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   For those diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and ASD-related disabilities, life has it's own set of unique personal challenges.  Some of these challenges, such as anxiety, speech, and elopement disorders, may not be readily identifiable to the passer-by.  Others may be much more obvious physical traits such as stimming, walking/ coordination/ stability issues, or obsessive tendencies.  To complicate mitigation, many of these challenges may vary widely from day-to-day based upon external stimuli, such as noise, lighting, crowds, or other environmental-related stressors.

  "The introduction of a Task-Trained Service Dog is a liberating and empowering tool to mitigate
the effects of ASD and ASD-related disabilities."

  The TTASD accompanies the handler through various daily engagements, assisting with the mitigation of many disorders that accompany across the Autism spectrum.  Interrupting disruptive/ destructive behavior, discouraging elopement, soothing anxiety, providing deep pressure therapy (DPT), and re-focusing from obsessive tendencies, are all within the scope of the TTASD.  The Task-Trained Autism Service Dog also provides constant, passive encouragement for the non-verbal to steadily increase the use of their vocabulary.

  Far beyond the family pet, the TTASD is a dog that has accomplished a training and conditioning program in order to perform specific tasks in response to the handler's immediate disability-related needs.  At SPECTRUM Service Dogs, we believe the successful dog and handler team is one that is closely matched.  This is achieved by first understanding the handler's medical, physical, and environmental considerations, then highlighted by a specific program of conditioning for the dog that is tailored to address these concerns. 

TTASD Skills

  The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Revised/ 2010 stipulates that in order to qualify as a Service Dog, the dog must be trained to perform a specific task or tasks in direct relation to the handler's disability.

  The Task-Trained Autism Service Dog (TTASD) is a unique player in the service dog community.  Not only is the dog required to perform skilled physical tasks, but also to provide emotional support and mental focusing/ redirection either as a direct result of or in conjunction with these tasks.  While the typical service dog performs skills that compliment the handler's actions, the primary responsibilities for the TTASD center around recognizing certain behavior(s) exhibited by the handler, and then responding in such manner that the behavior(s) are disrupted.

Some examples of the skills/ services your TTASD can provide:

 Disruptive/ Destructive Behavior Interruption  Obsessive behaviors such as stimming/ picking/ tapping/ hand wringing/ hair pulling, etc. are behaviors that can be disruptive, or even dangerous/ destructive in nature, are found throughout the Autism Spectrum, affect each patient differently, and may vary in intensity based on stimuli.  Those who suffer from these aspects of ASD/ ASD-related disability often find themselves experiencing great difficulties in concentrating on their work, performing otherwise mundane activities, and even greater hurdles in social interaction.  The TTASD that is conditioned to mitigate these behaviors recognizes their onset, and then provides a counter-stimulation (licking, nudging, paw-on, etc.) to interrupt their expression.  This counter-stimulation may also provide signaling to the client to employ other behavior modification techniques if necessary.

 Redirection of focus  As an extension of Disruptive/ Destructive Behavior Interruption, the dog's response to the disruptive/ destructive behavior provides immediate familiar stimuli to refocus the handler/ owner's attention to the dog, to raise a conscious awareness of the behavior(s), and redirects the energy into positive behavior(s).

 Deep Pressure Therapy  Deep Pressure Therapy (DPT) is often engaged to provide a specific positive stimulus, simulating that of a hug, but often without human interaction.  While DPT is often successfully provided by weighted blankets, weighted vests, and compression vests, these devices can be cumbersome and/ or difficult to rely on for use during travel or in public environments.  The TTASD conditioned for DPT responds to a simple command of "Cover", and then lays on the client's lap/ chest/ legs, as applicable.  This action provides not only the weight associated with the inanimate devices, but also the body heat and interaction associated with the dog.  This combination of weight and body heat provide a great therapeutic service to the client that can be utilized in most any environment without creating disruption.  The deep pressure therapy provided by the TTASD can also be used as an additional tool in mitigating Destructive/ Disruptive Behavior Interruption.

 Elopement Mitigation Elopement Disorder often accompanies ASD, and is most often exhibited in children.  This is an obviously dangerous condition for ASD children, and a tremendous challenge for parents of the ASD/E child.  To service this client, the dog is conditioned to help in mitigating this dangerous disorder by learning to follow directions and commands first of the parent/ caregiver who holds the primary leash.  In this scenario, the dog is also attached to a tether that is also attached to the child.  While the tethering provides an obvious physical attachment, the presence of the TTASD also provides positive distraction (behavior interruption), and a sense of responsibility for the child in that they need to "help" or "watch" the dog while in a public setting (additional positive distraction).

 Vocalization Encouragement  Being classified as non-verbal/ having delayed verbal skills is also a commonly shared trait of ASD children.  The presence of the TTASD provides a constant, passive encouragement to use words and develop dialogue.  As the client begins to learn the simple working and interaction commands for the dog, they tend to also want to continue the communication in order to increase the level of interaction.  Since the dog doesn't ask questions, any requests of the dog requires specific, overt direction; as the working relationship strengthens and the bond grows, a greater level of verbalization tends to follow.

Serotonin, Dopamine, Oxytocin, and the dog   We all like to pet/ play with/ interact with our dog; ever wondered what makes it so enjoyable?  A study by the University of Missouri - Columbia determined that interaction with/ petting a dog increases the body's production of Serotonin (heighten mood), Dopamine (reward sensation), and Oxytocin (the "hug" drug).  These effects work hand-in-hand with the above listed trained tasks to provide for the ASD client a specialized service dog that also serves as an on-site therapeutic care provider.

High Visibility Identifier  Though not a trained task, the presence of an outfitted service dog provides a recognizable identifier for the ASD client.  Why does this matter? As awareness of Autism continues to become more wide-spread, the traits and characteristics that may be exhibited at times by those diagnosed with ASD are not necessarily as well known.  When faced with stressful or otherwise overwhelming situations, ASD clients can become confused, disoriented, or begin exhibiting behavior(s) not readily understood by the general public, first responders, or law enforcement.  The presence of the appropriately outfitted service dog, while focused on caring for their handler, also provides an identifier that "this person is not a violent threat", but is experiencing an ASD-related event.  SPECTRUM Service Dogs recommends the use of a well-marked vest on the dog while in public, to include directions to not remove the dog from the handler in case of emergency.

The result is the SPECTRUM TTASD: an on-site, constantly available provider of both friendship and specialized, focused therapies.