The Think Fragile X Foundation is excited to be again be partnering with Guide Dogs WA and Telethon Kids Institute to continue the amazing work of the Buddy Dog for Kids Program in WA which is making such a profound difference to children living with disabilities.
Guide Dogs WA is owned and operated by VisAbility, and is WA’s primary provider of Guide Dog mobility services to people who are living with blindness, vision impairment and other disabilities. Their dogs give life-changing independence, companionship and confidence to their Users as Guide Dogs, Autism Assistance Dogs, Therapy Dogs and Companion Dogs.
Guide Dogs WA has provided innovative, life-changing services to West Australians for more than 100 years. Their professional therapy and support services assist people across a range of ages and disabilities in their homes, at school, at work and in the community.
Guide Dogs WA’s “Buddy Dog for Kids” Program focuses on improving the quality of life for families of children living with disabilities. The Buddy Dog for Kids program encompasses Autism Assistance Dogs, Therapy Dogs Companion Dogs for children.
Highly-skilled Autism Assistance Dogs offer families of children with disabilities a number of benefits, including early intervention training to facilitate independence, and the skills to manage challenging situations.
However, the most important benefit is safety. On outings, the child’s safety is enhanced by being able to be connected to a body piece/coat on the dog through a safety belt around the child’s waist. In conjunction with this, the parent has control of the dog through their own lead and will apply vocal commands to the dog. The child is encourage to walk beside the dog, but should they attempt to run off, the dog is trained to resist by sitting or lying down acting as an ‘anchor’. This gives the parent time to intervene and diffuse the situation.
A key part of this program will be our partnership with Professor Andrew Whitehouse at the Telethon Kids Institute, who will evaluate how the Buddy Dog for Kids program will improve the lives of our families. We hope that this will ensure long-term sustainability for this exciting program.
An Autism Assistance Dog promotes positive social interaction and assists in the development of the skills used to enable participation in community, social and recreational activities.
Other benefits include:
Your generous support will help provide essential items such as the purchase of dogs specific to the Buddy Dogs for Kids program, a purpose built vehicle to transport dogs, specialist trainers and a purpose built training room.
The Think Fragile X Gala Dinners wouldn’t be possible without all of our dedicated volunteers and sponsors.
We would like to invite you to become a Hero of the 2017 Think Fragile X Gala Dinner and help us continue the amazing work of the Buddy Dogs for Kids Program in WA.
The Think Fragile X Foundation is excited to be partnering with Guide Dogs WA and Telethon Kids Institute to help launch the Buddy Dogs for Kids Program in WA that will make a profound difference to children living with disabilities.
