Help..

During an IEP (Individual Education Plan) meeting for Julianne, a educational model for asking, receiving and refusing "help" was brought to our attention.  The behaviorist specialist was making a point that it is not as easy as it sounds to know when to ask, receive help, and when and how to refuse help.
This brings me to the crossroads where we are now.  Claudia has been accepted for a service dog with Canine Assistants in Georgia.  We are thrilled and excited and counting down the days!
Claudia is expected to contribute some money for her travel expenses, hotel expenses and start-up dog expenses.  We are fortunate enough to be able to pay this amount.  Many others have been fundraising and advocating for kids and adults like Claudia already to keep the expenses as low as possible for each recipient.
However it costs some $22,000 to train each and every service dog, and there are over 2000 people on the waiting list at Canine Assistants alone.  So we feel very blessed and lucky for Claudia to have a dog waiting for her in November.
Claudia is a generous person who really has her head and heart in the right place.  Her perseverance, courage, and bravery inspire us every day.  We want so dearly, as her parents, to see her be independent and successful.  She wants to donate to Canine Assistants in order to help cover the training expenses and help get other people waiting a dog.
Claudia has thoughts of having lemonade stands and wants to sell bracelets.  We hope to get organized enough to make some dog biscuits to sell as well.  All that said, $22,000 is still a lofty goal.

If you would like to donate, go directly to Canine Assistants by following this link:

http://www.canineassistants.org/cgi-bin/donate

Please know that a note of support for Claudia is just as appreciated as a donation.  We are grateful for the support.  It's not easy asking but is absolutely amazing to know that people care.