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Family, school officials prepare for first service dog at JHS

Daily News - 7/23/2017

July 23--When Diania Alfonso and her husband, Chief Warrant Officer Carlos Alfonso, learned their son, Tony, had autism their world became surrounded by labels.

For years after, the Alfonso family worked tirelessly to go against the grain and to educate themselves on Tony's diagnosis. Non-verbal and prone to seizures, the Alfonso family admits many times throughout Tony's life they were met with opposition to provide Tony with as normal of a childhood as they could.

"When your child is diagnosed with autism, everything you dreamt about for your child gets taken away from you," Diania Alfonso confessed openly. "So, we've really had to lean on one another, build up one another, and become advocates for our son. We walked through coals with autism and after hearing Tony was diagnosed with it, we went into warrior mode."

For the Alfonso family, Warrior Mode has a very special meaning. In essence, it's a call to arms.

"It means, throw some books at me! It's me demanding to know, what do I need to know and in return I will be very honest about my experience thereafter," Alfonso explained.

Then, one day, over Facebook someone asked if, as a family, they would be open to the possibility of obtaining a service dog for Tony.

Always in the public school system with an "individualized education plan," Alfonso admittedly didn't think, at first, a service dog would benefit Tony. Then she delved deeper into the suggestion.

"I was so narrow minded about it all," she said. "I thought, aren't service dogs only for the blind? Or for the physically disabled? But, the idea to have a service dog help Tony live his life kept gnawing at me. The more I researched, the more I learned about the different things service dogs can do."

Not just used for those who may be deaf, blind, or physically challenged, service dogs have also been widely used for veterans who suffer from PTSD, those who suffer from severe anxiety, and even for those whom live with diabetes. And the list continues to grow including assisting those with autism.

Manners are important. Padre can't walk through a door before Tony, for example. And Padre also can't eat food off the table or off the floor. He also can't get out of the car before his handler,

Diania Alfonso

Often thought of as "unique in the world of working dogs" the service dog trained to help those with autism is unlike the guide dog who helps with physical tasks, because they offer emotional support by simply just being there as a companion to help ease sensory overload -- a common challenge for those with autism. Since those with autism are often unable to filter out sensory input and usually unable to ignore or redirect stimuli, a service dog helps ground environmental experiences. More over, since most individuals with autism have no concept of personal safety, a working dog tethered to a child from its harness has the ability to help prevent the child from bolting into traffic.

Alfonso says she discovered within her quest to find the right service dog training organization, which organizations were in it for the money and who was genuinely devoted to providing proper assistance for those who need it.

3K9 Working Dogs, a nonprofit founded by Michelle Page, stepped in just at the right moment.

Located in coastal North Carolina, 3K9 Working Dogs exists, according to their website, "to protect and preserve the lives of people and animals around the globe by training eligible canines to work in service, therapy, conservation, and search and rescue programs."

Enter Padre, Tony's specially trained Labradoodle who will be the first service dog to ever attend Jacksonville High School.

In the beginning, selecting the right breed was critical, Alfonso explained. A hypoallergenic dog in case Tony develops an allergy to pet dander or hair would be a benefit that could also help within the public schools system where others may have allergies. Additionally, every detail about Tony was carefully taken into consideration including his height and weight, so that Tony's service dog could help prevent Tony from breaking free and running away. With no sense of awareness for danger, Tony needed a service dog ready to "brace in place."

"We needed a dog stronger than Tony," Alfonso described. "Certain things startle him, like a balloon popping, air shows, and carnivals -- these are things that can be dangerous and cause Tony to run out into the street."

Padre is also trained to be a weighted blanket as a form of pressure therapy, which will help Tony reduce his anxiety and stress.

"It looks like a giant hug," Alfonso joked happily. "Padre's job is to connect when Tony rocks back and forth, that's a good time for Padre to, well, hug him."

The assimilation, however, is not without risks or rules.

After attending an event called Handler Week which takes place in New Bern and is geared towards helping the service dog family become properly acclimated as handlers, they learned how imperative it is to adhere to each and every guideline. Padre will even have a strict portion rich diet to commit to since he will in essence be working all the time.

"Manners are important. Padre can't walk through a door before Tony, for example. And Padre also can't eat food off the table or off the floor. He also can't get out of the car before his handler," said Alfonso.

Another big fear for the Alfonso family, how will Padre behave in church or in a restaurant? There is also the possibility those unfamiliar with service dog decorum could undo portions of Padre's extensive training -- training that took a total of 18 months before padre could finally move in with the Alfonso Family. And it's this that, perhaps, scares the Alfonso family the most.

Suzie Ulbrich from the Onslow County School System said the Alfonsos will meet with school officials to begin acclimating Padre to the school environment.

"(Onslow County Schools) has a policy regarding service animals in school, but adheres to all ADA guidelines. (The Alfonso family) has been advised to schedule a meeting with administrators and appropriate staff at Jacksonville High School prior to the start of school. At that time, they will create a plan to integrate Padre into the school environment, to include appropriate training of school personnel and students regarding proper interaction with Padre and his handler. Part of this will be making sure everyone is comfortable with Padre," Ulbrich said.

In August the faculty of Jacksonville High School will do their own kind of training, learning specific commands and lesson plans for Padre and Tony. Still, Alfonso says she worries someone may assume, one little squeeze of the ear won't hurt when actually it will. Even the Alfonso family must remember, giving Padre belly rubs or constant affection and not backing away as to allow Tony to "be Padre's most important person" will take away Tony's worth.

A good way to view the relationship, according to Alfonso, "Tony must be Padre's sun, whereas I must be the moon."

Ulbrich further advises that it is important to remember that Padre is a working dog, not a school mascot.

The process is a journey for all -- Padre included. Alfonso said she will be accompanying Tony and Padre for the first week at school for about three hours a day to make sure all goes smoothly. Then Padre will officially take over the job.

"Our family adventure continues. And that's okay," Alfonso said. She paused a moment to think about the future for her son. Part of being a parent to a child with autism is about celebrating, she assures, the little things all too many takes for granted. While the Alfonso family may not be able to look forward to taking that stereotypical family vacation, the Alfonso's certainly do look forward to something far more validating -- a new maybe even "normal" experience in high school for their son.

"I want Tony to get that -- Hey, Tony! -- in the hallway," Alfonso admitted hopefully. "And, maybe fist bump, too."

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