Give the Star Child Healing Dog" public welfare project organizers, co-organizers and autistic families Photo courtesy of the event.
This newspaper (chinatimesnet.CN) reporters Shi Wenjun and Wang Xiaohui report from Beijing.
Autism, also known as autism, is a pervasive developmental disorder that seriously endangers children's physical and mental health, and the cause of the disease is still unknown and there is a lack of effective drugs, which has become one of the most important mental illnesses in children. According to the "Specification for Autism Screening and Intervention Services for Children Aged 0-6 (Trial)" issued by the General Office of the National Health Commission, the current prevalence of autism in children in China is about 7, and it is showing an increasing trend.
It is understood that children with autism often have difficulty recognizing and expressing their emotional experiences and establishing secure attachment relationships with other people. Scientific studies have proven that interactions with animals have a positive effect on children with autism. Autism assistance dogs can help children with autism to reduce emotional outbursts and improve social skills.
Recently, the "Healing Dogs for Star Children" public welfare project ** conference was held in Guangzhou, and the first batch of autistic assistance dogs in the country met with autistic children for the first time at the event. It is reported that the public fundraising support of the public welfare project is the Sichuan Science and Technology Poverty Alleviation Association, and the project is sponsored by the Apai Care Small Animal Social Development Center in Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, and co-organized by the Shanghai Guide Dog School and the Bilibala Child Development Center.
Autism Assistance Dogs: The link between children with autism and the world
The reporter of "China Times" learned that the autism assistance dog has a stable and enthusiastic personality, loves humans, likes to communicate with people, and has a strong obedience and learning ability. Autism assistance dogs can help children with autism between the ages of 3 and 12 by providing them with safety, companionship and unconditional love.
At the same time, the companionship of assistance dogs can allow relatives of autistic children who are in a state of tension and fatigue to get more time to rest or work, and relieve the financial pressure on the family; What's more, assistance dogs also play an important role in ensuring the physical safety of children with autism, especially through anchoring movements to prevent children with autism from running and getting lost uncontrollably.
The reporter learned that a qualified autism assistance dog needs to memorize dozens of passwords and provide unconditional support at any time when children need them. At this press conference, Zhang Shiping, the chief trainer of Shanghai Guide Dog School, led 3 autism assistance dogs Harley, Ellie and Harry, who had just graduated from the assessment in December 2023, to show 3 important and commonly used passwords for autistic families: one is to visit, when gentle pressure is needed, the dog will only use its head to rest on the child's lap and stay for a period of time; The second is to embrace hugs and use this command when deep pressure is needed. The dog puts its full body weight on the child, which can be sitting on the floor, sofa or bed; The third is to anchor the halt, the dog stops (anchors), so that the child can not run away, to ensure its safety.
In addition, the reporter learned that the assistance dog Harley has a warm and active personality, Harry is gentle and polite, and Ellie is exceptionally steady, although the three autistic assistance dogs have different personalities, but in the face of autistic children, they all show extra gentleness and patience.
The child's first contact with the first autism assistance dogs: happy, happy
At the event, three autism assistance dogs had their first contact with three autistic children. With the encouragement of the assistance dog trainer and parents, the children carefully stroked the assistance dog and received a gentle response.
The assistance dog will lie down in front of the child with autism to express trust and safety, and encourage the child to contact the activity party Courtesy of the activity.
11-year-old Li Jinlu child is a chronic child, the first time he saw the assistance dog Harley, Li Jinlu seemed very shy and refused to take the initiative to step forward, but under the encouragement of his grandmother and driven by curiosity, he bravely stepped forward and gently touched Harley's dark and shiny back hair, and then hid behind his grandmother, silently paying attention to the next meeting.
The 5-year-old Zeng Junan has a cheerful personality and basic self-care and language skills. He is very friendly to the assistance dog Ellie, and wants to share the game console in his hand with the dog. In a short period of time, Zeng Jun'an's child was able to get along well with the dog, and when Zeng Jun'an's child's hand was licked by Yili, he was first taken aback, and then laughed happily.
Ruan Yifan, a 5-year-old child, refused to touch it at first, and the assistance dog Harry meekly lay down and expressed his friendliness, and the assistance dog trainer and parents took the initiative to pet the dog and told him that this animal was not scary, but our friend. Ruan Yifan gradually began to try to touch, and after getting the dog's gentle feedback, he liked it more and more.
The reporter of "China Times" learned that after this press conference, the public welfare project of "Giving Star Child Healing Dogs" will continue to carry out a 10-day activity of "matching the most suitable autistic families for autism assistance dogs for free". During this period, the families of autistic children who sign up for this activity will further contact with autistic assistance dogs, learn effective passwords, and autistic assistance dogs will gradually integrate into the families of autistic children. The assistance dog trainer will conduct one-on-one consultation and communication with the registered family, and record and test the integration of the assistance dog and the family.
In order for more autistic families to get the help of assistance dogs, the "Give Star Children Healing Dogs" project is recruiting autistic families across the country, matching autism assistance dogs for free, and continuously supporting professional dog training teams to train more qualified and excellent autism assistance dogs.
Editor-in-charge: Zhou Nan Editor-in-chief: Wang Xiaohui.