Dogs didn’t earn the title of “Man’s Best Friend” without learning to support the needs of those with disabilities. In the case of autism, service dogs can be invaluable emotional companions. When properly trained, they can offer both tangible support in overwhelming sensory and social situations.
How Can Service Dogs Help Autistic Adults?
Service dogs can help autistic adults live more independently. They go beyond emotional companionship by actually intervening in situations where their handler needs some form of help, even potentially in a medical emergency. This ability to take specific, trained action is what sets service animals apart from emotional support animals.
A service dog for autism is likely able to directly assist their handler with their sensory differences, social differences, or both.
Sensory Assistance
A main way autism service dogs provide sensory assistance is by responding to early signs of escalating anxiety, panic attacks, or harmful stimming caused by sensory overload. They may intervene by nudging their handler with their nose, or by resting their chin on their handler, or leaning to apply weight and pressure.
These actions can ground an autistic adult and help calm their physiological reactions to sensory-related stress.
Social Assistance
In similar ways to the sensory assistance, autism service dogs can spot and disrupt incoming harmful behaviors or emotional meltdowns before they occur in social situations. They can use the same grounding sensory tactics to achieve this, like leaning or lying on their handler.
But their help isn’t limited to stopping things from happening. They can also positively enhance social interactions for autistic adults. A service dog can be trained to perform physical tricks, like a wave or a fist bump, to bring smiles and break the ice. Few things are as quick to make others smile and start a conversation as our four-legged friends.
How to Get a Service Dog for Autism
If you think a service dog could be helpful for you, it’s important to find or train one the right way. There is no actual legal certification required for an animal to become a service animal. You can even teach a pet yourself, or with the help of a loved one, if you can’t find autism service dog training near you.
Still, be sure to do thorough research before doing or paying for any training yourself. Well-meaning people often try to train service dogs, but that can lead to problematic or dangerous situations if the training isn’t done properly. We recommend searching for accredited dog agencies first, before attempting any training on your own.
Getting a Service Animal Through SDP
At NeuroNav, we work hand-in-hand with anyone in California’s Self-Determination Program to access the resources they need. If you’re an individual with a disability and think a service animal could help you achieve your goals, one might be available to you.
The first step to finding out is to ask, and we can help you do so.
Connect with the Services & Supports You Need to Achieve Your Goals
Seeking out the right service dog for autism might feel overwhelming, but we’re here to help.
NeuroNav is proud to provide autistic adults and families with the resources and support they need to build the futures they deserve. Our independent facilitation services offer expert guidance and tailored assistance for all of your neurodivergent needs.
There’s no better time than today to schedule a consultation. If you want to know what resources, services, and service animals are available to you, reach out to us at NeuroNav.
