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Family: Service dog would aid boy with autism

Public invited to event at Tori’s Station on April 24 to help raise money to help autistic third-grader.

Matthew Jones, 8, is hoping to receive a service dog. Family and friends are conducting a fundraiser on Friday, April 24, at Tori's Station to make a donation to 4 Paws for Ability to get the Fairfield West third-grader the dog. He was diagnosed with autism and his mother, Amy Jones, right, said the trained dog can calm Matthew down when he becomes agitated.

Staff Photo by Michael D. Pitman Matthew Jones, 8, is hoping to receive a service dog. Family and friends are conducting a fundraiser on Friday, April 24, at Tori's Station to make a donation to 4 Paws for Ability to get the Fairfield West third-grader the dog. He was diagnosed with autism and his mother, Amy Jones, right, said the trained dog can calm Matthew down when he becomes agitated.

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By Michael D. Pitman, Staff Writer 5:29 PM Sunday, April 12, 2009

FAIRFIELD — When Matthew Jones wakes up in the morning, his parents don’t know which Matthew they’ll get.

It could be a very happy 8-year-old, or one who is angry and easily agitated.

Matthew is a Fairfield West third-grader who has a twin sister, Laura, and an older brother, Dillon, 17. Healso is autistic, diagnosed two years ago with Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specifiedo.

Matthew showed signs of autism when he was about 18 months old, his mother, Amy Jones, said. Doctors, though, had diagnosed him with everything but autism.

“We had a whole plethora of diagnosis before we ended up with autism — Tourette (syndrome), obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety, mood disorder, ADHD,” Jones said.

According to AutismSpeaks.org, those with PDD-NOS display some of the classic symptoms — difficulty socializing, repetitive behaviors, and heightened sensitivities to certain stimuli.

To help with his treatment, parents Amy and Travis Jones want to get Matthew a service dog.

The dog would be tethered to Matthew, and protect and calm him when needed.

Getting it requires an $11,000 donation to 4 Paws for Ability, a Xenia organization that places service dogs with disabled children.

An April 24 fundraiser at Tori’s Station will include entertainment by Fairfield High School’s Choraliers, Pure Elegance and Rhythm Express. There also will also be a silent auction and games for children.

The Jones hope the dog will give kids a reason to approach Matthew.

“It’s a common denominator,” Jones said. “Other kids can start conversations, they have something alike to start talking about — having more two-way friendships.”

Matthew is fine so long as he gets things his way, but he’s improving, Jones said.