Sensory Overload.

 

Sensory overload.

Many people, including neurotypical individuals, struggle with sensory overload. Some individuals can tolerate this sensory overload. They will develop strategies to help them tolerate these sensory overload.

Autism and sensory processing difficulties often go hand in hand.

We're often told, "oh yes the lights are quite bright, I'll turn them down/off."

But sensory overload is not just bright lights. If an environment is too busy - lots of people or even lots of information/colours/posters/decorations on walls/ceiling and so on, this can cause sensory overload. Big smells from food and drinks. The texture of clothing or other items. There are many sensory inputs that can cause sensory overload.

For those individuals who have sensory processing difficulties, turning the lights off, turning music down, isn't the solution.

What does sensory processing difficulties feel like? It differs from individual to individual. O has always been, and still is, very articulate in describing how she feels. L is now much the same.

O .... "If your skin feels like it is crawling when you hear someone crunching on ice cubes, you might be able to imagine how sensory overload feels. But now add in that the constant continuing overwhelming sensory input that makes your skin feel like it is literally crawling and itching all the time. Your brain hurts like you have a migraine, to the point that you feel like your head is going to explode. Sounds feel like they're echoing around your head with a constant ringing in your ears. And nothing you do, can ease these sensations. The sensory overload may cause your brain to shut down, and cause the flight fight freeze response to take over. Once these feelings take hold, there is nothing you can do except escape from that environment. And it's not just sounds that cause sensory overload. Bright lights, clothing textures, places that are busy with people. Any sensory input collides with every other sensory input causing a tsunami of sensory overload."

I always thought that I was being overly dramatic with sensory inputs. I'd tell myself that I was fine and had to tolerate the sensory inputs. Now I know that I'm not being dramatic. I have sensory processing difficulties and I allow myself to react and respond to the overload.

So next time an Autistic individual tells you that they feel like they are becoming overwhelmed by the sensory input, ask, what you can do to help them.

Communication

How do Assistance Dogs communicate with our hoomans when we need them to pay attention to us?

Through our actions and at times barking!

When my boi runs away, I bark once and then sit and wait for my family to give me the command to track my boi.

When I see my boy hurting himself, I begin nuzzling him to redirect him to me. Sometimes I just go and lay on my boi!

I even go and nudge my boi, and my mum, with my nose when I sense that they need a break.

And my intelligent disobedience skills are paw-some! There are times when I know better, so I will not obey a command and make my boi doing something else instead. One day I saw my boy walking towards a road, so I dragged my Mum towards him and then pushed my boi back onto the footpath.

All Assistance Dogs will communicate with their owners in different ways!

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Come with us to Equine Therapy!

Come with us to Equine Therapy!

Equine Therapy is more than just spending time with the horses.

Equine Therapy is building a connection with your horse.

Equine Therapy is about learning new emotional regulation skills and putting them into practice.

Equine Therapy is learning how to communicate with the horses. Learning how to care for the horses - grooming them before and after riding, washing the horses down, getting their feed proportions correct.

Equine Therapy is learning to communicate with your horse while riding, giving the correct commands, seating positions on the saddle or bareback, learning to ride with no reins and controlling the speed and direction of the horse by moving your legs.

Equine Therapy is learning how to strengthen your core muscles.

Equine Therapy is more than just spending time with horses.

2023 Christmas Countdown

Christmas Countdown with Alaska and Henry!

In the lead up to Christmas, we participated in the daily prompts that In Paws We Trust were posting.

#teamhenry #henrythehero #teamalaska #autismassistancedogs #assistancedogsaustralia #labradorsofinstagram #assistancedogs #dogsofinstagram #workingdogsofaustralia #assistancedogawareness #workingdogsbooks #assistancedogsofinstagram #educatingfamilies #inspireyoungminds #inspiringyoungminds #readgrowinspire #childrensliteracy

The Helpie Kelpie!

  ***Please note that we do not receive commissions of any kind for reviews. We're simply sharing products that we find useful.***

Books, books and more books! Yet another paw-some book landed on our doorstep during the week. A book about a different type of working dog!

The Helpie Kelpie and the tool thief is written by yet another Australian author, Alicia Case.

Inca, the Helpie Kelpie and the star of the book, is a rescue Kelpie who goes to work with her Dad on construction sites. As the title suggests, there's a tool thief and Inca is in the right place at the right time.

So what are O and L's take on the book?

Me: What do you think about this book?

L: This is a good story. Inca is very cute and he's a Kelpie like Alaska! That's cool!

O: This is a really good story. There are so many different types of working dogs, and not just Assistance Dogs. Work sites would have dogs on them.

L: Uncle Pat is a tradie?

Me: He sure is.

L: I wonder if Uncle Pat takes his dogs to work!

O: You should ask him next time we see them! But this is a really good book. I love that Inca is a real life Kelpie that goes to work with his Dad.

Me: Who would you recommend this book to?

O: I think this would be a great book for all children. It introduces the reader to a different kind of working dog, so that's a great thing. We need more books about working dogs so that people become more aware about the roles that they play.

L: Yep, what Sissy said!

Me: Out of 5 paws, how many stars would you rate this book?

L: 5 paws! So many great 5 paw books!

O: Another 5 paws book!

Books, Books and more Books!

 ***Please note that we do not receive commissions of any kind for reviews. We're simply sharing products that we find useful.***

Books! Did you know that we love books??? Well, we do and we've added another book to our collection of working dog books.

The Puppy Adventures of Porter and Midge, is written by Jennie Chen and Giselle Nevada.

While the book isn't about working dogs as such, it gives readers a brilliant introduction to the socialisation of young puppies. The book teaches children how to interact with a puppy, as well as many other important skills both for the puppy and for the family that will benefit the puppies development. From socialisation to dog/animal distraction, to learning how to interact with people and everything in between. The authors do state that the book isn't a training manual but it could certainly sit alongside puppy training books.

So what are O and L's take on the book?

Me: What do you think about this book?
O: I love the illustrations. They're so bright and colourful. And the information in the book is really good.
L: Mum, everywhere they take the puppies in the book, that's what we did with Alaska when she was a tiny puppy. Did Henry do that too?
Me: Henry probably did.
L: Oh. It's a good book and it's easy for me to read. I like the pictures.
O: The story flows really well and I like how they go into detail about why they're taking the puppies to the different places and environments.
L: I wonder if the puppies are going to be Assistance Dogs too?

Me: That's a great question.
L: I know.

Me: Who would you recommend this book to?
O: Anyone who has children. If families are thinking about getting a puppy, or even a rescue dog, they should read this to their children. All of the information in the book is relevant to people who are new to having a dog as part of their family. It would even be great for families who are going to owner train an Assistance Dog like we're doing with Alaska.
L: What Sissy said!

Me: Out of 5 stars, how many stars would you rate this book?
L: Maybe we should change it to paws! Normal books we can use stars. Dog books we need to use paws.
Me: Sounds good. How many paws?
L: 5 paws!
O: I agree buddy, definitely 5 paws!

Books! Superheroes with Paws!

**** Please note that we do not receive commissions of any kind for this review. We simply love sharing books that we find useful. ****

There's always excitement in our house when we receive a package, especially when it contains a book! You can never have too many books, right? Well we've added another book to our collection of working dog books.

Superheroes with Paws, is written by the wonderful Jessica Ten Vaanholt from over Childrens Stories by Jessica. Jess is yet another home grown Australian author.

Jessica wrote the story after she was approved to receive her own Assistance Dog. Working in the early childhood education and care industry, Jessica realised the importance of educating children and families about the important roles that all Assistance Dogs play. And a great way to do that is through books!

It's yet another wonderful, very well written, educational book on the different types of Assistance Dogs and the roles that they play in their owners lives. 

But before we even read the book, this was L's announcement!!

L: Woah, the dog has a red coat like Henry! And it says Superheroes on the cover. Henry is my superhero! This is the best book already!

So what are O and L's take on the book? Read on!

Me: What is the best thing about the book?

O: This is amazing, it sounds like Jessica was writing about her own Assistance Dog. Did she get her puppy yet?

Me: Unfortunately not yet.

O: Oh that's terrible. But this is an amazing book. Jessica talks about the different types of Assistance Dogs.

L: There even a Autism dog like Henry!

O: I love that Jessica talks about the different tasks that the dogs all do.

L: I like the pictures, there's lots of pictures and they all have red coats like Henry's. All the dogs are superheroes. I love this book. And it's easy for me to read too.

O: Jessica has even put information in about why reading books are so important, what a great idea.

L: Can you read it again please?

Me: We can soon, just a few more questions first?

L: Seriously? Okay.

Me: Who would you recommend this book to?

O: Everyone! This is really cool book. The story is very realistic and informative. There's so much information in this one book. This will definitely help to spread more awareness about Assistance Dogs.

L: Everyone needs to read it. Maybe we need to start a library on the island so all the people can read about Assistance Dogs. The old people who keep talking to Henry really need to read all of the books. We can put this one and Henrys book and the Dogs with Jobs book, but they can't keep the books. Can we read it now?

Me: One more question then we can read it again. Out of 5 stars, how many stars would you rate this book?

L: Fine! 5 stars, I think you only buy 5 star books Mummy! We never get a terrible book.

O: Definitely another 5 star book.

L: Now can you read it again? And then you can read Henry's book please?

Me: Sure, thank you for reviewing the book.

L: Please read now?

And read it again we did!

This book would be a great addition to any child's home library.

And just quietly, how amazing do all four of these books look together!