Bring Brayden’s Service Dog Home

Brayden was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in March of 2021 at the age of 2. As he has gotten older, he has started eloping more frequently and will wander/runoff. When overwhelmed, he will also have full-body breakdowns and tantrums where he will need to decompensate on the floor and calm down.  To provide a space or safe item is also part of the recovery process. The service dog will help with eloping by providing tethering to Brayden and will also be a comforting object that Brayden can use for calming and will protect Brayden as well.

Brayden did not ASK to be neurodiverse or on the spectrum. It's not that he wants his body to go into full meltdown mode, screaming, throwing his body on the floor, hitting himself at times, and probably the biggest part not being able to communicate his needs or wants like normal children. As a mother, it breaks my heart when he screams and cries and tries to hurt me because I DON'T KNOW what he wants. I feel like a failure...was it something I did during pregnancy that caused this? Is it my fault? I had to quit a job that I love and am actually good at to stay home and ensure his needs are constantly met and that he can thrive and learn as much as he can from the therapies provided to him. That's almost 40 hours a week of in-home therapies, plus 6 appointments per week of outpatient therapies including speech, occupational, and physical therapy. Because I know what is best for my kids, I know what they need. And now, something that would SIGNIFICANTLY help my son, is being denied because the government determined it was "too restrictive" for him. Not only would this service dog provide emotional and mental support to him but it would ALLOW him to participate in normal events and outings that otherwise would not be possible. To ALLOW him his ability to participate in the world and environment around him and ALLOW him that ability to LEARN. 

Here's an example: In May, for Bennett's birthday, we went to the Science Museum in Minneapolis. Of course, didn't realize it would be full fieldtrip season and the place was pretty busy. Brayden became overwhelmed and laid on the floor of the museum. I picked him up, carried him to a corner for him to lay down and decompress safely without others walking all over him. Then, he took off on me. Now think, you're in a science museum with hundreds of kids running around and your child took off. He can't tell anyone who his parents are, tell you what's wrong, or what his name is, and doesn't respond to his name. You see SOOO many times about neurodiverse children or autistic children getting lost in the fields or woods surrounding their homes, some are LUCKY, they make it out alive and are found. ONLY SOME. We have the opportunity of a LIFETIME to get a service dog for Brayden that would provide SOOO MUCH for him. But since the waiver and the county feel the opposite, it is now dependent upon us to come up with the money. We are a single income family now, with two special need kids and this last minute denial leaves us with no time to raise the money. There are not many programs like this in the US. This is the ONLY one in Wisconsin and they are retiring after this group. Others are on year-long waiting lists and many programs are not taking out of state applicants due to the long lists. You know I am not one to ask for help, but this time I am BEGGING for it, and not for me, but for my child, for his safety, his emotional well-being, and his ability to THRIVE in this world we live in. Unfortunately our timeline is short as we found out we can get the dog this coming weekend. We may have a week max, but please, anything you can offer or do or even SHARE at this time, I would greatly appreciate.  Autism is already so focused on their DISABILITIES against, why put up more barriers to their ABILITIES?