Dogs for Autism, a 501(c)3 organization, began in 1991 as Dogs for Disabled. Founded by nationally known trainer Connie Cleveland, the program trained service dogs for a wide variety of disabilities for more than a decade.

Around 2002, the program leadership realized that while there were hundreds of service dog programs to help with disabilities of the orthopedic type, incredibly few were willing to work with the burgeoning problem of autism--and we had already identified a type of dog and system of training proven to work. The need was obvious.

Establishing an appropriate breeding colony to support such a program was the first challenge, and that was accomplished by around 2006. At that point the moment had arrived to formalize the effort and begin substantial training efforts of dogs for new clients. But the changeover has been incredibly demanding. Now, in order to finish the first group of trainees, we need financial help and we need it quickly!

To learn more about the Dogs for Autism program, visit us at our homepage: www.dogsforautism.org.

FAQs

How does a service dog help with autism?
Assistive-Search-Alert (ASA) dogs increase security, functionality, and independence for children with autism. ASA dogs work both in the home and in public as members of a team which includes the child's parents. Each job description is unique, tailored to the individual needs of the family, but generally the work falls into three general categories:

• Assistance: the dogs can provide logistical safety and more independence in public. A natural byproduct of this help is greatly reduced conflict between parent and child.
• Searching: a trained dog provides an instantly-ready means to locate a child, whether in the home or outside.
• Alerting: in a similar way to how a hearing assistance dog would alert a deaf owner to sounds, an ASA dog is trained to alert a parent to certain activities or situations.

Why do you use mostly German Shepherds?
Our German Shepherds, from proven and specially-selected working lines, are the breed we use most often mostly because of their versatility and their genetic background as a herding dog. The concept of containment of the "family pack" and awareness of property boundaries comes very naturally to them. Beyond that, they are highly sensitive to context; it is a normal reaction of the breed to spot, and focus on, a new factor in almost any given environment or situation, therefore it is extremely easy to encourage them to give an alert to specific problems. Overall, we believe many factors favor German Shepherds for ASA work--just as most factors favor retrievers for the more typical service dogs that work with mobility impairments.

What geographical areas does DFA serve?
Currently we are limited to clients in the immediate vicinity of Greenville, SC. We hope to be able to expand in the future as finances allow.

I live near Greenville, SC. How can I get a dog for my child?
We would be happy to provide you with a preliminary client information form, however, all prospective clients should realize that our current timeline will mean at least an 18-month wait. The only possible method of reducing that time is vast increase in funding.

How much do the dogs cost?
ASA dogs are provided to clients at no charge. Dogs for Autism is completely dependent on funding from outside sources.

My child has a disability other than autism. Can I still get a dog?
Not at this time. Our mission is to concentrate specifically on autism. If you would like to explore other service dog programs, we recommend starting with the membership listing of Assistance Dogs International.

Will you train our family dog to do service work?
No. We are not able to train dogs other than those which are carefully chosen for their specific abilities and character.

How can I volunteer?
We are always in need of volunteers to help with events, assist with office work, or raise a puppy for a few months. Right now, the very best thing you could do to help would be to create your own team, right here on this website, and help us spread the word about our critical need for immediate funds.

How can I become a trainer?
DFA has an apprentice trainer program that is designed mostly for individuals with experience working with children in Applied Behavior Analysis therapy. To enter the program requires a commitment to a 12-18 month intensive training regime, and a three-year process of refining training skills. The program is currently available only to those living in the Greenville area. If you are interested in applying to be an apprentice trainer, please email us at trainers@dogsforautism.org.

Do you adopt out your released dogs?
Yes, DFA occasionally releases dogs from the program that are not suitable for the job. Their age at release can be anywhere from 8 weeks to 18 months. All dogs are first considered for placement with other groups in need, such as another service dog program requiring a different personality or type of dog, or a police department in need of a narcotics or patrol animal. If no such match is available, the dog will be available for adoption to an approved family. If you are interested in adopting a released dog, please email us at adoption@dogsforautism.org.