Before Lacey:
Joe was diagnosed with Autism when he was two and a half years old. Children with Autism are commonly not diagnosed until around this age and often have other associated problems – in Joe’s case delayed development, learning difficulties and reduced muscle tone.

As a result of the reduced muscle tone, Joe was also unable to walk until he was over two years old, so exercise to help build up the muscles is very important. But, because of the behavioural issues associated with Autism this was extremely difficult because it was almost impossible to take Joe out away from the home.

For example, whenever Joe was taken into a Supermarket he would find the environment very overwhelming or even frightening, but because of his Autism he would be unable to express this, so it often resulted in a severe temper tantrum. And this would be almost impossible to resolve because he also had no understanding and could not communicate his feelings.

In common with all children with Autism, Joe doesn’t understand danger, finds it difficult to express himself and interact and doesn’t respond well to commands. In the past this has frequently caused him to experience severe frustration which would then lead to uncontrollable behaviour - if he was in a situation that he was unhappy with, uncomfortable with or frightened by. In such situations, Joe would need to be restrained, often injuring his mum in the process even hurting himself because he was unable to express his feelings. This could take the form of pulling his own hair, scratching his face or banging his head.

Safety for Joe away from the home was perhaps the most worrying problem of all. It was almost impossible for Paula (his mum) to walk along the street holding Joe’s hand. He didn’t like the touch, would pull in the opposite direction and frequently try to bolt. He would look ahead but not down, often falling and hurting himself or alternatively completely refuse to move and as a result he needed to be restrained in a pushchair or trolley.

Joe’s Autism affected the whole family. They were unable to go out as a family, couldn’t visit friends or go to shops or restaurants. In fact they were unable to socialise at allto the extent that when Paula wanted to taker her older son for a long weekend in Blackpool, Joe had to be left at home with his grandmother.

Finding Lacey:
When Paula heard about an organisation in Canada that had been successfully training dogs for children with Autism and the amazing safety benefits they could offer, she was determined to find a similar solution for Joe.

She immediately contacted all the organisations that she was aware of in the UK that trained assistance dogs but initially with no success. Then, by chance, she was put in touch with Rita Howson Support Dogs’ Head of Training and Rita, on hearing her story, agreed to help her to try and find a suitable dog for Joe and to try and train the UK’s first partnership.

But, before Joe could be partnered with a trained Autism Assistance Dog it was important for him to be introduced into the company of the type of dog he would eventually be partnered with. Forfar Guide Dogs is close to where Paula and Joe live in Dundee and they were more than happy for Joe to go along and meet and play with some of their dogs so Paula could see how he would react to them.

Once a week Paula and Joe visited the dogs. They were introduced to him one at a time so that he could interact with them and experience their different temperaments, and it soon became clear that Joe loved to run and play with the dogs.

After many months of searching, Support Dogs selected a beautiful yellow Labrador called Lacey when it quickly became clear that she had all the necessary attributes to be an ideal Autism Assistance Dog for Joe. Lacey was introduced to him and a noticeable bond between the two formed almost immediately, Lacey staying close to Joe and following him with her eyes wherever he went.

It was in this way that the UK’s first Autism Assistance partnership was formed. Rita agreed to train Lacey and almost a year later she was placed as a permanent member of Paula and Joe’s family.

From day one the partnership has been a huge success!

Joe and Lacey:
From the very first time that Paula took Joe out with Lacey the transformation to all their lives has been incredible.

Paula had previously tried all kinds of toddler harnesses, to enable her to take Joe out, but he wouldn’t accept any of them. But he accepted the belt that attaches him to Lacey and her harness straight away and even on their first outing together he was like a different boy.

Paula is the facilitator in the partnership. She commands Lacey and through this is able to take Joe out safely, even to crowded public places, which would have been impossible before.

Joe is attached to Lacey’s harness (see pictures) and the dog is trained to make sure he cannot bolt and place himself in danger. For example, when they leave the house if Paula turns right and Joe tries to run off to the left, Lacey braces her body and keeps walking alongside Paula and Joe follows. He no longer has to endure situations such as having his hand held, which are very uncomfortable for him, but because of the close bond he has formed with Lacey is usually happy to walk calmly alongside her.

The remarkable bond that Joe and Lacey have formed, and the love he feels for the dog, have transformed his life in innumerable ways. He now seldom experiences fear and frustration, when away from home, so temper tantrums are now a rarity. He hasn’t hurt himself in over six months and his communication skills have improved beyond all recognition.

Before Lacey Joe could only say about 10 words, now he can construct whole sentences. He communicates with and through the dog as her steadying and reassuring presence when they are out in public has enabled him to interact with other people.

Previously people were very unlikely to communicate with Joe because he appeared very unapproachable, but now people often stop and ask him his dog’s name and Joe is able to look them in the face and sometimes even answers. Before Lacey he didn’t know the word mum or what it meant, now he does, he also knows and refers to Lacey by name.

At the centre of this partnership is a remarkable dog who has formed a unique and intuitive bond with Joe. Her influence is immense and her ability to understand Joe is such that now Paula can no longer imagine how families with children with Autism cope without a dog like Lacey.