ASDA: Autism Services Dogs of America

No. ASDA specializes in autism, placing dogs with autistic children. ASDA dogs are specifically trained to assist individuals with the special challenges of autism.

The ASDA team is made up of individuals from diverse backgrounds with unique experience and skills. For instance, one member of the ASDA team is a licensed clinical social worker and dog trainer, a combination of skills that is extremely useful in assessing the needs of the whole family. She personally oversees the integration process of a service dog into the family by working on-site, in the recipient’s home during the second phase of the ASDA training.

It takes an average of 12 months. Depending on how quickly an applicant completes the process, raises the funds, the proper match is determined, and the number of available trained dogs, it could take less or more time to receive an autism service dogs. ASDA does not place dogs with children under the age of 5, so we recommend that application be made when the child is at least 4 years of age.

Yes. Months of training, housing and veterinary care are invested in each ASDA service dog. Not all dogs graduate our program, yet the investment of time and resources remains fixed. ASDA is a nonprofit that does not receive government or private foundation funding, although we accept donations and participate in fundraisers. The fee includes equipment, training placement, and dog training.

Most of the $13,500 fee is raised by the family through grants, community organizations, family and friends. The family’s contribution is usually nominal. ASDA sends out a fundraising packet as soon as the applicant is approved. All of our recipients thus far have raised the funds from outside sources.

The pre-application and application provide ASDA with the documents and information necessary in the selection process. Once approved, ASDA gathers more information from the family by telephone and e-mail communication.

Some agencies assert that a service dog should live with the person the dog will serve from the time the dog is a puppy in order for a bond to develop between the child and dog. Assistance dogs have been placed with the disabled for over 70 years, the vast majority placed with the recipient after the dog reached adulthood and was fully trained. Yet a bond developed after placement. First and foremost, what is essential is that the autism service dog is trained at the time of placement and functions as a service dog. The recipient is acquiring a service dog, not a pet, and it is through the service relationship that mutual respect and affection develop.

ASDA wants to insure that those applying would benefit from an ASDA service dog and have an opportunity to receive a specially trained autism service dog. Demand for specialized service dogs for autism is growing rapidly. Other service dog agencies currently meet the needs of other disabilities, and some applicants would be better served by those agencies. ASDA’s sole mission is to assist children and families living with autism.

While other agencies have either on-site training (in home), or off-site training (at the agency headquarters) ASDA does both. Both short term and long term service dog success require both phases of training for this particular disability. ASDA has found that receiving a service dog for autism requires more than learning how to handle and give commands to a service dog. The service dog becomes a new member of an existing family system, an addition that brings changes within the family as a whole. Each family is unique. ASDA does not believe that “one size fits all,” children, families or service dogs.

The first phase of training, requires the primary caregiver ( the individual who will handle the dog when the child is tethered to the dog) to travel to ASDA headquarters in Oregon, spend 7 days in daily training, and 6 evenings alone with the service dog establishing a relationship, a positive bond with the service dog. The dog then returns with the primary caregiver to its new home where the dog will spend 2 weeks making the adjustment to his/her new home and becoming a family member. Both dog and family need 2 weeks to get to know each other. No in-pack training, work or tethering is done during this time.

The second phase begins after the 2 weeks of adjustment period. At that time the trainer arrives and begins the tethering process, learns the family’s and child’s routine, and visits the environments of the child (park, school, stores, etc.), assisting and guiding the primary caregiver (dog handler) and child navigate these environments. This phase is important because the specific needs of the child and family are assessed, and the service the dog will provide is fine-tuned to meet the specific needs of the child and family.

Most often one family member (mother or father) is the primary caregiver of the autistic child, the person with whom the child spends most of his/her time. It is this person who will need to establish a bond with and authority over, the ASDA service dog. Since the service dog makes several environmental changes in the course of its training, from foster care, to ASDA training site, to the primary caregiver, and then to the recipient’s home, consistency and continuity is essential during the transition period to a new handler. If a spouse wishes to attend we ask that he or she does not engage the service dog in any way. He or she is to be an observer only. The primary caregiver will be the dog handler.

In cases where both mother and father spend equal amounts of time taking the child to public places, one parent is still designated “primary,” and the other as secondary caregiver for the purposes of ASDA parent training. Primary does not mean more important, it means principle.

During the second phase of training the secondary caregiver may also be trained in accordance with ASDA standards and Assistance Dogs International testing standards. All this should not and could not be accomplished in the first phase of training. The first phase is an essential period in which the bond is established between primary caregiver and the service dog. Later, that bond and authority can be expanded to include the secondary caregiver when the ASDA trainer is on-site to assist the “secondary” caregiver. ASDA has found this method of placement and this particular format for bonding, training, and integration, to be consistently successful.

All ASDA dog training is completed at our facility in Oregon where we can monitor each dogs progress.
ASDA also molds and monitors each dog’s socialization. ASDA dogs must possess a particular temperament, intelligence, health, age and weight. Many dog breeds do not have the interest or aptitude to be a service dog for autism. Family pets tend to have an established role within the family and a transition to service dog status is often unsuccessful.

While the ASDA service dog is socialized to accept other dogs and cats, and pets established in the home, family dog(s) might not accept a new canine member into the family. Additional pets require time and effort on the part of family caregivers and since an ASDA dog will be an added responsibility, the dog will also require added attention and care both on and off duty. Parents of special needs children are keenly aware of the additional challenges of time and effort of a special needs child. All dogs love to socialize, chase balls, explore, romp with the family and require daily exercise to stay healthy and fit. ASDA recommends that families evaluate their dog's or cat's ability to accept and tolerate a new canine household member.

Yes. By federal law (Americans with Disabilities Act— ADA ) the service dog is allowed access to any environment your disabled child is allowed access, i.e., school, park, doctor’s office, restaurant, beach, movie theater, etc. It is not only permissible but necessary that the service dog accompany the child throughout his/her activities since being attuned to the child’s special needs is a daily, ongoing process, and the service the child requires is ongoing. While the dog may go out on occasion without the child, the child does not go anywhere without his/her service dog. Time together solidifies the relationship between the two, keeps training skills sharp, and helps the child grow in life skills.

Yes. The service dog goes everywhere with your child. Just as a physically disabled person would not leave his or her wheelchair at home when going to school, the autism service dog assists the child with all activities, including school. The service dog is used to facilitate progressive development, communication, attention, mood stability, social skills and mobility. The opportunity to develop these skills and qualities happens in every environment where the child has an opportunity to have contact with others, practice communication, listening and attentiveness skills.

A service dog is a life functioning tool, of which education is one of many life functioning activities. Under the ADA law, there are no exceptions to where a service dog is allowed. A private home may decline access, but all public places must allow a service dog. It is important however that the child’s school co-operate with the integration of a service dog into school. ASDA will not place dogs with children whose school will not allow a service dog.

Yes. ASDA has open communication with all recipient families. ASDA can be reached through email or by phone to answer questions. Most situations can be handled by phone or email communication.

Advanced or specialized training usually requires on-site training by a representative of ASDA. Costs vary depending on location and the training time involved.

Frequently Asked Questions