Lonely, overwhelmed Jamaal needs an autism service dog
Upon first meeting Jamaal Clipps, you would never guess that there is anything different about him. He is a tall, slender twelve-year-old with big brown eyes and a beautiful smile. It is only when you begin to make conversation with him that you notice something different.
The monotone voice, the lack of eye contact, short answers, or maybe no answers, and walking away before the conversation is over are only a few behaviors that lead to questions such as “Does he understand what I’m saying?” from adults and “Why does he act like that?” from his peers.
Then come his cartoon character voices matched with facial expressions and Jamaal is having a conversation and laughing at things that entertain him. The problem is that this conversation is for an audience of one, leading to more isolation.
Jamaal is diagnosed with mild to moderate autism. He is easily frustrated, wanders away when stressed, will not try many new things, has trouble understanding the nuances of social situations and many times is seen as weird or strange by his peers because of his many behaviors.
Keeping someone with autism in tune with the world around them is a challenging 24 hour/7-day a week job. It requires constant involvement in therapy and activities aimed at helping the child become accustomed to a world that feels overwhelming and confusing. So overwhelming and confusing that the only place he feels safe is inside his head with his imaginary characters, or for Jamaal, characters from his favorite cartoons and movies.
The catch is that for people with autism, one never “really becomes accustomed” to the world around them. They tolerate it, and not always very well. But there is an agency that is dedicated to helping people with special needs integrate with much more ease into the world around them.
4 Paws for Ability, a non-profit agency located in Xenia, Ohio is dedicated in its mission to help children and adults with developmental disabilities to adjust to by training dogs to act as guides, companions, social buffers and initiators to the world around them.
4 Paws for Ability, under the leadership of executive director Karen Shirk, has accepted Jamaal into its program and will be training an Autism Assistance Dog to meet his specific needs including the following:
- Interrupting his tantrums when he is becoming frustrated
- Tracking him if he wanders away
- Tethering to keep him focused and paying attention to where he is going when we are in public
Additionally, having a service dog will provide a wonderful introduction between Jamaal and his peers. In exchange for the training of his service dog, we have agreed to help 4 Paws for Ability in their fundraising efforts.
Training a service dog requires a great deal of time, patience and can be costly. The training of the Autism Assistance dog to meet Jamaal’s specific needs will cost $13,000.
All donations made in Jamaal Clipps’ name will be credited to him and go directly to 4 Paws for Ability and the cost of training of these very special and vital dogs in expanding the abilities of the children and adults they are placed with.
All donations are greatly appreciated and are a tax deduction as 4 Paws for Ability, Inc. is a 501c3 organization. Please make checks payable to 4 Paws for Ability to be mailed to:
4 Paws for Ability, Inc.
253 Dayton Ave
Xenia, Ohio 45385.
Please note on your check that the donation is made in honor of Jamaal Clipps. For more information regarding this agency, you may directly contact 4 Paws for Ability, Inc. by the method most convenient for you.
- 253 Dayton Ave. Xenia, Ohio, 45385
- Phone (937) 374-0385
- http://www.4pawsforability.org
Note: I highly endorse 4 Paws for Ability as a source for extremely well-trained service dogs. The organization is sound and its goals exceptional. Judy Vorfeld.