Funding sought for project pairing autistic children with guide dogs

MORE funding is needed to ensure a successful pilot project pairing autistic children with guide dogs continues into the future, it was claimed yesterday.

The Assistance Dogs for Families of Children with Autism project was carried out last year and involved eight families. The project was carried out by the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind (IGDB) who said the project, based on a Canadian model, had been a huge success and helped transform the lives of the children and their families.

The first stage of the pilot scheme was completed before Christmas, with eight families involved. Now the second stage has begun with training being provided for another five families.