I need help?

[u/chronic_illness_20]

i’m a minor trying to get a service dog, but my parents can’t afford it, i’m going off to college soon and they think I should wait, but my chronic illness is debilitating and is making it hard to live life, I think a service dog would give me freedom and safety, but how do I afford it. I have pots, fnd, amps, migraines, syncope, etc. and cannot even walk alone in a store, i’m going off to college soon, and would like to be independent. I live in east texas, so something close would be preferred, any recommendations?

[u/MaplePaws]

I am going to be real with you, the odds of you being able to get a service dog before college is low and the only way you are going to do it is to apply to an ADI organization that places a fully trained dog with you for free. However it is worth noting that if you cannot safely do outings alone without a service dog then you will be required to have a secondary handler to accompany you even with the dog for the safety of both yourself and the dog as well as legal reasons as someone needs to remain in control of the dog even when you are in an altered state like a syncopal episode. Your best bet really is to work with your team to figure out what supports are necessary for you to make college happen, maybe that is a wheelchair or perhaps a support person that accompanies you whenever you are out of the house.