Leash-On-Life for families with autism

TLCAD’s new Leash-On-Life program, which benefits families of children with autism, has accepted its first dog in training and started work with its first family.

Little Miss Muffet and her trainer, Karen Shultz, have begun working with five year old Jolena Gonzalez and her parents, Jeffrey and Rebecca Cook.

Muffet’s major role will be to provide safety for Jolena who spontaneously runs away from her family, which can be especially hazardous while the family is in public.

Jolena and Muffet will be connected through a special vest worn by the dog.

If Jolena should run, Muffet will help manage Jolena by lying down until her parents can intervene. Besides helping the family with Jolena in public, Muffet will also help Jolena with communication skills, cognitive development, social interaction, self-help tasks, sensory integration and fine motor skills.  Because emotional outbursts are expected to decrease, the family can now enjoy more activities together.

Stay tuned for Jolena and Muffet as the feature video in the March 2008 newsletter.