(sorry about all the comments–having a bout of restlessness :-/).

“President Bush on Sept. 25, 2008, signed into law landmark legislation that will clarify and strengthen worker protections guaranteed by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)…
The law is set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2009.
Both houses of Congress passed the ADA Amendments Act (S 3406) with overwhelming bipartisan support. The measure was introduced to make legislative fixes for several federal court rulings and restore the original intent of Congress when the law was enacted…”

FULL TEXT and link to the bill/now law

The US Senate 0n 9/11/08 passed unamimously, and without amendment, The ADA Amendments Act (S. 3406)
Title: A bill to restore the intent and protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Sponsor: Sen. Tom Harkin +77 bipartisan co-sponsors.
The House may be taking this bill up next week in identical form in lieu of House version (HR 3195).

Summary from Disability Policy Collaboration,
The ADA Amendments Act will correct narrow court interpretations that have restricted ADA coverage in the workplace, and weakened coverage for individuals with developmental disabilities, diabetes, epilepsy, serious heart conditions, and cancer. The act will also clarify responsibilities for employers.
See the link to bill information for full text, co-sponsors, congressional actions, and link to HR 3195.

If so you could basically start introducing this type of animal into your home with your son. Making the transition less stressful. It wouldn’t matter what type of animal because it wouldn’t fall under the ADA. If your in a rental as such Emotional Support animals (no formal training), are covered under the FHA.

Then after your son is comfortable with being around this particular animal you may be able to introduce a dog into the mitts. I would do this procedure slowly so you wouldn’t cause an attack per say. If you are able to introduce him to a dog (oh remember to test the dog for the right temperament to become a SD), then you could start the training process. Training a service animal takes a lot of time but working in your home would actually be an added benefit for all of you. You could also teach the dog that when your son would get up (not being calm in another room) to come get you after checking on your son. Hope this helps.

My son is wary around animals—small dogs especially—-but the calming and other tasks you note would assist him in many ways. It’s his anxiety and need to self-calm that can often limit how much he participates in activities.

OK first off visually impair individuals have their guide dogs which is a service animal trained to guide them to stop at curbs and at other change of levels, to intelligently disobey a cue if there poses a danger. Henceforth under the ADA are protected.

Psychiatric dogs will be protected as well for they are Service Animals even though one may have panic attacks and the animal gives emotional support they are still trained to perform various tasks. This task maybe just to go into what is called splitting to stop massive people from coming into your space, Targeting ones lap, leg, hand for calming a person from having an attack, bring daily meds, or breath heavy into a persons face or ear. Though these may be small tasks for the normal eye, these are still tasks in which makes these animals Service Animals under the Definition in the ADA.

That also goes with Autistic Service Animals. Although they may give lots of emotional support and become quite therapeutic. They still have some individually trained tasks to perform that benefits the autistic person and their caregivers. For these Autistic SD’s also must intelligently disobey or follow as it were when a individual goes to run off in the direction of on coming traffic. I just saw a video tape not long ago about this sort of training. Henceforth making these animals a Service Animal. Or like many would say a traditional Service animal due to the fact that they are taught to perform certain tasks.

I think the problem is that people don’t think of what actually tasks these animals are doing that were trained whether be by school programmes, private trainers, or individuals themselves. If it’s only one trained task that’s all that’s needed then an animal is a Service animal. However under the new definition the exotic animals will be excluding along with farm animals. This means no ferrets (though my understanding of ferrets are the amount of sleep time is needed so not sure how they could help much). No more monkeys (therefore Helping hands organization will be gone.) No more horses, pigs, goats. That will mean the Mini Horses will be out. Therefore the Guiding Horse Foundation will have some issues. It’s only going to be domesticated animals. (dogs and cats apparently). Sigh!

Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability by Public Accommodations and in Commercial Facilities
Agency: DOJ
Document Type: PROPOSED RULES Comments Due: Aug 18, 2008
Docket ID: DOJ-CRT-2008-0015
Document ID: DOJ-CRT-2008-0015-0001

To view document and submit a comment electronically or by US Mail
http://tinyurl.com/6q4xgo

Both my kids are scared of dogs, but Nick likes to watch Dog Whisperer and there is a show on Nat’L Geo called Dogs with Jobs and we often see assistance dogs for those on the spectrum.

My sister has been blind since a brain tumor operation as a child and uses a cane and scared of dogs too. I have read of several instances where dogs not allowed in classroom due to other kids alletrgies and I think one kid was deaf and could not have dog at school.

On another note – I have heard that many who have small kids pretend their child has autism to avoid long lines at Disneyland and Disney World.