Meet Kyle and Teton

Being born as one of a set of sextuplets is physically stressful for any baby, but Kyle was always a laid-back, happy little boy with a sweet smile. When he began lagging far behind his brothers and sisters in development and became fearful of many things outside his home, I knew we were facing a serious issue. Kyle was diagnosed with autism just before he turned 4. He had already begun intensive therapy at a special-needs preschool before his diagnosis, where he was making limited progress. Through my involvement with the Autism Family Foundation, I found out about agencies that train Service Dogs for children with autism. We recently added Teton, a wonderful, gentle dog that is Kyle’s constant companion and guardian, to our family. Thanks to Teton and Kyle’s new bond, Kyle, now 5, is making better progress in school and has been able to participate in family activities without being so fearful. I am proud and grateful to be a part of the Autism Family Foundation, an organization that is so dedicated to providing crucial information and support to families who are searching for answers.

Jennifer Hanselman
Mother of a child with autism