Beatles tribute concert
Flying Circus preview
2010 Butler County Fair
Dog would serve student
Family, friends conduct fundraiser to get 8-year-old with autism a service dog.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Extras
Photos
Matthew Jones, 8, left, was diagnosed with autism two years ago and his family is hoping to raise $11,000 for 4 Paws for Ability for a service dog. The dog will be tethered to Matthew. Matthew is pictured with his mother, Amy Jones.
Matthew Jones, 8, was diagnosed with autism two years ago and his family is hoping to raise $11,000 for 4 Paws for Ability for a service dog. The dog will be tethered to Matthew. His mother, Amy Jones, said the trained dog can calm Matthew down when he becomes agitated.When Matthew Jones wakes up in the morning, his parents don't know which Matthew they'll get.
It could be a very happy 8-year-old, or one who is angry and easily agitated.
Matthew is a Fairfield West third-grader who has a twin sister, Laura, and an older brother, Dillon, 17. He is also autistic, diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified, or PDD-NOS, two years ago.
Matthew showed signs of autism when he was about 18 months old, his mother Amy Jones said. Doctors, though, had diagnosed him with everything but autism.
"We had a whole plethora of diagnosis before we ended up with autism — turrets (syndrome), obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety, mood disorder, ADHD," Jones said.
According to AutismSpeaks.org, those with PDD-NOS display some of the classic symptoms — difficulty socializing, repetitive behaviors, and heightened sensitivities to certain stimuli.
To help with his treatment, parents Amy and Travis want to get Matthew an service dog.
The dog would be tethered to Matthew, and protect and calm him when needed.
Getting it requires an $11,000 donation to 4 Paws for Ability, a Xenia organization focused on placing service dogs with disabled children.
A fundraiser will be conducted April 24 at Tori's Station on Donald Drive and include Fairfield High School's Choraliers, Pure Elegance and Rhythm Express. There will also be a silent auction and kids games.
The fundraiser is a requirement for 4 Paws.
The Jones hope the dog will give kids a reason to approach Matthew.
"It's a common denominator," Jones said. "Other kids can start conversations, they have something alike to start talking about — having more two-way friendships."
Matthew is fine, so long he gets things his way, but he's improving, Jones said.
