Tuesday, Aug. 30 2011 7:28PM
Getting strength
Family, community works to bring Lee’s Summit 7-year-old Autism Service Dog
By Julie Scheidegger, jscheidegger@lsjournal.com
Courtesy photo
Diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder, recognized on the Autism spectrum, Adriana Wible, 7, is looking forward to receiving an Autism service dog. Her parents Ken and Terri Wible started Paws 4 Adriana to raise money for a service dog for Adriana and another service dog to use for community outreach and education.
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closeAsk about any 7 year old if she wants a dog and the answer will be a resounding “yes.” For Adriana, her family feels having a dog – an Autism service dog – is a necessity. A service dog can help her navigate and manage the overwhelming emotions she feels; help her avoid dangerous situations; help her to lead a normal life. The only problem is that a service dog costs as much as a car.
“We’re actually in a good spot right now,” Terri Wible, Adriana’s mother said. “We just got in a large donation.”
She and her husband Ken Wible have been working all summer to raise the funds necessary to get Adriana a dog. They are still $1,000 short.
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Adriana came into Ken and Terri’s life when she was 4 months old.
“Adriana is adopted and we knew from the get go there would be issues with that because of her history,” Wible said. “I knew there were going to be issues.”
When Adriana started school she was suspended in kindergarten five times.
Adriana becomes overwhelmed with the things around her. She begins to lose control. She exhibits a lack of fear and has trouble recognizing dangerous situations. Adriana will run out into the street chasing a butterfly. After a bad “meltdown” at school Adriana was tested. The R-7 School District classified her as having “educational autism.”
The Kansas City Regional office of the Missouri Department of Mental Health diagnosed her with Pervasive Developmental Disorder. The diagnosis falls within the spectrum of Autism. Despite having a background in education, specifically, special education, Wible was surprised at the diagnosis.
“Autism wasn’t even on the radar,” she said.
So she set out to know everything she could about her daughter’s diagnosis. She researched therapies and ran across horse therapy. “Animals are her trigger that calms her,” Wible said.
Adriana always wanted to pick up the cat.
“I thought that she’d try to hurt the cat, but she needed that calming presence of animals,” Wible said.
Now they call that “getting strength.”
Adriana started horse therapy and enjoyed and was calmed by it, but the family couldn’t afford it. Wible started looking for something else when she found Autism service dogs. Adriana’s doctor at Children’s Mercy Hospital wrote the prescription for a service dog, however, access, cost and training would be an obstacle.
“There are probably 20 to 30 agencies that train Autism dogs,” Wible said. “Only four will place locally.”
They finally decided on the agency Autism Service Dogs of America in Portland, Ore. The dog would cost $13,500, plus $4,000 in travel and training costs.
Financially, they needed help to make the use of a service dog a reality. They started a non-profit 501(c)3 called Paws 4 Adriana and started seeking donations.
Missouri Representative Jeff Grisamore got involved, as well as local businessman Steve Stringberg. Paws 4 Adriana began receiving grants and individual donations. Stringberg is planning a fundraiser Sept. 30. “All the proceeds would go to funding this special dog,” Stringberg said. “It’d be really nice to do. Give some money and help and look into the eyes of someone special and see the smile.” Most recently, Paws 4 Adriana received $6,000 from an anonymous donor that put them within $1,000 of her goal to get Adriana’s dog.
“I cried,” Wible said when she received the donation. “I am a very strong emotional person. I hold things in. I was emotional – crying at every corner – every time I look at my daughter. “We’re going to make it.”
Then something else came over her.
“It was the next day – the drive that came in me – I’ve got to focus on everyone else,” Wible said. “There are so many parents out there trying to do something for their child.”
Wible plans to buy a second service dog through Paws 4 Adriana for community outreach and education.
“It started out as what Adriana needed. What it became is a true mission. I wanted the ability to help many children,” she said. “It truly is a pay it forward thing.”
The second dog, also from Autism Service Dogs of America and named Franklin, didn’t qualify to be an individual service dog, but will work in community education. He costs less at $7,500, but still takes $2,000 to train. Franklin is already trained and is ready to come to Lee’s Summit as soon as he’s paid for to start work with Paws 4 Adriana. Adriana can begin therapy with him as soon as he arrives, but they still need $7,500.
As for training Adriana with the new dogs, when they arrive, the agency does not require her to travel for training. Adriana does better with a strict schedule and Wible said upsetting that schedule would not create a positive experience for her. However, Wible will go for training.
“I go to Portland to be trained as a primary care giver. Then I bring the dog back with me and I begin the bonding process with Adriana,” Wible said. A trainer will then travel to Lee’s Summit to work with Adriana and the staff at her school, Summit Pointe Elementary.
“It’s eased a lot of the anxiety there knowing they’re going to be trained,” Wible said.
Wible and Ken feel the service dog will make a huge impact on Adriana’s life, as it does other Autistic individuals with service dogs. “They can go out in the community more – it will calm them,” Wible said. “The dogs help keep them safe.”
Wible can worry less about Adriana climbing the neighbor’s ladder or running out into a busy street.
“Adriana will be getting her dog at the first part of 2012,” Wible said.
That is, if they can get the money in as soon as possible.
“The sooner I get it in, the sooner I know I’ll be placed first for next year.”
The Paws 4 Adriana fundraiser will be from 6 to 8:30 p.m., Sept. 30, at Red Door Wine Store, 229 S.E. Main St., Lee’s Summit. For more information about Paws 4 Adriana, go to www.paws4adriana.org.
