West Hempstead teen shares how service dog helps him navigate invisible disabilities

Cameron Bicka and his service dog Jonah push good boy. The 15 year old from West Hempstead received his second service dog from Canine Companions at no cost in February on his birthday. And for Cameron, Jonah is much more than a dog by his side. I scratched his back. He scratched my it's it's like that companionship. Cameron stays busy with Boy Scouts, martial arts and a youth aviation program. But he says people don't always see the challenges. he faces. I look like a normal kid but inside you never know what's going on. Cameron lives with ADHD, anxiety and a rare condition that can affect his breathing. Disabilities that aren't always visible to others. Jonah helps Cameron with everyday tasks like picking up his keys, getting his medicine and turning lights on and off. He also helps Cameron feel more at ease during doctor's visits. His mom Christy says Jonah has made a world of difference in her son's life. As a mom, I can cry because I've seen my kid go up and down on a roller coaster. But when they have a four-legged friend that they can feel so confidently about, it's amazing. Canine Companions train service dogs to help people with disabilities live more independently. They're not pets. They're not therapy dogs. They're not emotional support dogs. They are trained, basically same category as medical equipment. For Cameron, Jonah is a helper and a companion and a reminder that you can't always see what someone is going through. Okay, okay. In Medford, Jen Seelig, News 12.