Everyone has had heroes in their lives, those amazing people in the world who’ve made a difference in your life or the lives of others. Jude Bell is one such hero. He’s a wonderful 7-year-old boy who has completely changed the lives of all who meet him and get to know him. He has a great sense of humor and loves to make people laugh. He’s loving and kind. He is a handsome boy who may look like any other child you meet. However he struggles with something that most of those children don’t. Jude has struggled with behavioral issues all of his life, and this is often apparent to people around him. He has an independent spirit and a curious nature, which often puts him in harm’s way. From a very young age, he’s been an excellent escape artist.
Jude, however has little sense or understanding of environmental dangers, such as drowning, traffic, or the ill intentions of a stranger. Most children would respond or run towards a familiar voice in such a situation. Jude would likely not run towards them, and may in fact run the other way.
Jude was born with Autism. It is a neurological disorder that is more and more heard of yet still widely misunderstood. Autism affects the areas of the brain controlling language, social interaction, and creative and abstract thinking. He actually has a very large vocabulary, but does not always use it properly. Since he often needs the proper prompts and cues to express himself, it can be difficult for him to communicate his needs or wants. He also relies on familiarity and scripting in attempt to converse with others. In addition, his brain has difficulty processing the sensory information that he perceives. Many times sights, sounds, smells, and touch can overwhelm him. This usually leads to outbursts and a desire to flee the situation. Other times, he has trouble focusing because he can’t fight the desire to seek out sensory input. This leads to sensory seeking activities that alienate him from those around him.
Every moment of every day Jude fights against his natural tendencies to be afraid, anxious, or overwhelmed. He strives to communicate and be understood. His greatest challenge though, may be in trying to make friends.
Jude’s family accepts all of these differences as part of who he is. This acceptance doesn’t lessen the stress they constantly feel, especially in situations that can be potentially dangerous for him, like any public place. It doesn’t make it any easier to ignore the dirty looks, and disapproving glances from people who don’t know Jude. Individuals that simply see a child who is screaming, crying, running away, or being dangerous. It’s easy for them to assume that he’s just a brat or that he has bad parents, because despite his having a handicap there’s no outward evidence of it. His family’s acceptance of him leads to one thing - a single goal for his life, his happiness. This is where you can help.
Jude has been accepted to receive a service dog from 4 Paws for Ability, Inc. Based in Xenia, Ohio, 4 Paws For Ability, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, strives to provide service dogs to families and children that struggle with life’s daily challenges and who would otherwise be turned away by many other agencies. 4 Paws trains a variety of assistance dogs, including but not limited to seizure assistance, mobility assistance, hearing ear and autism assistance dogs. Some of the dogs even serve a little time in the Rover Prison Rehab Program as a stepping-stone to becoming certified service dogs. Jude has qualified for an Autism Assistance dog. As Jude’s family raises money for 4 Paws for Ability, they earn a point for every dollar. When they reach their pledged goal of 13,000 points, 4 Paws for Ability will begin training a dog specifically for Jude’s needs.
In potentially dangerous situations, Jude will be tethered to the dog to prevent him from running away. The dog will assist Jude with therapy, provide sensory input, interrupt undesired behaviors, and be a comforting and calming companion. It would also act as a “social magnet,” making it easier for other children to approach Jude. The dog will also be trained as in search and rescue, to track and find him if and when he would run away. It would also be a huge source of relief for Jude’s family, empowering them to lead a fuller, happier life. “We have discovered a magic that exists between children and dogs, a magic that can become a life-saving miracle for a child paired with one of our Autism Assistance Dogs”, states the 4Paws website. You can help make their dreams come true by making a tax deductible donation to 4 Paws For Ability, 253 Dayton Ave. Xenia, OH 45385; just make sure to write “In Honor of Jude Bell” in the memo of the check.