High school senior Molly Staub found a kindred spirit when she met five-year-old Karl Schiller.

Karl, who is bright, affectionate, and loves to play, also has high-functioning autism, making it hard for him to focus, carry on a conversation or socialize appropriately.

“He really wants to be social; he just doesn’t know how,” Molly said.

She understands because she herself wrestles with Attention Deficit Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and Tourette’s Syndrome.

“I’m like him, except I can control it more,” she said.

Molly’s mother, Kathy, is one of Karl’s para-educators at the school, and Molly visits when she has a break, reading to Karl and playing with him. He says 18-year-old Molly is his best friend. When Karl gets overwhelmed and withdraws under the playground’s climbing dome, Molly is the best one to calm him down and draw him out again.

The biggest danger in Karl’s life is that he might run off and find himself in trouble. And Karl runs away a lot. For Steve Schiller and Jennie Horton, Karl’s parents, a service dog would be a dream come true, helping Karl stay calm, keeping him from wandering off, and helping him socialize normally with other children. But service dogs can be $13,500 and up, which is more than the family can afford.

Molly has made it her senior project to shoot for the moon on their behalf, fundraising to buy Karl a canine companion using a one-two punch: community education, then fundraising. On Feb. 26 she will host a high-school assembly focused on autism awareness, and will talk to the kindergarten classes as well. That evening she will show “Autism: The Musical” at 6:30 p.m. at the Orcas Island Community Church. On Feb. 27, Salon Mir Toi owner and stylist Annette Deon is offering haircuts by donation from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with all proceeds to benefit the project.

Molly is now applying to various organizations on Karl’s behalf, including Autism Service Dogs of America, Four Paws for Ability, and Brigadoon Service Dogs. A lengthy, thorough application process and interviews ensure a good fit. If Karl is approved, the organization would provide guidance and assistance for further fundraising.

Directors at the organization, Autism Service Dogs of America, say not just any dog will do for a kid like Karl.

“ASDA dogs must possess a particular temperament, intelligence, health, age and weight. Many dog breeds do not have the interest or aptitude to be a service dog for autism,” reads the ASDA website.

Kids like Karl are often unable to filter out the unnecessary sensory stimuli that brains usually observe, process, and sublimate – all unconsciously, while the conscious mind is focused on a specific task. This makes it hard for them to accomplish simple things, like carrying on a conversation, without getting constantly distracted. Karl is curious and loves to learn. But bombarded by too many sensory messages, he can quickly become stressed and overwhelmed, responding with a “meltdown cycle” progressing from agitation to a full-blown tantrum.

Karl has made great progress with self-control and verbal communication skills since his initial diagnosis at age four, says Steve. Karl used to throw two-hour long tantrums; that rarely occurs now. But day-to-day life is still a challenge. In some situations, Jennie says he can only last for 30 minutes.

“Then he goes into sensory overload and tries to escape. He runs off, and he’s very fast,” she said.

Jennie and Steve have a tough time keeping up. A specially trained service dog could help “herd” Karl, keeping him safe from traffic, water hazards, or wandering off in to the woods, possibly using a special harness or leash.

“A dog would also function as a kind of social bridge,” Jennie said. “Karl says a lot of non-sequiturs, random facts to start a conversation. A dog gives him something appropriate, in context, to talk about. It would draw his peers to him in a positive way.”

Jennie and Steve are confident that Karl, who thrives on routine, would take good care of a dog.

“He’s a happy kid overall, but when he’s with animals, he’s just ecstatic,” said Jennie. “Karl feeds the family cat every day. He’s definitely gentle, and very caring.”

Even the family’s chickens seem to feel comfortable with Karl, letting him pick them up and hold them with only minor squawking.

Jennie and Steve, who moved to Orcas from Sacramento seven years ago, recently celebrated their 20-year anniversary. Jennie is a stay-at-home mom, and Steve owns Ecological Engineering Consultants.

“Having that foundation in a relationship has really helped with the challenges,” Jennie said. “We’re just a regular family. His sister (Katarina, 9) and his cousin (Kayleigh Horton, 9) are just huge in his life, have always been so. He’s learned to play with other kids because of them. They include him in their games and take care of him.”

Katarina says Karl is the sweetest brother “in the whole world.”

“I love Karl very much,” she said. “He’s fun to play with, he just happens to have autism!”

The Orcas community has really been there for them, says the family.

“We feel really supported. We feel Karl is really very loved in this community. This would be hard to do alone,” Jennie said. “They’re a fantastic team of people at the school; we’re really lucky to have them.”

Special education head Suzanne McClure works with Karl in the school’s resource room, and he also receives occupational and speech therapy. Right now Karl is obsessed with dinosaurs, reptiles, and deep-sea creatures, and loves the BBC’s Blue Planet program.

“He likes anything creepy and scary. He picks up spiders and says, ‘Oh, I love him, he’s my friend,’” laughed Jennie, “and it’s like, ‘okay, put him down, he might bite you’.”

So what does Karl think of dogs?

“They like reading books,” he said.

How to help

To set up an appointment for a benefit haircut at Mir Toi, call 376-7667.

For more information on Molly’s fundraising, call her at 206-715-1484.