A Service Dog for Ariel
a story that makes you want to help
“I struggle to do fun things that everyone else can, like going to museums, going out places, and being social. I even have a hard time going to friend’s houses for birthday parties.” – Ariel, 11 years old
After years of struggling to cope with and understand her overwhelming symptoms, Ariel was finally diagnosed with Autism. This helped explain a lifetime of challenges Ariel had been battling without really understanding why. Ariel has tremendous difficulty with large crowds, sensory stimuli, travel, storms, changes in routine, and is bombarded with constant worry. Once Ariel gets overstimulated or overwhelmed, she is unable to recover and this often leads to distressing, paralyzing meltdowns. Suffering from such meltdowns and being vulnerable so many things she must encounter in the world, deeply affects Ariel’s school life, home life, relationships, and, most severely, Ariel’s self-esteem.
At the moment, Ariel prefers to spend most of her time at home in her bedroom alone, although she longs for the friendships that she is unable to develop at her current level of functioning.
Ariel has many strengths and coping mechanisms but her symptoms often inhibit her ability to utilize them. A service dog alerting to Ariel’s symptoms before she might otherwise be aware of them will enable Ariel to utilize her coping mechanisms prior to her symptoms escalating to the point of not being able to function enough to do so. A service dog will help Ariel remain grounded and feel safe. This will improve her self-esteem, help her manage school independently and allow her to participate in activities that kids her age enjoy.
Please contribute to Ariel’s campaign for a service dog so that she may get the help she needs to thrive at this critical time in her life.
PLEASE DONATE FAST. SAFE. SECURE
