Career Journey
Service Dogs Help Keep Children with Autism Safe
An Interview with Michelle Brier, Co-founder of BluePath Service Dogs®
April 2020
An Interview with Michelle Brier, Co-founder of BluePath Service Dogs®
April 2020
Photo Credit: Mark Liflander
About Michelle:
Michelle Brier is co-founder of BluePath Service Dogs®, a nonprofit organization that trains and matches service dogs with children with autism and their families. She has a deep passion for these dogs and their ability to profoundly transform people’s lives.
Michelle is an accomplished marketing and development executive with experience in national and local nonprofits, including the American Red Cross and Guiding Eyes for the Blind. At each of these organizations, she was involved in the strategic development and execution of business and fundraising plans and oversaw significant growth efforts.
Michelle received three New York “40 under 40” leadership awards and was recognized by Bedford Magazine as one of the “25 most influential and creative” individuals in the area. She volunteers as an Emergency Medical Technician and provides training for first responders on working with individuals with special needs and handling service dogs in emergency situations.
Michelle Brier is co-founder of BluePath Service Dogs®, a nonprofit organization that trains and matches service dogs with children with autism and their families. She has a deep passion for these dogs and their ability to profoundly transform people’s lives.
Michelle is an accomplished marketing and development executive with experience in national and local nonprofits, including the American Red Cross and Guiding Eyes for the Blind. At each of these organizations, she was involved in the strategic development and execution of business and fundraising plans and oversaw significant growth efforts.
Michelle received three New York “40 under 40” leadership awards and was recognized by Bedford Magazine as one of the “25 most influential and creative” individuals in the area. She volunteers as an Emergency Medical Technician and provides training for first responders on working with individuals with special needs and handling service dogs in emergency situations.
About BluePath Service Dogs®:
A large number of children with autism demonstrate a propensity to “bolt” or wander away from their families which poses a significant threat to their well-being and can make trips outside the home feel extremely frightening. BluePath’s expertly trained autism service dogs work alongside parents and caregivers to prevent wandering and keep children safe. A dog is connected to a child via a specially designed tether system, and the dog is trained to “anchor” in response to the child’s attempts to bolt.
BluePath dogs significantly reduce parents’ safety concerns. The service dogs also help children with more meaningful social interactions and allow families to feel a renewed sense of hope and empowerment.
BluePath receives no government funding and provides service dogs free of charge. The organization relies on the generosity of donors and volunteers to fulfill their mission. Volunteers, donors, clients, and staff work as a team with a shared goal - to transform lives and help to build a better world...one dog and one child at a time.
A large number of children with autism demonstrate a propensity to “bolt” or wander away from their families which poses a significant threat to their well-being and can make trips outside the home feel extremely frightening. BluePath’s expertly trained autism service dogs work alongside parents and caregivers to prevent wandering and keep children safe. A dog is connected to a child via a specially designed tether system, and the dog is trained to “anchor” in response to the child’s attempts to bolt.
BluePath dogs significantly reduce parents’ safety concerns. The service dogs also help children with more meaningful social interactions and allow families to feel a renewed sense of hope and empowerment.
BluePath receives no government funding and provides service dogs free of charge. The organization relies on the generosity of donors and volunteers to fulfill their mission. Volunteers, donors, clients, and staff work as a team with a shared goal - to transform lives and help to build a better world...one dog and one child at a time.
Myrna Beth Haskell, managing editor, spoke with Michelle about the reasoning behind finding BluePath, details about what the service dogs are trained to do to help children with autism and how they are able to find good matches for families in need of this special service.
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What was the inspiration behind founding BluePath Service Dogs?
I was Director of Marketing and Communications at Guiding Eyes for the Blind, and a program for children with autism ran for nine years. We served 90 families, and this program made a big difference in the lives of those children and families. In 2016, the program was eliminated at Guiding Eyes – they were returning to their core mission of serving the blind – and a large gap was left for these families. I have two of the best partners in the world [Dr. Jody Sandler, president and CEO, and Caroline McCabe, vice president of training programs]. It was a lot of work to get started. We had to start with puppies, and these puppies needed readiness training which lasts about two years. In November 2018, we matched our first service dogs. Today, we have 12 service dogs placed with children with autism and their families, and we plan to place eight to ten more later this year. We are seeing a 30% year to year increase in dogs serving families. These families live within a two-hour driving radius from Dutchess County, NY, so that they are close enough for us to visit, support and interview families in person. |
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How do service pets help children with autism?
A big part of the service is to help caregivers take children to places outside of the home. Many of these children have wandering behaviors – they try to bolt or escape. They’re attracted to water, but many cannot swim. They might run out into the street, etc. Therefore, parents feel safer venturing out to public places with the help of a trained service dog.
A big part of the service is to help caregivers take children to places outside of the home. Many of these children have wandering behaviors – they try to bolt or escape. They’re attracted to water, but many cannot swim. They might run out into the street, etc. Therefore, parents feel safer venturing out to public places with the help of a trained service dog.
Alex & Clancy
Photo Courtesy: BluePath Service Dogs |
The dogs wear a vest, and a cord connects the vest to the child’s waist. The dog is trained to ‘anchor’ [stop or ‘anchor’ when a child tries to bolt]. Then, the child is redirected by his/her caregiver to continue through the parking lot, down the beach, through a crowded mall, etc.
In addition, service dogs provide help with reducing anxiety, calming a child with sensory overload and with connectedness and social interactions. “Without BluePath service dog Clancy, I wouldn't be home right now to write this... I'd be at the hospital at best. My son Alex ran from our car in a crowded parking lot this afternoon. Without being given a command, Clancy dropped down and stopped Alex as a car came speeding down the row. We are indebted to BluePath for keeping Alex safe. Mixed into Clancy's bowl tonight was a little extra kibble and a couple of tears.” ~ Sandi Millman |
Are there certain breeds that are usually used?
Yes. We use Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers and Labrador-golden crossbreeds.
What type of training do the dogs go through, and how long does this take before a dog is matched with a child?
These are ‘purpose-bred’ dogs [dogs that perform a specific job/service]. They need to have a specific temperament. We have a volunteer puppy raiser program. These puppy raisers have the dogs from 2 to about 18 months. We provide training to the raisers about how to teach basic obedience, house manners and socialization in various environments, such as supermarkets and malls.
Yes. We use Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers and Labrador-golden crossbreeds.
What type of training do the dogs go through, and how long does this take before a dog is matched with a child?
These are ‘purpose-bred’ dogs [dogs that perform a specific job/service]. They need to have a specific temperament. We have a volunteer puppy raiser program. These puppy raisers have the dogs from 2 to about 18 months. We provide training to the raisers about how to teach basic obedience, house manners and socialization in various environments, such as supermarkets and malls.
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At around 18 months, formal training with professional instruction-specific service dog skills begins. This is when the dogs are taught ‘anchoring’ and ‘visiting’ (where the dog rests his head on an arm or leg during a tough sensory moment or to calm the child down, etc.).
BluePath also partners with school districts so that the service dogs can experience all types of classroom environments, such as special needs classrooms and inclusion classrooms. The Kids and Canines Learning Together Program offers our dogs the opportunity to spend time in educational settings where they’re exposed to children with a variety of special needs. The dogs learn to remain calm and focused, despite a high level of distraction, while the kids learn important life skills through interaction with the dogs. (bluepathservicedogs.org) Do families get to choose the dog, or does BluePath match the service dogs with families? We match the services dogs with the families to be sure there is a good ‘fit.’ Some dogs thrive in city environments and some in country settings. The lifestyle of the family is taken into account as well. Does the family attend sporting events frequently? Do they travel the world? Then, there are things we look at specifically with the child. For instance, some children love to be licked, and others are repulsed by it. |
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“Kaitlin was nine when she first bolted from me and was almost hit by a car. Her bolting had become a big problem, and I was overcome with worry and fear, wondering how I was going to protect her. It’s heartwarming to see her smile again, after just a couple of weeks with Chester by her side, and we are relieved she will once again be safe.” ~ Nancy Flaherty |
We visit the family twice for general assessments. We bring several dogs to find a good fit. It’s imperative that parents/caregivers are fully committed to do some of the work. So, we’re also assessing the investment of the parent(s) on these visits. We want to make sure they understand their purpose.* This works because all three parts work as a team: child/service dog/caregiver. There is a tremendous amount of time and resources that go into placement. It costs about $40,000, and this is NOT passed on to the family – it’s fully funded. We do quite a bit of data collection. There’s not a lot of research about service dogs for children with autism. We look at six month increments and track a child’s behavioral changes from data taken prior to a child’s receiving the dog to milestone points in the journey. Our qualitative data is very positive. |
*Parents are taught the dogs’ commands and how to utilize the dogs to redirect behaviors and keep their children safe. They learn the guidelines associated with the Americans with Disabilities Act and how to responsibly travel with their service dogs in public. They also study dog health and grooming, ensuring they will provide our dogs with optimum care. (bluepathservicedogs.org)
How long do families keep the dog?
A service dog’s working life continues until about the age of 10 to 12 years. After that, the dog retires as a 'pet' and stays with the family. All dogs stay with the children for the course, unless there is some sort of big change in circumstances (for example, the service dog’s retirement or death). A child would get a ‘successor’ service dog if the need for a service dog was still required.
Is staff trained to understand the behaviors of children on the spectrum?
Service dogs used as aides for children with autism began a little over 20 years ago in pilot programs in Canada and Ireland. Caroline [Caroline McCabe, co-founder] went to Canada to learn about how a program like this works. We train everyone who works with us. They also learn a lot through process and working with the families through which they get a wide frame of reference about individuals on the spectrum [and their unique needs].
How long do families keep the dog?
A service dog’s working life continues until about the age of 10 to 12 years. After that, the dog retires as a 'pet' and stays with the family. All dogs stay with the children for the course, unless there is some sort of big change in circumstances (for example, the service dog’s retirement or death). A child would get a ‘successor’ service dog if the need for a service dog was still required.
Is staff trained to understand the behaviors of children on the spectrum?
Service dogs used as aides for children with autism began a little over 20 years ago in pilot programs in Canada and Ireland. Caroline [Caroline McCabe, co-founder] went to Canada to learn about how a program like this works. We train everyone who works with us. They also learn a lot through process and working with the families through which they get a wide frame of reference about individuals on the spectrum [and their unique needs].
Do the children help with the care of the dog?
It depends on the child, but the majority of the children are involved with feeding and grooming the dog. This helps to teach them how to care for the dog, and a special connection is made in the process. It also helps to teach children on the spectrum empathy. In many cases, the children are non-verbal, but their connection with their dog requires no language.
We are in the midst of a Coronavirus pandemic which requires social distancing. Are there special obstacles for these children and/or the services they receive?
Although the service dogs are not aiding with travel outside the home, they are still providing service in the family’s home. Distance learning is a big challenge for some of these children because many on the spectrum find it difficult to deal with change. There is someone in one of our families who is now using a Chromebook for her studies. Her service dog provides comfort while she works, but the dog also serves as a companion during needed down time…he plays with her in her backyard.
It depends on the child, but the majority of the children are involved with feeding and grooming the dog. This helps to teach them how to care for the dog, and a special connection is made in the process. It also helps to teach children on the spectrum empathy. In many cases, the children are non-verbal, but their connection with their dog requires no language.
We are in the midst of a Coronavirus pandemic which requires social distancing. Are there special obstacles for these children and/or the services they receive?
Although the service dogs are not aiding with travel outside the home, they are still providing service in the family’s home. Distance learning is a big challenge for some of these children because many on the spectrum find it difficult to deal with change. There is someone in one of our families who is now using a Chromebook for her studies. Her service dog provides comfort while she works, but the dog also serves as a companion during needed down time…he plays with her in her backyard.
Anything else you’d like our readers to know?
This is a unique service we provide, and it is free of charge for our families. We are always looking for volunteers and supporters. Readers can find a variety of volunteer opportunities, such as becoming a puppy raiser, a sitter or a driver, from our website.
Of course, we are always looking for donations.
Where do you find sanctuary?
At the top of a mountain with my German shepherd – she is my best buddy. I love to go hiking with her. At the top of the mountain, you can look at the world from a different perspective. There’s a peace when I’m in these moments with her.
This is a unique service we provide, and it is free of charge for our families. We are always looking for volunteers and supporters. Readers can find a variety of volunteer opportunities, such as becoming a puppy raiser, a sitter or a driver, from our website.
Of course, we are always looking for donations.
Where do you find sanctuary?
At the top of a mountain with my German shepherd – she is my best buddy. I love to go hiking with her. At the top of the mountain, you can look at the world from a different perspective. There’s a peace when I’m in these moments with her.
Photo Credit: Melissa Joy Davis
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