Saint Francis Service Dogs is a non-profit organization that helps injured US veterans, children, and adults with disabilities to become more independent and self-sufficient through partnerships with professionally trained service dogs. Let’s meet six-year-old Micah and his Saint Francis Service Dog, Asia!
Micah has Autism Spectrum Disorder and needs help cleaning up his room. Asia picks things up, which motivates Micah to help. She gives Micah confidence in new places and helps him to use words to communicate. Asia is Micah’s best friend and teaches him to play and share. She provides compression for him, which eases his muscle spasms associated with autism, and helps him to calm down when he feels anxious.
Asia has made it possible for Micah to go to new places that used to cause him anxiety. She makes him brave and confident, calming him down when Micah has meltdowns caused by autism.
When Asia is by Micah’s side, there’s no worry or stress. Micah knows that if Asia is willing and brave enough to walk confidently into a busy store, touch new textures in the museum, and ignore loud noises, then he can do it, too. He often wants Asia to go first and then he will follow her.
It’s hard for Micah to attach to people, or even look at them, but he’s very connected to Asia — he confides in her, gives her affection, and truly cares about her.
Micah’s mother Rachel says, “I am incredibly grateful that my son has somebody who sees HIM, and doesn’t just see autism. Asia is loving and non-judgmental. She doesn’t care what people think about Micah and doesn’t care if Micah talks differently or if he doesn’t do things like everybody else — she loves him for HIM.”
The best part of having Asia is seeing Micah grow more confident and happy with his best friend by his side. Asia is Micah’s rock in what can sometimes be a storm.
