It’s time to go…
Back to school
For many families, September is a time of new beginnings.
But for some autistic children and young adults, all that “new” can feel overwhelming.
Help us raise £100,000 to begin the journey for providing 10 future assistance dogs.
Be part
of their beginning.
Did you know…
4 in 5
autistic children say their school uniform impacts their education.
%
of autistic pupils were regularly absent from school in 2024/25.
Behind every statistic is a child or young adult.
And behind them is often a family trying desperately to help.
What can going back to school really feel like?
For many of us, going back to school brings a familiar mix of excitement and nerves, seeing friends again, a new term, a fresh start.
…but for some autistic pupils, everyday sights, sounds, sensations and changes can become powerful triggers that make school feel overwhelming.
Feel what they feel
SOUND
Fluorescent lights
The persistent hum…
TOUCH
Crowded corridors
The unexpected contact…
LIGHT
Classroom lights
The relentless glare…
SMELL
School canteen
The overpowering smells…
CHANGE
New classroom
The new teacher…
Now imagine you have someone beside you who understands
Someone who does not judge.
Someone who brings consistency when everything else is changing.
Someone specially trained to support you.
Someone with four paws.
An assistance dog can change so much…
Every partnership is different because every autistic individual is different.
Depending on the needs of their partner, our dogs can be trained to provide support including:
DEEP PRESSURE
THERAPY
Providing calming physical pressure to help their partner regulate.
FINDING
THE EXIT
Helping their partner move away from an overwhelming environment.
INTERRUPTING
BEHAVIOURS
Responding to behaviours their partner may display when anxious.
SENSORY
SUPPORT
Providing a familiar sensory input and a reassuring physical presence.
But their impact can reach much further.
An assistance dog can support an autistic individual to develop confidence, independence, safety and connection it doesn’t just mean they are able to walk into a classroom, they can also:
- Travel to college.
- Attend an appointment.
- Start a job.
- Visit somewhere new.
- Or simply face a change in routine knowing that their assistance dog is beside them.
Our dogs are provided completely free of charge to the autistic families we support. But training them is only possible because people choose to support us.
Real stories. Real change
Megan brings my thoughts back into the lesson instead of them drifting off somewhere else. She’s like a magnet, drawing my attention back into the moment.
Meet Thomas
There was a time when September looked very different for Thomas. Just being at school was too overwhelming, leaving him struggling to regulate once he got home. Then came Megan…
Now, Instead of dreading the school day, he has a way through it.
His story is one example of why this campaign matters.
[GRACE + MAKKA IMAGE]
[Story of Grace in employment/IMDT/Independence]
[ READ GRACE AND MAKKA’S STORY ]
£100,000.
10 dogs. 10 new beginnings.
It costs approximately £100,000 to take 10 dogs through their first year of training and prepare them for the next stage of their journey towards becoming autism assistance dogs.
This September, will you help us raise £100,000 and start the journey for 10 more future assistance dogs?. We cannot do it without you.
Your donation can start a journey
Every donation brings a future assistance dog one paw closer to changing a life.
Help make a new beginning possible.
There is more than one way to get behind Back to school.
DIRECT DONATIONS
Help us begin the journey for the next generation of Dogs for Autism assistance dogs.
FUNDRAISE FOR US
Take on a challenge, organise an event or get your school, workplace or community involved.
GET YOUR SCHOOL INVOLVED
Turn Back to School into an opportunity for pupils, parents and staff to support autistic people.
SUPPORT US AT WORK
Fundraise as a team, support the campaign through your company or talk to us about corporate partnership opportunities.
SPREAD THE WORD
You may not be able to donate today, but you can still make a difference by sharing this campaign so it may be able to reach someone who can.
If you need help with ideas for fundraising, contact fundraising@dogsforautism.org.uk
There are more incredible partnership stories below.
