Hello Friends.
As many of you know, one of our twins was recently diagnosed on the autism spectrum. Autism is a spectrum of neurologic disorders which now affects 1 in 150 children in the U.S. The disorders inhibit typical interaction with his/her environment. For more information on this disorder, please review the Autism Facts page of this website.
You may or may not know, however, that treatment for this disorder is not covered by the vast majority of insurance plans, including ours. And like any medical treatment, it is incredibly expensive.
The purpose of this web site is to provide a central location for family, friends, and others to donate time and/or money to assist with Nathan's medical and therapy costs. We will update the site to report his progress.
We have recently discovered a new and innovative therapy with promising results. This therapy involves a service dog specially trained to provide therapy and safety for the autistic child. Nathan has been approved to receive a dog. The new member of our family will be bred and trained by East Coast Assistance Dogs. He will be the youngest child in the United States to receive a companion and will be considered ground breaking research. Unfortunately these dogs are extremely expensive. The dog itself can range from $8000 to $15,000, in addition to travel and introductory expenses. It is for this reason we ask for your help. A donation of frequent flyer miles will be very helpful. Any additional funds will be applied to payment for Nathan's ABA therapy and medical bills.
We expect improvment in the following areas with the assistance of our new pal:
- Safety: The dog will prevent Nathan from leaving the house, running into the street, and locate him should he become lost.
- Responsibility: Nathan will learn to provide basic care for the dog, including feeding, grooming, and exercise.
- Improved Social Skills: The presence of the dog itself will force Nathan to interact more with those around him. It's a great conversation starter.
- Meltdowns: The dog will provide a calming presence and a shift of focus in the event of a "meltdown."
Please go to the Donation page to help.