A Redmond family is currently raising money to train a service dog to assist their 12-year-old autistic son.

J.T. Stuart, who attends Emily Dickinson Elementary School, and his family have traveled to Xenia, Ohio for a two-week training class at 4 Paws for Ability, an agency that trains service dogs for children with autism. J.T.’s dog’s name is Curly. Mickey Stuart, J.T.’s mother, said the family has already raised about $13,000, but the cost to train a service dog ranges from $16,000 to $26,000.

A service dog for those with autism can help for a number of reasons, the first being to keep J.T. safe. Mickey said he has a tendency to wander off when the mood strikes, adding that a service dog is trained to prevent wandering and track if J.T. does wander off. Service dogs can also help improve behavior and keep J.T. calm as well as improve his language and social skills.

Donations can be sent to P.O. Box 267, 23515 NE Novelty Hill-B221, Redmond, WA. 98053. An account at BECU has also been set up in the name of James T. Stuart and donations can be made that way as well. Mickey said the funds will go towards the cost of training Curly as well as the family’s travel expenses to Ohio.