Cole

Written by Ashley Wells

Cole is a young boy turning 5 this month who experiences Autism, Language Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorder, Eczema, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, as well as others. 

Cole has a sweet nature and fun personality. He was busy building a castle out of blocks and having a good time doing it. Cole loves trains, food, numbers, and letters. He is very self-aware and is good at knowing what he needs and either asking for it, or taking care of it himself. Cole has some social anxiety, so leaving the house and going out into the community can be challenging for him and his family.

Cole's family recently got a service dog to help regulate his anxieties. The service dog, Tundra, is a standard poodle and is learning very well how to be a good source of comfort for Cole. Cole's mom has been training service dogs for years. She hopes that Tundra will help Cole feel more comfortable going out into the community. One challenge the family faces is that in general people don't seem to be very understanding of the struggles Cole and his family face. 

Cole's mom says she hopes what most parents would hope for their child, that he is able to live independently as an adult, that he has a happy and fulfilled life, and beyond that, that he is able to make those choices for himself. 

Cole and Tundra