Cerebral Palsy

Register photo/JASON WERLING James Griggs, 16, can't help but smile when someone mentions dogs.Griggs has already picked out a name for when he gets a furry friend.Runner.Griggs, who is diagnosed with autism, epilepsy, His family is raising money for it.The non-profit agency 4 Paws for Ability specializes in the training and placement of certified service dogs for children and adults with developmental disabilities.

4 Paws for Abilities requires families to raise the money needed to train the service dogs.

The cost to train each dog ranges from $9,800 to $14,000.

James' dog will cost $12,000.A fundraiser on James' behalf will be May 12 at the Norwalk Eagles Club.James' family decided to get a service dog after his neurologist informed the family that his conditions were getting worse."The neurologist said that it was a combination of the autism, "Nobody thinks about walking because it's something we learn as we grow.

As he grows, there's more planning to be done by the brain when it comes to movement.

His brain is having difficulty doing it."Aside from his motors skills, James is cognitively the equivalent of a 6 ye...

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