Teaching Social & Life Skills

Children and adults with autism are generally withdrawn and struggle with making social contact with others as well as knowing basic life skills. They have been ostracized by so many people that they often times find it easier to avoid contact with others. A dog can help change that for a child or an adult. Dogs understand how to connect with those who are different or have emotional struggles. When a person with autism travels with their dog specially trained to work with them, the dog acts as the person's interpreter. A dog can signal to their person when a certain action is required. For example when a cashier needs to receive money for a prescription or something similar, an autism dog can place his paw on the person's pocket where his wallet his as a reminder of what to do. For more information, check out the autism study through the University of Texas in Austin on the use of dogs to measure social skills in children with autism.