AMHERST — Walking into the library tends to be a cringeworthy experience for Lisa Neely.
Actually, stepping foot into any public place has the tendency to raise the 30-year-old’s anxiety level, she said.
“I get anxious, and he feels it, so it makes it much worse,” Neely said of her nephew’s condition.
Actually, stepping foot into any public place has the tendency to raise the 30-year-old’s anxiety level, she said.
“I get anxious, and he feels it, so it makes it much worse,” Neely said of her nephew’s condition.
A year ago, Neely and her husband took over legal guardianship of 10-year-old Joey and his sister, 8-year-old Ada.
Both Joey and Ada have been diagnosed with developmental delays, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and a genetic micro-duplication condition, Neely said. Joey also is diagnosed with Tourette syndrome, an inherited w disorder that results in motor and phonic tics that wax and wane at random.
“It’s hard to take anyone with Tourette’s into places like the library,” Neely said. “There are a lot of places that you don’t think about going into until you’re affected.”
Joey’s sporadic outbursts prove problematic for both brother and sister at school and in community settings, where they are sometimes ridiculed, Neely said.
Parents raise concerns about their children — who would otherwise never experience such abhorrent language — being exposed to Joey and his Tourette’s, but she said she can sympathize with them.
“Nobody wants their child around that,” Neely said. “We feel for the parents, because we know introducing that language to children is something no parent wants for their kids at that age.”
Looking for solace, Neely said she reached out to the Amherst Public Library after hearing about a new reading program that began at the beginning of the school year.
Because of the severity of his Tourette’s, Neely said Joey struggles with reading and socially shuts down when he is exposed to others.
“He can’t read,” said Jean Dombrosky, Joey’s grandmother. “Right now, his Tourette’s is so bad he cannot play with other children.”
Chuck Farlow, 39, of Lorain, has been coming to the library twice a month for an hour to help children in grades first through fourth with reading disabilities and apprehensions.
He hasn’t come alone.
Every other Wednesday from 7 to 8 p.m., Farlow and his certified therapy dog, Fiona, spend 15 minute intervals with children, allowing them to read to him and his canine.
Certified through Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs Inc. out of New Jersey, 4-year-old Fiona and Farlow spend their time visiting nursing homes, schools and libraries; bringing comfort to those young and old, he said.
Farlow said since Fiona was 9 weeks old, he knew his goal for her would be to become a therapy dog and help make a difference in others’ lives.
“I just wanted to do something with her that would have a positive impact on individuals,” he said.
Joey and Ada have been coming to the library, 221 Spring St., since the program started in the fall of 2013, Farlow said.
“That’s all they talk about all week,” Neely said. “They’re always asking ‘When can we go see Fiona?’ ”
Here, Joey’s apprehensions melt away, his sporadic outbursts disappear, and for those brief minutes, he and his sister are able to be kids without judgment, Farlow said.
“It calms him considerably,” he said. “And it seems to have helped them both a lot.”
Because of Tourette’s, Neely said Joey is unable to read more than 10 words at a time without having an uncontrollable, profanity-laden outburst. But when in the company of Farlow and Fiona, his anxiety melts away when he shares pictures and tells his own stories as he flips through the pages of his favorite books at a feverish pace.
“This is good for him,” Neely said. “Being able to form complete sentences without interjecting in between is so good for him.”
Farlow said although Joey and Ada come to read to Fiona, it isn’t about the reading. It’s about the bond created between child and canine, and developing a comfort zone.
“It’s such a confidence builder,” he added. “It’s not about worrying about making mistakes or worrying about having to impress their parents or me. It’s that dog’s unconditional love, and I think that transcends into reading as well.”
Neely spoke highly of Farlow and Fiona, and said her niece and nephew’s time spent has helped build the siblings’ confidence in school and in public. She said Farlow’s reading program has “done wonders” for Joey, and has made him “feel accepted,” because here, Fiona doesn’t care what Joey says.
And here, Fiona doesn’t judge.
“He (Farlow) has been nothing but wonderful and accepting to Joey,” Neely said. “It’s done wonders for Joey and has made him feel accepted. Just to have him to feel free means so much.”
“That’s why we do it. We don’t do it for the stories; we do it to help make a difference. And that’s a very positive side effect from the whole thing.”
For more information regarding Chuck Farlow and Fiona, or to schedule a reading session, contact the Amherst Public Library by phone at 440-988-4230.
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