Fred's Namesake

I was excited to learn that, as a trainer for Good Dog Autism Companions (GDAC), I would get to name the puppy assigned to me. Because GDAC doesn't utilize puppy raisers in the process of training service dogs, the pups they acquire from their preferred breeders come straight into the homes of their trainers for between the first nine months and a year of their lives.

Once the puppies have advanced obedience training and are at Canine Good Citizen level in public situations (at approximately six months of age), the trainers begin working to integrate the pups in with the children and families they are destined to serve. At that time, the family has the choice of renaming the dog. In the meantime, I have given the dog I am training the name Fred.

I chose the name a couple of months ago when, in a fit of tear-stained nostalgia, I became "reacquainted" with the beautiful soul of Mr. Fred Rogers. I - like most kids of my generation - grew up hearing Mr. Rogers' soothing voice and watching his gentle face, as he told all the children of the world how important each and every one of us were, and how much he loved us all. But it wasn't until March 20th, 2013, that I truly realized - from an adult perspective - what a guru of love and light the man was, and remains so. March 20th is Mr. Rogers' birthday, and on that day, my friend posted this on my Facebook wall: http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-moments-that-prove-mr.-rogers-was-greatest-american/

I sobbed uncontrollably as I read this article and watched the interspersed clips. The love and kindness and true non-judgment Fred Rogers exuded was beautiful enough in and of itself. But also, hearing his voice again brought forth intense WAVES of love and longing for my childhood. And all those things that are so amazing about Mr. Rogers were also characteristic of my Mom. Through his words come her loving message, and from his energy, her glorious presence pulses. In the song, "It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood", I hear the sounds of my Mom's home daycare on a summer afternoon, as though I were in that moment of safety and perfection again, and forever.

So, with my love for Fred Rogers in full bloom in the 'garden of my mind', I knew I wanted to name this puppy after him. With that thought in mind, I Googled "Mr. Rogers and Autism", just for the heck of it, curious to see if there was any connection. Sure enough, I found THIS:

Fred Rogers cared deeply about the social and emotional development of all children. As it happens, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood proved to be a particularly wonderful resource for children with autism. The social and emotional themes that Fred talked and sang about each day are the very skills that pose such challenges for children with autism. In our research, we have found that children with autism connect in powerful ways with the program’s calming pace, caring tone and predictability.

The Fred Rogers Company has several file folders filled with letters from parents and teachers who say that, for children with autism, watching and reflecting on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood helps decrease anxiety and excitability. It can also improve listening and speaking skills, increase attention for learning new tasks and encourage imaginative play.

Perhaps these outcomes should be no surprise. A growing body of research has demonstrated the effectiveness of video modeling. Video modeling involves observing appropriate behaviors in video recordings and then practicing them in real-life situations. It proves especially effective in teaching social skills to children with autism.

The University of Pittsburgh Center of Excellence in Autism Research has long used Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood in an ongoing research project. Recently the center collaborated with The Fred Rogers Company on a new project – a DVD entitled “Friends and Feelings: Helping Children with Autism in Social and Emotional Learning.” It features four Neighborhood episodes in which Fred and his friends and neighbors work on skills like waiting, helping and asking for help. They model being flexible, managing frustration and anger and thinking about the feelings of others. They also take walks and go to a restaurant.

We created “Friends and Feelings” for both children and their caregivers. For adults, the DVD contains introductions from a developmental psychologist, child and adolescent psychiatrist, special education consultant and social skills therapist. These introductions provide research-based recommendations for getting the most out of this and other media. Already we have distributed about 13,000 copies of the DVD in southwestern Pennsylvania.

Fred Rogers may not have produced Mister Rogers’ Neighborhoodspecifically for children with autism. But with this new project, the company he founded hopes to continue supporting these children as they develop the social skills, emotional intelligence and relationships that are the makings of full lives.

This discovery cemented my name choice for the dog. But little did I know, this was only the beginning of the incredible synchronicity surrounding the whole thing...

Shortly after Laura handed my pup to me, I asked when the litter was born, and was FLOORED when she replied "March 20th". That's right, Fred the Service Puppy shares a birthday with his namesake, Fred Rogers. After knowing him for only two days, seeing his laid back demeanor and feeling his precious, calming presence, I am fairly certain that this dog is the reincarnated spirit of the Man himself.

Whether you believe in such things or not, you have to admit that if ANYONE was going to come back to Earth - to spread more love and joy than they were able to in just one human lifetime - it would be Fred Rogers. And what better form to take in such endeavors than a service dog for a child with autism?

I ordered the DVD set mentioned above, and can't wait to delve in and watch and learn. This has become about so much more than naming a puppy after an icon of my childhood. My journey is not only about training a service dog, but learning everything I can about AUTISM, its particular challenges and all the nuances of its manifestation in children and adults across the spectrum. And it is about connecting with the child and family for whom I am training this little special dog.

I thank the great Fred Rogers - and the great Fred Puppy - for helping me as I embark on such a worthy and fascinating trip.