Latitude Kingston

Latitude, who has the core guidance of their loving attitude, is a creative soul who finds joy in calm video games, audiobooks and yoga. They enjoy many forms of arts, crafts and sewing, recently innovating “FrankenSugi.”  Which is the art of bringing together disparate items into cohesive, delightful objects and experiences as well as bundling kits for others to create their own newness. Saturday mornings find them thriving as “Commander” in their D&D group, a role that highlights their natural leadership abilities.

Latitude, dreams of partnering with a psychiatric service dog. A dog who will help them cope with their Dissociative Identity Disorder and Complex PTSD by learning what a safe bond feels like, as well as providing crucial daily support such as reminders for activities of daily living, alerts to oncoming panic attacks, and interruption of dissociative episodes. This partnership would unlock Latitude’s ability to move safely into their community—volunteering at the food bank, folding paper cranes and frogs to bring joy to others, and eventually providing peer support for others also discovering their neurodivergence later in life.

Latitude has challenges achieving their full potential due to having been raised in an extremely restrictive community with limited outside contact and being placed in exploitative situations during their formative years. They live with Dissociative Identity Disorder and Complex PTSD, which manifest as agoraphobia, OCD and other symptoms. These trauma responses are compounded by being late-diagnosed as Autistic and having ADHD, meaning they didn’t receive appropriate support during critical developmental years. The combination creates significant daily challenges: the outside world and unfamiliar people feel dangerous, requiring a very structured home environment to feel safe. Most critically, their trauma responses make it difficult to recognize unsafe situations, leaving them unable to navigate public spaces alone. In addition to these struggles, genetic physical challenges compounded by a traumatic brain injury that increases neuropathy and other dysfunctions add yet more complexity to daily life and community engagement.

Latitude also hopes to pursue treatment for  their traumatic brain injury received in a 2020 multi-car collision while delivering food to a sick friend. Treatment could include physical therapy, occupational therapy, swim therapy, and various bodywork modalities—all more accessible with a service dog companion.

It’s amazing how many layers could be helped with a service dog to empower Latitude to heal, create, and contribute their unique gifts to the world. You can help by clicking the yellow GIVE button to donate now.