The Story of Hayden and Printer

Posted on January 4, 2012

Video produced for the E-Journalism program at Loyalist College

On Nov. 27, 2007, 12-year-old Hayden Kaack was the recipient of Printer the first ever autism service dog in Kingston, Ont.

Printer was given to Hayden through National Service Dogs.

National Service Dogs is a non-profit organization based out Cambridge, Ont.

They provide service dogs to children with autism and special needs.

Printer will serve Hayden in two capacities: friend and protector.

Hayden’s only means of communication with his family is through limited sign language and a picture book.

Hayden’s family consists of his mother (Heidi Penning), stepfather (David Parkhill) and his 10-year-old sister (Olivia).

Not only does this family have one child with autism, but two.

David has a 21-year-old son, Kevin, from a previous marriage who has autism.