Oslo the Labrador teaches Emily 7 to laugh for the first time
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Dogs have been everyone’s best friend during the pandemic, bringing laughter and affection in the darkest times. For a little girl, however, who was trapped in a silent world, her black Labrador, Oslo, helped her laugh and even say words every now and then.
Emily Chilvers, 7, lives with nonverbal autism. Her father, project manager Steven Chilvers, 42, and accountant mother Dawn, 48, quickly noticed that while her twin sister, Olivia, was reaching the usual milestones, Emily was not and, aged two. and a half years old, she was diagnosed. with autism.
Steven, from Long Buckby, Northamptonshire, said: “Comparing the development of the twins, it was obvious early enough that there was something a little different with Emily.”
An assessment resulted in a diagnosis of autism – which may mean that people have difficulty communicating and interacting with others, also have difficulty understanding how others think or feel, as well as lights or noises. loud overwhelming, stressful or uncomfortable.
âEmily’s diagnosis was no surprise. We pretty much knew that because the signs were there, âsays Steve.
“She was non-verbal, didn’t make eye contact, and played repetitively.” He added: âHis diagnosis just meant that we could start to access the help we needed. “
To concern:
Emily also finds having clothes and shoes overwhelming and, until very recently, could only tolerate one particular item of clothing when she stepped out – a red dress. âFortunately, her grandmother is a wonderful dressmaker,â Steve said, âso as Emily grew older she made her larger versions of the red dress using the exact same material.
“But obviously not wearing shoes meant getting her out of the house was a really hard thing to do.”
While looking for ways to improve Emily’s life, her parents found that dogs could help her cope with everyday things, like socializing and going out.
Steven said, âMy mom has always had dogs so I understand the support and comfort you can get from animals. And Emily has always loved animals – the bigger the better. She really loves cows.
Read more: Coping With Seizures As A Parent: Autism Experts On How To Stay Calm
“But it wasn’t until Dawn researched the type of help available for children with autism online that she found Dogs for Good.”
It’s a charity that pairs people with disabilities with specially trained service dogs, and Emily’s parents thought it was a wonderful idea.
âWe wondered if this was something that could benefit Emily, so we filled out an entry form, went through the evaluation process and waited for the right match,â said Steven. âWe were paired with Oslo, an 18 month old black Labrador and we knew from the first meeting that he was the right fit.
“He came to visit his instructor and Emily responded very positively right away.”
Before returning home in July 2019, Oslo completed a four-month training program.
âThey trained him in things like socializing and taught him how to deal with various situations.
“It is remarkable the work the charity is doing to make sure these dogs are fully prepared for their new home.”
Since Oslo became part of the family, Steven says he’s been a crucial factor in Emily’s development.
âShe was really horny and squealing the day he moved in. We let her run into the back garden and she couldn’t take her eyes off him. Since that day, Emily has made giant strides, âadds Steven.
âWe have noticed that her speech has really developed. She will say ‘Oslo’, ‘hug’ and ‘dog’ now as well as phrases like ‘take Oslo for a walk’.
“She was never good at getting up in the morning, but now we send Oslo to her room armed with sniffs and licks and all we hear is Emily chuckling, which is obviously a much better way. for her to start the day. “
Oslo also helped Emily tolerate clothing. She will now wear slip-on shoes and a coat over her red dress, as she knows that means she can then go for a walk with her beloved dog.
âAfter a few short walks that calmed her down, Emily is now happy to grab onto the Oslo harness and go for a walk with us to local stores to buy ice cream,â Steven said.
Read more: World Autism Awareness Day: What It’s Like To Have A Loved One On The Spectrum
âShe’s really happy to be with him and the other day she even sat next to him to give him a hug. For a non-cuddly child, this is a big thing and a clear demonstration of their connection to him.
Oslo’s calming presence even helped her tolerate family outings. âWe recently went to the Sea Life Center in Birmingham which was a lot of fun and we all had a great time. We also went to Hunstanton beach and on the way back we stopped for a coffee and a break to services.
âThese are simple things, but we could never have done them until Oslo came into our lives and provided a positive direction for Emily,â Steven said.
âShe’s really come out of her shell since we adopted Oslo. We recommend that any family in our position do the same. Oslo has really changed our lives.
Dogs for Good, alongside her charitable partner MORE THAN Insurance, is helping families like Emily’s gain unparalleled support from a service dog like Oslo. For more information on the association, visit: www.dogsforgood.org
Additional reports, PA
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