From the outside looking in, many individuals with autism appear just like any other average person. There are usually no outward signs that make these individuals stick out from the crowd as someone with a disability, but autism, nonetheless, can be debilitating. Many of the battles autistic individuals fight are dealt with in their minds. They often look and act fairly normal, but there are certain activities that are beyond difficult for them to tackle in their everyday lives.
The addition of service dogs to a treatment plan for someone with autism can have a significant impact, as service dogs are some of the best companions to help meet the needs of an individual with autism. These dogs are highly trained and have been shown to help calm individuals in addition to performing essential tasks that an individual with autism might need assistance with daily.
Our guide below tells you more about autism service dogs and what you can do to add one to your own, or a loved one’s treatment plan.
What Is an Autism Service Dog?
An autism service dog is trained specifically to guide and help those affected by autism. They are trained quite similarly to a guide dog’s training and go through a rigorous process to ensure that they are prepared for situations specific to the person they are paired with.
Tasks that an autism service dog might learn to help their owner include:
- Coping with, and navigating, crowds
- Obeying both basic and advanced commands, such as fetching items and opening doors, in addition to sit and stay commands
- Proper public manners and behavior
- Identifying warning signs of negative behavior or situations like panic attacks or seizures
- Deep pressure therapy and grounding tasks to keep their owner calm
- Interrupting behaviors in the case of potential self-harm
- Retrieving help or assistance if their owner is unconscious or gives the command
- Guiding their owners to safe, quiet, and calm spaces as needed
Of course, this list of tasks is not exhaustive, and every individual is different. You can work with your service dog and professional trainers to teach them any specific tasks that they would need to help you directly.
Who Qualifies for an Autism Service Dog?
Any autistic person with an ADA recognized disability may qualify for an autism service dog; they are available for both children and adults. If an autistic person cannot properly function in one or more different aspects of their daily life, the addition of a service dog to their treatment plan can help them go about their days with less stress.
However, it is up to their medical or mental health professional to determine and prescribe an autism service dog; just like any other form of treatment, a doctor or mental healthcare professional must approve the addition of the service dog to a treatment plan.
How Do I Get an Autism Service Dog?
Service dogs can be expensive, and autism service dogs are no different. Typically, health insurance in the United States does not cover the costs of a service dog, as they are not considered medically necessary by many companies. However, some companies might classify a service dog as a necessary piece of medical equipment and approve part of the cost; you will need to review your benefits to figure out if this is the case for you.
Once you have been approved for an autism service dog, you can purchase one from a local or national organization that specializes in training these animals. The upfront cost of an autism service dog is anywhere between $15,000 and $40,000; costs vary based on your location and the specific type of training your service dog will need before they come home with you.
If you are concerned about finances when it comes to adopting a service dog, there are numerous local and national organizations that are willing to work with you to reduce costs. Many of these organizations will provide low-cost or no-cost service dogs to individuals in need who meet certain criteria. Researching these organizations online is the first step to finding out if you qualify for a free service dog.
Can I Train My Own Autism Service Dog?
It is possible to train your own autism service dog, though you should keep in mind that this process does require a time commitment, consistency, and lots of patience. To properly train your autism service dog, you should adopt a dog that has the right temperament and strength for the tasks you need completed. For example, if you need deep pressure therapy and grounding support, it’s better to select a larger dog with the weight to perform this task.
Once you have your service dog adopted, you can start the process of training basic obedience tasks. From there, work your way up to more complex tasks and tasks that might be specific to your disability, such as retrieving medications and alerting you to oncoming panic attacks. As you train your dog, your bond will deepen, and the two of you will form a powerful team.
What If I Can’t Get a Service Dog?
If you cannot get a service dog, either due to finances, timing, or another circumstance, you can try to add an emotional support animal into your life instead. Emotional support animals are not trained to perform specific disability-related tasks for their owners, but they can provide comfort, companionship, and routine.
Dogs are suitable emotional support animals, and they can be very beneficial to individuals with autism. An emotional support dog could help to calm their owner, provide comfort and cuddles when at home, and accompany their owner to dog-friendly spaces.
Additionally, as a valid ESA, your support dog will be protected by the Fair Housing Act and have the right to live alongside you without adhering to any breed or pet restrictions.
Do Emotional Support Dogs Have Public Access Rights?
Emotional support dogs don’t have public access rights in the same way that service dogs do. This is because they are not trained like service animals are, and emotional support animals do not have to be dogs – they could be cats, rabbits, or even birds and reptiles.
That being said, your emotional support dog could accompany you into public spaces that are pet-friendly. For example, a restaurant may allow your dog to accompany you onto a patio space, or you could take your dog shopping with you in a store that allows well-behaved dogs.
It’s important that you never try to pass off your emotional support dog as a service animal, as this is a crime in many places. If you feel you need more support than the comfort that an emotional support animal offers, you can adopt a service dog trained to specifically help your disability.
Finding the Support You Need
Whether you are adding a service dog for autism to your treatment plan or you are choosing to adopt an emotional support animal, you can find the support you need to get through your day with the help of an animal companion. For individuals who need significant help with daily tasks, a service dog is often the best path to managing the challenges that autism might present.
If you are interested in adding an autism service dog to your treatment plan or helping your loved one obtain a service dog, speak to your doctor or your loved one’s medical provider. If you want to add an emotional support animal to your life, consult a mental healthcare professional about your next steps – USSA provides an easy way to do this.