Charity: Dogs for Autism UK

Dogs for Autism is the only charity to provide assistance dogs free of charge to autistic people of any age, anywhere in the UK. The people we work with struggle daily as a result of autism, and encounter profound barriers to experiencing their world, battling with social interaction and social communication, leading to isolation, depression and anxiety. They can have issues with change and routine, independence and feelings of loneliness. Sensory overload can lead to a meltdown or shutdown. With the help of an assistance dog their potential is unlocked in a way that no other interventions achieve, providing a lifeline where no comparable help is available. The changes that take place are transformational, improving independence, mental health and self-esteem, enabling them to access education and the workplace and families to access the community as a unit in ways which had been lost to them.