SPECIAL
PARENT
“HAPPINESS IS A WARM PUPPY.”
Charles Shulz
lending a p w
lthough the
Reed Academy welcomed
puppy quote
Myrtle, a 2-year-old yellow
above from
Labrador retriever.
the Peanuts
A dog provides “new reward
creator is one
opportunities for students and
of the simplest
different ways to motivate
and best-known canine compli-
them,” says Sarah Gilbert, a
ments, there are a multitude of
classroom consultant who is
quotes about dogs, praising their
part of the clinical team at Reed
loyalty, their compassion, their
and the staff member responsi-
kindness, their intelligence and
ble for Myrtle. “Additionally, we
their unconditional love. This is
can use formal programming
for a good reason.
for tolerating the presence of
Everyone could benefit from a
a dog. There are additional
cuddle and a soulful gaze; thus,
opportunities to practice
most people could probably
language and functional pro-
benefit from the presence of a
gramming for caring for dogs.”
dog. However, for some people,
She adds that the staff is
the positive effects of having a
introducing Myrtle slowly.
dog are even more profound.
“Some students are already
One in 45 children in New
excited and some are just get-
Jersey has autism. Studies have
ting used to it, but it is already a
shown that autistic individuals
successful program,” she says.
DOG-GONE BENEFITS Lisa Goldstein, Reed Academy’s director
with therapy dogs show more
At night, Myrtle goes home
of development, and Sarah Gilbert, a classroom consultant, with
independence, assertiveness,
with Lisa Goldstein, Reed
Myrtle, the school’s therapy dog.
confidence, and exhibit greater
Academy’s director of develop-
social skills. The dogs can pro-
ment. She notes that there
vide emotional support, reduce stress
specialized education that incorporates
is one service dog in a school of 39
and even ease sensory overload. Autism
science-based applied behavior analytic
students, most of whom would not have
Speaks has an entire page on its website
intervention services. Its primary goal
the opportunity to engage with a service
devotes to assistance dog resources.
is to maximize students’ abilities to
dog if not for this program. Goldstein
Guiding Eyes for the Blind, a national
function with the greatest degree of
adds that the program is so “special
nonprofit that trains and places guiding
independence possible.
because it is the first pilot program in
eye dogs with people that have vision
Dogs that are unable to perform all of
the country that places a highly-trained
loss, has teamed up with the Reed
the specific demands of a guide dog are
service dog into a school setting.”
Academy in Oakland for an innovative
released and provided to nonprofits as
Hopefully, this new collaboration
new pilot program. Reed Academy is
service dogs or placed up for adoption.
will lead to a program that can be mod-
a nonprofit school for children ages
These dogs are highly desirable and
eled and used throughout the country.
3-21 with Autism Spectrum
always have a long waiting
Goldstein calls Myrtle “a highlight of the
Disorders (ASD). The
list. By shifting to a school-
school day” for many children.
school is dedicated to
based model, Guiding Eyes
“She is a staff member, and her
providing children with
will allow more children
presence has been rewarding to the
guidingeyes.org
the highest standard
with ASD to benefit.
whole community,” she says. ●
reedacademy.org
of individualized and
At the end of January,
– LESLIE PERLMUTTER
RESOURCES
autismspeaks.org
16
JUNE/JULY 2017 | (201) FAMILY
NorthJersey .com
A
THERAPY DOGS PLAY A BIG ROLE AT REED ACADEMY