Autism Support Dog for Kaylee Bonham

Hello, My name is Jerri and mine and Ian’s daughter Kaylee was put on the autism spectrum this past summer. I have learned of a few resources to help make her life easier, one of them being a therapy dog. The therapy dog can attend ABA therapy with Kaylee and the instructors can use the dog as a tool to help her. Kaylee struggles with having back and forth converstion (it’s alot of Kaylee just talking and you listening) and taking her therapy dog out in public will allow her to talk and answer questions about her dog while also giving her the confidence to do so.  Between 40% - 80% of children on the spectrum have a difficulties with getting a good night sleep. We are so hoping that a therapy dog to snuggle all night will improve Kaylee’s sleeping as this is another benefit of therapy dogs and another symptom that Kaylee really struggles with. Therapy dogs also have been known to increases eye contact and attention with children diagnosed with ASD. Kaylee’s therapy dog will be trained in deep pressure therapy to calm her during meltdowns. Even though the dog will always be working for Kaylee, the best thing Kaylee will benefit from the therapy dog is to have a best friend who loves and accepts her uniqueness. Kaylee has a hard time relating to kids her age and tends to stay inside and watch TV or play Minecraft. Being the main care giver for the dog Kaylee will be forced outside and the one she will be paired with loves to play fetch! Having any dog is a big responsibility and will give Kaylee a sense pride when she learns knew commands and continues with the training and yearly re certification tests. 

 Thank for you donations, we really do appreciate it 


Canine of Change 
10 Ways Therapy Dogs Help Autism