Autism Assistance Dog for Bryher
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Hi, my name is Hannah and I am fundraising for my daughter Bryher to help get her an Autism Assistance Dog.
Bryher is 25 and so far life for her has proved very difficult. Having only received an autism diagnosis in the last 6 months, I feel a sense of guilt as her mum that we didn't recognise this sooner, but also a sense of hope that with the clarity this diagnosis has brought, we now can take steps towards a more positive future for her.
I would be so grateful for all and any support you may be able to give as we start on this journey!
A bit about Bryher
Bryher is a wonderful, kind and caring person who always thinks of others. Academically, she has always done well. She works very hard and enjoys learning, but struggled with many aspects of school including the transition from home to school and between classrooms, friendships and relationships with other pupils, the noise and busyness of corridors and classrooms and always feeling different to her peers but never knowing why.
Despite these challenges Bryher was determined to keep learning and went on to attend college. But once again, it was too much. Having to leave college due to poor health, she decided to complete an Access to Higher Education Qualification online at home, so that she would still be able to continue in education and achieve her goal of going to university.
For the following 6 years, Bryher has had an extremely challenging journey facing multiple diagnoses including anxiety, depression, M.E. and endometriosis but has continued to amaze me with her determination and faith. Sadly, in January 2024, whilst in the middle of her second year at university, she had to leave as her health had hit an all-time low and her body was no longer able to cope.
It has been a long and hard year for Bryher of recovering and getting to a point where she was able to walk again. She has struggled with feelings of loneliness and isolation, and processing and recognising that actually life has been very tough for her. However, the year also brought a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and suddenly so many of her past struggles made sense. The diagnosis offered a new perspective as to the underlying reason for her worsening M.E. symptoms and why Bryher has always found life that much harder to navigate.
She is continuing to regain strength and energy and is as determined and hopeful as ever to continue with her university degree and realise her dream of graduating. But without additional support this simply isn’t going to be possible. So when we discovered Autism Assistance Dogs and the life-changing support they can offer for someone, I felt our prayers had been answered and we had been presented with an incredible option that will enable Bryher to live her life more confidently, independently and assist her in reaching her goals. An assistance dog will see her through her time at university and for many years after, not only providing invaluable support but also being her best friend and companion wherever life takes her next.
How an Autism Assistance Dog will help
- Deep Pressure Therapy (DPT) – The dog will lay across the individual’s lap or on top of them, providing calming pressure which can help to regulate the nervous system and reduce anxiety
- Sensory overload assistance – Help the individual navigate sensory environments by providing a calming presence or guiding them to a quiet space
- Meltdown alert – Alert to signs of anxiety or impending meltdowns in the individual, allowing for proactive intervention or seeking a safe space
- Interrupting self-harming behaviours – They are trained to recognise and gently interrupt these behaviours
- Crowd management – Help individuals navigate crowded or busier places safely by providing a buffer against sensory overload and creating space around the individual
- Improving sleep – They can improve sleep with DPT and providing a sense of security and comfort
- Social interaction assistance – Can act as a social bridge to ease interactions with others and enhance the individual’s confidence in social settings.
- Independence – An assistance dog offers support in all settings and can help with improving confidence so that the individual feels happier to go out by themselves with the support of their assistance dog and better able to cope and manage in different situations by themselves.
We are so hopeful that if Bryher’s autism is supported and the struggles with it managed, that we would also see a marked improvement in her M.E. Stress is the biggest catalyst for worsening her M.E symptoms so if her daily stress levels are reduced it would not have such an impact. It is why I feel that an Autism Assistance Dog will be life changing and the support it would provide cannot be understated.
I know that so often Bryher has felt left behind and very alone and isolated. Having invisible disabilities is a real challenge and so often the world has not felt like a safe or supportive place for her. I am hoping through this fundraiser to show Bryher how loved and supported she is, and that she has a whole community of people around her who are there for her. I would be incredibly grateful for all and any support towards this fundraiser that will allow us to get Bryher an assistance dog and achieve her goal of graduating from university and not just surviving life, but really flourishing and coming into her own.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. I really appreciate any help or support you may be able to give!
Organizer
Hannah Ward
Organizer
England