know! I'll say something derogatory and ignorant about disabled children and animals!"
26
Has no one noticed the fact that this family decided to call their child a dog's name, while the dog has a human name? This seems to really be at the crux of the issue.
27
@17 - Yes.
@22 - Why is it impractical? Seeing eye dogs are everywhere, why not this one? Having the dog IS how he copes with "real life". Everyone has a security blanket of some sort - the clothes we wear, the makeup we put on, car we drive... etc. This child needs more and it works.
And Charles. Please learn something about science and the subject you write about. You just sound moronic. Basic 20 second Google searches would provide you with lots of material. Are you just lazy?
@22 - Why is it impractical? Seeing eye dogs are everywhere, why not this one? Having the dog IS how he copes with "real life". Everyone has a security blanket of some sort - the clothes we wear, the makeup we put on, car we drive... etc. This child needs more and it works.
And Charles. Please learn something about science and the subject you write about. You just sound moronic. Basic 20 second Google searches would provide you with lots of material. Are you just lazy?
29
You can't be serious. If trolling for comments is so important, why not make up a pseudonym so you don't sully your reputation? Oh, wait, maybe that's what "Charles Mudede" is. My bad. Carry on.
30
We need a randomly generated Nietzsche quote: "All sciences are now under the obligation to prepare the ground for the future task of the philosopher, which is to solve the problem of value, to determine the true hierarchy of values." A dog is lower in the hierarchy of values than a kid with autism. A service dog is higher than a pet dog.
31
Perhaps you Charles are the one who needs a dog for "Mental Stability", but I sincerely doubt any dog would have you.
32
Charles:
Sorry but you’re way off the mark on this one. In order to be “scientific” the solution would need to be tested against a hypothesis (i.e., service dogs effectively calm the anti-social behavior of autistic children) and the testing would need to be done against a broad spectrum of children. Unfortunately, autistic children differ so broadly in regard to their behavior and responses, that you would likely not be able to gain more result than “maybe.” Also, the rights the family and the child here have under the IDEA are for individual approaches to education (the I and the E in the acronym), not for “scientifically proven approaches to education”. The family is well within their rights in arguing that their boy should have this completely unique and potentially weird accommodation for their boy. They also have the right to ask that there be consistent approaches to solutions across the spectrum (it may be too much to ask this child to deal differently with behavioral stimuli at home and at school). The school district should have just sucked it up and tried it. I am at a loss to understand why they would draw the line here, where clearly they would allow a service dog for a blind child (that’s in theory because most blind school-age children would not be old enough to be given a dog). If they felt it would be a disruption to the other children – well being hit is probably a disruption too.
Sorry but you’re way off the mark on this one. In order to be “scientific” the solution would need to be tested against a hypothesis (i.e., service dogs effectively calm the anti-social behavior of autistic children) and the testing would need to be done against a broad spectrum of children. Unfortunately, autistic children differ so broadly in regard to their behavior and responses, that you would likely not be able to gain more result than “maybe.” Also, the rights the family and the child here have under the IDEA are for individual approaches to education (the I and the E in the acronym), not for “scientifically proven approaches to education”. The family is well within their rights in arguing that their boy should have this completely unique and potentially weird accommodation for their boy. They also have the right to ask that there be consistent approaches to solutions across the spectrum (it may be too much to ask this child to deal differently with behavioral stimuli at home and at school). The school district should have just sucked it up and tried it. I am at a loss to understand why they would draw the line here, where clearly they would allow a service dog for a blind child (that’s in theory because most blind school-age children would not be old enough to be given a dog). If they felt it would be a disruption to the other children – well being hit is probably a disruption too.
33
Perhaps a dog sitting on Mudede's face will be the first step toward overcoming the stupidity exhibited in this post.
36
Am I the only person who thought the last two paragraphs were sarcastic? When poor public solutions are contrasted with better private ones, it's often to highlight the sclerotic nature of bureaucratic decision making. I thought this post was funny and dead-on.
37
And when the dog dies?
@26, yeah. Maybe when they realized the kid was autistic, they figured it made sense?
*tugs at shirt collar*
@26, yeah. Maybe when they realized the kid was autistic, they figured it made sense?
*tugs at shirt collar*
38
#19: Yeah, based on the previous posts of his I've read, I really thought he was being sarcastic too.
40
@36 and 38 - well, maybe he is, and if so I take back my comment. But honestly, I've been reading Charles' Slog posts since the beginning of Slog, and I still can't tell.
41
Since when are tantrums considered disabilities?
And if the school district is willing to work with this kid without the dog there, therefore WITH the tantrums, good on them! You people need to give autistic people more respect. They can learn to deal with the world without crutches, it's just harder.
And if the school district is willing to work with this kid without the dog there, therefore WITH the tantrums, good on them! You people need to give autistic people more respect. They can learn to deal with the world without crutches, it's just harder.
42
If this isn't a solution what is Charles? Or are you only willing to cry foul and not have anything to solve the problem. Assistance animals take more than one form and not just assistance for the blind. Look up seizure alert dogs, facility dogs, hearing dogs, therapy dogs, etc etc. Why question something that works? Assistance dogs have been proven in innumerable situations to be effective aide to the disabled.
43
Okay, now that I read it again it does look like he's being sarcastic. Forgive me for not seeing that, since so many of his posts read very much like this and are sincere. Unless, y'know, he's being sincere in this one too.
44
@41: Since lawyers.
The ADA comes from a good place but leaves school districts open to some ridiculous abuse and lawsuits. It's hard to tell what the case is here without all the facts and child psychology expertise which most of us don't have.
Ultimately this degenerates into an argument about what constitutes a 'reasonable accommodation" and whose needs are more important. Autistic child with service dog or kids with phobias or allergies? Peanut allergies or a poor kid's PBJ. Which individual is the most abject and therefore most in need of special attention? it's all problematic.
The ADA comes from a good place but leaves school districts open to some ridiculous abuse and lawsuits. It's hard to tell what the case is here without all the facts and child psychology expertise which most of us don't have.
Ultimately this degenerates into an argument about what constitutes a 'reasonable accommodation" and whose needs are more important. Autistic child with service dog or kids with phobias or allergies? Peanut allergies or a poor kid's PBJ. Which individual is the most abject and therefore most in need of special attention? it's all problematic.
46
@3, et alii, yes. Get a clue Mudede. But look for one among living humans, not in a book by some dead white guy.
47
A point I think people are overlooking is that the dog "calms him" - it does not prevent his tantrums or physical aggression. I am all for providing this child with the help he needs to live as normal of a life as he can and having a service dog may be part of that, but I also think that the concept of "reasonable accomodation" needs to be applied to the other children in the class as well. In this context, I think it is reasonable that his classmates not be subjected to (presumably frequent) physical and emotional outbursts, and the anxiety of anticipating these outbursts, in the name of mainstreaming a child who seems to need more specialized care than can be provided in a normal classroom setting.
48
It's a tough one. Ideally I'd say let the kid have his woofums, but the presence of a dog in a special needs class could also be severely disruptive.
The fact that it's even an issue reminds me that I live in San Francisco, where people are so terrified of ADA suits that I could probably license a service pigeon to fetch me weed for my anxiety while I type this.
The fact that it's even an issue reminds me that I live in San Francisco, where people are so terrified of ADA suits that I could probably license a service pigeon to fetch me weed for my anxiety while I type this.
49
@47, who said anything about mainstreaming? First sentence please, "he attends class for children with severe autism."
50
Charles- to quote Randall Munroe-
"ideas are tested by experiment. That is the _core_ of science". You don't get it. This solution is more scientific than some sort of bullshit idea that would make more intuitive sense to you. It has been tested, and it is not at all unreasonable to expect, based on previous evidence that the therapy would work. At the very least, testing the idea would give a definitive conclusion, and is the most scientific way to proceed.
"ideas are tested by experiment. That is the _core_ of science". You don't get it. This solution is more scientific than some sort of bullshit idea that would make more intuitive sense to you. It has been tested, and it is not at all unreasonable to expect, based on previous evidence that the therapy would work. At the very least, testing the idea would give a definitive conclusion, and is the most scientific way to proceed.
52
dont know if someone already posted this but it makes perfect scientific sense:
http://www.grandin.com/inc/squeeze.html
althoug we try to avoid it as much as possible when working with autistic children some kids react very good/calm down instantly when you hold them tight.
http://www.grandin.com/inc/squeeze.html
althoug we try to avoid it as much as possible when working with autistic children some kids react very good/calm down instantly when you hold them tight.
53
Scooter is a perfectly normal nickname for Stewart.... Madison is the name of a dead president -- made popular by the movie Splash. I don't see an issue with names here.
54
@47, @44:
This is not about reasonable accommodations or mainstreaming, this is about the child's right a free and public education in the least restrictive environment, as mandated by the federal Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act. Children with a certain level of disabilities is entitled by federal law to support to access education on par with other non-disabled children. That might mean mainstreaming (apparently does not here) and might mean a service dog in the class, might mean large print books or altered formats for testing, or a million other child-specific, need-specific, class-specific actions that help children learn. These are children who years ago would have been institutionalized or labeled "bad kids" and kicked out of school. Today they have a shot, and people like Mudede need to be educated to understand that their weird objections to having disabled kids educated is as prejudiced and evil as any anti-gay-marriage freak.
This is not about reasonable accommodations or mainstreaming, this is about the child's right a free and public education in the least restrictive environment, as mandated by the federal Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act. Children with a certain level of disabilities is entitled by federal law to support to access education on par with other non-disabled children. That might mean mainstreaming (apparently does not here) and might mean a service dog in the class, might mean large print books or altered formats for testing, or a million other child-specific, need-specific, class-specific actions that help children learn. These are children who years ago would have been institutionalized or labeled "bad kids" and kicked out of school. Today they have a shot, and people like Mudede need to be educated to understand that their weird objections to having disabled kids educated is as prejudiced and evil as any anti-gay-marriage freak.
56
@54: I think "least restrictive environment" is a bit vague which leads to the lawsuits and conflict. At its most basic level, I think this is a conflict between "full actualization of the individual" and "good of the majority." Sometimes this leads to conflict and sometimes it doesn't. Currently I think we're straying too far in one direction but we'll have to wait and see. Allowing extra time for testing and providing large print books are one thing, but to what degree does one child's right to feel included start to interfere with rest of the class's right to safety?
Full disclosure: I have five teachers in my family with different experiences and opinions on this, but no first-hand knowledge.
Full disclosure: I have five teachers in my family with different experiences and opinions on this, but no first-hand knowledge.
57
Least restrictive environment is simply a continuum for inclusion. By having a service dog in his classroom the child is able to participate in more general education activities. This is protected under many current laws through the federal government including IDEA of 2004. If this case were to be presented to the courts, the school will certainly lose. Having a service animal is a completely reasonable accommodation and one that is accepted in most mainstream and special ed classrooms. It isn't about his right to "feel" included, it's about his right to an education.
58
This is a topic I could rant about, but I'm just going to add to the recommendations that if you're really interested in this, you should read Temple Grandin's book "Animals in Translation." She explains a lot about the differences in the way autistic people think and see the world, and the book goes into things like why pressure (her squeeze machine, for example) is calming. It's pretty fascinating. I've interviewed therapists who work with autistic kids and have heard from several people (and parents of autistic kids) that animals have a calming effect for many reasons. Grandin's book is about her theory that autistic people's way of seeing the world is far more comparable to animals' thinking/feeling than to other people. She uses this in her work as an animal behaviorist.
From what I know about autism, which is only based on the few kids I know, teachers who've had autistic students, and interviews I did for a grad school project, the dog has a calming effect on the kid because for whatever reason, the dog makes him feel safe. Autistic kids are scared of unfamiliar or unexpected things (such as loud noises). In an environment like school where the kid can't control or expect everything that will happen, having his familiar, fairly predictable dog gives him comfort and makes him feel safe.
From what I know about autism, which is only based on the few kids I know, teachers who've had autistic students, and interviews I did for a grad school project, the dog has a calming effect on the kid because for whatever reason, the dog makes him feel safe. Autistic kids are scared of unfamiliar or unexpected things (such as loud noises). In an environment like school where the kid can't control or expect everything that will happen, having his familiar, fairly predictable dog gives him comfort and makes him feel safe.
59
I say why not try, while not purely scientific we can make a hypothesis that dogs help autistic kids more than screaming babies. While not the best reason to let dogs into public schools (and things like allergies should be taken into account) there won't be any science unless we start trying. To you and me, that paw seems silly and useless, however to that boy it could mean the difference between freaking out and staying calm. I think if we can make the case that people who smoke pot feel better and suggest they continue to do so even without any scientific evidence, because they say it helps, we shouldn't deny that kid the right to use his dog in the classroom. I think there are many other things to consider when adding a dog to a school, but claiming we shouldn't do it because the science isn't perfect is irresponsible, and it's exactly what the wingnuts claim against global warming.
Dick.
Dick.
60
Mudede is just disgusted by the way that Americans treat pets, especially dogs. This post is yet another acting-out of that disgust.
62
Autistic children seem to be calmed by animals..There may not be much science on it...YET... but it seems to work. While in school, I worked in Hippo-therapy with Autistic and PDD children. Their interactions with the horses were intriguing. While a major component of Autism is the apparent lack of empathy towards other humans, there appears to be strong bonds between Autistic kids and animals and I have to wonder if this speaks to an empathy/ emotional bond that has yet to be scientifically defined..Blah Blah...If you mainstream the kid, let him have his dog..therapists join kids in the classroom all the time
63
What sort of training does an autism service dog undergo? Are they trained for social situations such as being at a school or have they just shown the ability to calm in social situations? If not then maybe that needs to be worked into the training program so that schools are more willing to accept these service dogs. The story referenced seems very one sided and it would be interesting to hear exactly why the school wont allow it.
65
THank god, Mudede. I was starting to find your posts reasonable and sensible. Thank you for posting this jackassed, stupid post.
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