Hashir
‘Disney Princesses and Service Dogs’
Through time we have seen numerous variations in fan-made animations. Sometimes they are inspired by something, and at other times they are differently themed to create something entirely new/ exciting. However, not every artist covers everything in their artwork. For instance, there aren’t many fan-made animations that raise awareness for disabled people and promote their acceptance.
But thanks to the Disney Series created by Arien Smith of Royal Service Dogs: Advocacy and Art, we get to see art that speaks for all those suffering from an illness.
Arien Smith is not only an artist but is also a motivational speaker, a coach, and he advocates for mental health and disability rights! And his following Disney stories reflect it all. Scroll down and check it out!
The Series of Disney Princesses and Service Dogs
Cinderella
“Here’s Cinderella, having her service pup help her out by removing her shoes. Cinderella lives with fibromyalgia in this picture, which is an invisible condition but can be disabling for many people.”
Snow White
“Here’s Snow White, having her service dog alert to an allergen in her food. (In this case, referencing her story, apples). Fun facts, too! Allergen alert dogs are legitimate service dogs and are lifesaving for many people. Things like peanuts, gluten, dairy, and many other things are common allergens that service dogs help their handlers with. Like any service dog, they can be any breed, and some dogs with “smushed” noses are still fantastic allergen alert dogs. That’s why I chose to draw Snow White with a pug.”
Tiana
“Here’s the lovely and ever so gorgeous Tiana with Autism. Her service dog isn’t performing a task in this picture, but tasks for autistic people can include tactile stimulation, interruption of physically harmful behaviour, guiding during overstimulation episodes, and anxiety calming techniques. Small breeds can be great service dogs too!”
Belle
“Here’s Belle with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Her service dog is demonstrating a blocking posture, so she can be alerted if anyone approaches her from behind (which can cause a startle response or anxiety)! Any breed can be a service dog, including pit bulls! Service dogs are also exempt from breed-related bans.”
Pocahontas
“Here’s the wonderful Pocahontas, reimagined with diabetes. Her service dog is a medical alert dog, which tells her through pawing or nudging if her blood sugar is too high or too low.”
Rapunzel
“Here’s Rapunzel with Complex PTSD and Dissociative Identity Disorder. Her service dog is helping her snap out of a very strong dissociative state, then providing tactile stimulation for comfort and grounding! C-PTSD is a type of response to prolonged trauma (frequently in childhood). DID is a creative and adaptive response to severe trauma, where an individual’s brain compartmentalizes experiences into two or more identities. It’s a pretty incredible way of the mind coping with trauma.”
Sleeping Beauty
“Here’s Sleeping Beauty with Narcolepsy and her service pup is supporting her head after a daytime sleepiness episode. Narcolepsy itself is a neurological condition that affects sleep and awakeness and is often characterized by episodes of sleep in a variety of daytime situations. Thought this would be suited for Sleeping Beauty! P.S. Her service dog’s name is Spindle~”
What are your thoughts on it? Comment and let us know!