Programs that place autism service dogs with ADULTS?

The problem is that what these organizations are placing aren't service dogs but emotional support animals. They aren't actually trained to do anything for the person to mitigate their disability. In some cases they perform some tasks for the parent, in controlling the child, but no real tasks for the child him- or herself.

There are real service dogs for adults with autism. I know some people with autism who have autism service dogs. But they are exceedingly difficult to come by. There is some hope that Bergin will begin placing them and I think one other place was mentioned in a recent discussion on the Service Dog Central forum.

The problem is that autism service dogs are actually trained like cross-disability dogs. They need some guiding training, some signal work, and a few extra things that are autism specific. There's a big division between the guide dog trainers and the service/hearing dog trainers. Few will cross that line and train on both sides of the fence. This is changing, but very very slowly.

Anyway, I know two women on the SDC forum who have been discussing their searches for a program to work with and I'd recommend you look them up and see what advice they can give you

Autism Service Dogs For Adults

It sounds to me like that have something more than simply Aspergers, I've never heard of anyone with just Aspergers needing a service dog, though that doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Based on what you've mentioned it sounds like you have some traits that you might find with someone who as full-on autism (higher functioning) and some kind of anxiety disorder. You can ask around, but if you're just diagnosed with Aspergers and you've apparently coped with it for 20 years so far, it's unlikely that an outfit who trains service dogs would see you as a priority as they might feel that you're doing well enough without one and there are younger people who have more serious diagnoses that would be better candidates.

I would love to find this answer out to, I have an Autistic Niece and Nephew and I know at some point they will need assistance to. They have service dogs for almost all other ailments why not autistic adults?

I see your point. It seems the organizations only talk about service dogs for children.

Have you contacted them anyway and see if adults are included in their program and they just do not promote it as such?

Here is a link for the Autism Society of Michagan- Resources guide..maybe they can point you in the right direction.

http://www.autism-mi.org/resources/ask_the_expert....

I an autistic adult that is look for the same question and the link on this site is not working so please help me find the answer too please.