Autism ACTUALLY Speaking: Autism Service Dogs

Sorry I wasn't able to get this up sooner I had an overwhelming finals week. Anyways this is an informative video about autism service dogs.

[katiemarshalltv]

This is one of the first videos I've seen of an autistic describing their SD impact themselves. Most are just parents talking about it. It's great to hear it straight from the mouth of an autistic.

I got Watson about two years ago. He was a puppy that I picked specifically for the job of a SD. I have been owner training him for the last two years and he is not a phenomenal service dog. He also does DPT (which I call 'let's cuddle') when I am overstimulated or nearing an anxiety attack. I can't believe I went 19 years without him. I am now 21 and do not go anywhere without Watson. He is my lifeline. I have other physical and mental disabilities along with being autistic. I will never go back to life wihtout a service dog. People don't understand just how much they can do, even with just an emotional aspect. Obviously, he does much more, but that alone is helpful.

[sherrisour]

I'm high functioning autistic myself, and being faced with the reality of going to college and living alone, I was thinking about getting a service dog to help cope with my disabilities and anxiety I face. Your video has been so helpful in helping me further my knowledge about this!

[pockywocky]

I was diagnosed late in life around 16 because I kept to myself nobody really saw me so they never saw anything. I'm currently 22 going on 23 and I'm getting my dog in late July early August. We are owner training because we don't have people to donate. We do have a woman who has trained dogs for years going to do the training for the next 2 years. My dog will also respond to seizures.

[calliepatteen]

The sound of dishes clacking together herts my ears

[Teelove]

This is exactly what so many people need to know about service dogs and who qualifies for them and why. There is so much misinformation out there, it's wonderful to have an experienced person so gifted in explaining how it works. Thank you, Nathan, for being an inspiration to so many people. 

[aleon]

I'm an owner trainer of a service dog in training. May never get her there, but I also have seizures and ADHD. The seizures are what made me think about it because I had two seizure events that were life threatening. It was great to hear your story and also did I say--I love the name of your channel. So good.( Btw, to be an owner trainer, you have to LOVE training and indeed it is one of my "Interests" shall I say, and also accept that it might not work out.)

[ad]

aaa thank you for explaining about adulthood with service dogs! im not an adult yet but by the time i get one i probably will be, i know exactly what i need in a service dog for my autism. gosh, it's so important to me to get one. that would help so much with crowds and overstimulation and if i had a little dog there to help support me, something to focus on, something to keep rooted to. Like getting off the bus, the dog could pull me and moving places, i get too scared and nervous.

[loreleihaywood]

I'm writing a story with a character who needs a service dog to make it through every day life and I found this very informative.

[Skippy]

That's a very good dog.

I'm a 'sperg and I've been around dogs all my life. I've never had a "service" dog though, just regular household woofers. I had a Golden Retriever in my teenage years who was a source of great comfort to me. I doubt I would have survived my school years without her. I couldn't take her to school, for obvious reasons, but she was always waiting for me when I got home and just knowing that often helped me get through the day.

She was an awesome dog. I really miss her sometimes.

[RunningwiththeRiver]

Thank you so much for this video! After watching your videos and doing a lot of research I will be getting an Autism service dog who will go to college with me! Thanks you for all the helpful info, these videos definitely helped convince my parents too:)

[AlanaFosterTheLlama]

Deeply deeply appreciate this video. I've been passively looking into service dogs as I believe I could hugely hugely benefit from one, but all of the resources I can find are for parents of autistic children. I am an autistic adult and I feel like there is a difference in terms of what information I require. Subscribed and definitely going to be look at your other videos (also because it's just nice to hear about autism from autistic people instead of parents and doctors).

[neurodeervergent]

ah, seeing her in your lap made me a flappy. It sounds like a very good pressure input! Still trying to figure out what helps my meltdowns.

[travishanson]

I've only seen 2 of your videos on service dogs and looked up information in the last few hours and I've already identified at least 5 areas they could help me with. I used to have a normal dog that would bark when someone came up the driveway or when a predatory animal was outside at night (we have goats). It didn't dawn on me til just now how many sounds I hear now that resemble someone coming up the driveway and I go crazy until I figure out where it is coming from. I didn't have that problem when I had a barking dog. He would do some other things like lay on my legs and similar things to your service dog without training, but I guess I never noticed he was helping me cope. To make a long story short, it would be nice to have a service dog that could go places with me and help around the house too. My wife would be happy for the help too. Maybe someday.

Thank you for the info, you have some good people around you to help. I'm just now discovering this thing is autism I deal with, so we don't get much help anymore. I guess I don't look the part.

[HGMMission]

This is really a great video. My little brother has Down Syndrome and is a runner, he also deals with the same complications autism does. I use to raise service dogs for the blind and now I was able to work with self training a SD for my little brother, it is really a blessing SD's have on the whole family!

[blueskiesrain]

I am currently writing a research proposal for a class on service dogs and their influence on an autistic individuals independence and quality of life. This video has helped with clarifying some misconceptions and I really hope that you continue with the videos on autism :) I have a son who may be autistic (we are still in the diagnosis stage) and it has been difficult handling what that means for his development. Just seeing your videos gives me hope and strength :) I know that despite whether or not he has autism, it is not going to make him any less of an individual or any less independent as other people. Thank you for that :)

[suenestnature]

Very well done.  I am a trainer and also a user of a psychiatric service dog; many of the tasks my dog does are similar to those that your dog does and your video is a very well thought out and well presented example of the things that dogs can do to help those of us who live with invisible disabilities.  My dog also picks up his leash and when my symptoms are bad saving me even one bend over can make my day much easier.  He is just about the coolest dog I know!

[laurad]

Thanks for this video. It was really helpful. I'm someone with high functioning autism. And sensory overload has become such a big problem the last year that it's impacting my life way more as it used to. So I went down this rabbit hole of things that might help. I don't think a dog will be for me. But it's nice to know there are people my age with similar struggles. Sometimes I feel so alone with this.

[Episcopalianacolyte]

Thank you for sharing this information! Because of your videos, people are becoming better informed about our dogs. We haven't had any trouble getting into a restaurant or other business (so far) because of the good work you and others are doing. Keep it going! We are encountering less fake SD's as well. My dog does most of the same tasks yours does. She is also beautiful!😍

Also I could not go out for a long time before I was diagnosed. But the assistance of my service dog has been amazing.

[simikatra]

I've not socialized in any way in over five years, every shopping trip, perhaps 3/4 times a year, results in meltdown and exhaustion. So only happens rarely and usually because it's an emergency. I really am learning from your videos, it's something I'm considering, I think it would help me join the world again. I withdrew in my early 40s, burnout. But I want to live again.

[saracookie]

Hi my name is Sara I just wanted to tell you I appreciate your video I have a daughter who's going to being diagnosed with autism she is two and a half and hearing you talk about your situation and feelings is helping me imagine what might be going through her mind thank you