Re: mitoldies: service dogs

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

lies and both have a service dog.

has had Brooklyn for almost three years. lies has

had Stitches for just over a year. Their dogs were

trained by East Coast Assistance Dog in Torrington CT.

Boot camp was held in Dobbs Ferry, NY. There is no

way to effectively put into wpords the difference

their dogs have made in their lives, both medically,

socially and emotionally. They are no longer the kids

with this problem (or difference) or that, but the

gilrs with those fantastic dogs. If you open our

caringbridge page (www.caringbridge.org/il/annakris)

you can see a photo of the girls and their dogs.

Who May Benefit

Service dogs can benefit people with disabilities

associated with many diagnoses, including (but not

limited to):Spinal cord/head trauma (injury, stroke),

Visual or hearing deficits, Arthritis, Ataxia/poor

balance, Multiple sclerosis, Cerebral palsy, Muscular

dystrophy, Spina bifida, Seizure disorders, Cardiac

and pulmonary disease, Arteriovascular disease

(primary or secondary to diabetes, etc.), Psychiatric

disabilities.

Any person who has a physical or mental impairment

that substantially limits a major life activity might

be a candidate for a service dog.

Consideration of a person as a candidate for a service

dog should include not only the diagnosis of a chronic

disability, but also the person's ability to function

on a daily basis:

* How difficult are activities of daily living?

* Will the person have better stamina if s/he can

conserve energy by having the dog perform tasks?

* Would having a service dog help the person get

more physical exercise, be more mobile?

* Would a dog help socially by being a distraction

from the person's disability, or help the person

externalize his/her focus of attention?

* Would the dog's presence alleviate some of the

safety and well-being concerns of significant others

who cannot be with the person all day?

* Would the person eat better if the dog carried

the food from the refrigerator, or if they

synchronized their meals?

Health Benefits:

Service dogs help people overcome the limitations of

their disabilities and the barriers in their

environments.

Scientific research has begun to validate the role of

service dogs for people with disabilities. In 1995, a

2-year study by Dr. , et. al., found that

people with disabilities who had service dogs scored

higher for psychological well-being, self-esteem,

community integration, and the amount of control they

could exert over their environment. In addition, the

number of personal assistant (human) hours required

for care decreased by an average of 78%. This

represents significant potential savings in health

care costs. Other studies support the findings of

improved self-esteem, independence, and social

acceptance.

Additional research has documented benefits of

companion animals: Lowered blood pressure, Moderation

of stress, Improved motivation, Decreased serum

cholesterol, Mitigation of the effects of loneliness.

All these are added benefits which a service dog can

provide, in addition to performing the tasks which it

is trained to do.

Tasks Performed by Service Dogs:

Service dogs can be trained to reliably perform many

tasks, some of which are:

* Leading a person who has a visual impairment

around obstacles, to destinations (seating, across

street, to/through door, to/into elevator, etc.).

* Sound discrimination to alert a person with a

hearing impairment to the presence of specific sounds,

such as: Smoke/fire/clock alarms, Telephone,Baby

crying, Siren, Another person,Timers buzzing, Knocks

at door,

Unusual sounds (things that go bump in the night, mice

in the cabinet, etc.).

General assistance, including: Mobility (helping

person balance for transfer/ambulation, pulling

wheelchair, helping person rise from sitting or fallen

position).

Retrieval (getting items that are dropped or otherwise

out of reach, carrying items by mouth), Miscellaneous

(e.g., open/close doors and drawers, help person

undress/dress, carry items in backpack, act as

physical buffer to jostling by others, put clothes in

washer/remove from dryer, bark to alert for help).

Sense and alert owners to oncoming seizures. It is

currently unknown why or how some dogs are able to do

this, but a number of dogs have demonstrated the

ability to warn their owners of oncoming seizures,

enabling the owners to position themselves safely.

Brooklyn ('s dog) responds to ventilator and

apnea alarms, monitors 's breathing and bumps

her if she stops or breathes too shallowly, barks on

hand signal command when can't speak or move

hwe eyes to summon help, picks up drops items, gets

telephone for us during an emergency, warns her of

impending seizures. Stitches (lies dog) awakens

her for ventilator alarms, gets us for apnea alarms,

warns her of impendign seizures, provides balance

stability to help prevent falls when she is ataxic and

serves as a brace to pull herself up when she falls.

Both dogs do limited hearing alert tasks and both can

do ALL of the standard service dogs tasks (open doors,

lights on/off, tug, carry, retrieve, etc).

If any one is interested, I compiled a comprehensive

listing of all of the recognized service dog agencies

in the US and Internationally, plus a comprehensive

listing of service dog abilities which I'd be happy to

forward to anyone personally or the list (the

documents are very large). The girls and I did a

formal presentation for the International Post-polio

and International Ventilators Users Confernece in

June. I extended the offer to the UMDF for the

Atlanta UMDF Conference, but haven't heard yet if the

UMDF will consider it or would like us present the

program.

Individuals can also " owner train " , but the process is

very time consuming and my be a challenge for someone

unfamiliar with dog training. Plus, public access is

essential and the recommended criteria is pretty

specific and strict.

Please feel free to post any specific questions. If I

can't answer them, I;m sure ANnalies or

could:)

Joanne Kocourek (mom to , lies, and )

visit us at: http://www.caringbridge.org/il/annakris

[Guest guest]

Joanne

Could you please put your document on the web site under

files. This way, all of us (and those in the future) will have access

to it. You also might want to put a picture of each of the girls and

their dogs under the picture areas.

laurie

> Hi ,

>

> lies and both have a service dog.

> has had Brooklyn for almost three years. lies has

> had Stitches for just over a year. Their dogs were

> trained by East Coast Assistance Dog in Torrington CT.

> Boot camp was held in Dobbs Ferry, NY. There is no

> way to effectively put into wpords the difference

> their dogs have made in their lives, both medically,

> socially and emotionally. They are no longer the kids

> with this problem (or difference) or that, but the

> gilrs with those fantastic dogs. If you open our

> caringbridge page (www.caringbridge.org/il/annakris)

> you can see a photo of the girls and their dogs.

>

> Who May Benefit

>

> Service dogs can benefit people with disabilities

> associated with many diagnoses, including (but not

> limited to):Spinal cord/head trauma (injury, stroke),

> Visual or hearing deficits, Arthritis, Ataxia/poor

> balance, Multiple sclerosis, Cerebral palsy, Muscular

> dystrophy, Spina bifida, Seizure disorders, Cardiac

> and pulmonary disease, Arteriovascular disease

> (primary or secondary to diabetes, etc.), Psychiatric

> disabilities.

>

> Any person who has a physical or mental impairment

> that substantially limits a major life activity might

> be a candidate for a service dog.

>

> Consideration of a person as a candidate for a service

> dog should include not only the diagnosis of a chronic

> disability, but also the person's ability to function

> on a daily basis:

> * How difficult are activities of daily living?

> * Will the person have better stamina if s/he can

> conserve energy by having the dog perform tasks?

> * Would having a service dog help the person get

> more physical exercise, be more mobile?

> * Would a dog help socially by being a distraction

> from the person's disability, or help the person

> externalize his/her focus of attention?

> * Would the dog's presence alleviate some of the

> safety and well-being concerns of significant others

> who cannot be with the person all day?

> * Would the person eat better if the dog carried

> the food from the refrigerator, or if they

> synchronized their meals?

>

> Health Benefits:

> Service dogs help people overcome the limitations of

> their disabilities and the barriers in their

> environments.

> Scientific research has begun to validate the role of

> service dogs for people with disabilities. In 1995, a

> 2-year study by Dr. , et. al., found that

> people with disabilities who had service dogs scored

> higher for psychological well-being, self-esteem,

> community integration, and the amount of control they

> could exert over their environment. In addition, the

> number of personal assistant (human) hours required

> for care decreased by an average of 78%. This

> represents significant potential savings in health

> care costs. Other studies support the findings of

> improved self-esteem, independence, and social

> acceptance.

>

> Additional research has documented benefits of

> companion animals: Lowered blood pressure, Moderation

> of stress, Improved motivation, Decreased serum

> cholesterol, Mitigation of the effects of loneliness.

>

> All these are added benefits which a service dog can

> provide, in addition to performing the tasks which it

> is trained to do.

>

> Tasks Performed by Service Dogs:

>

> Service dogs can be trained to reliably perform many

> tasks, some of which are:

>

> * Leading a person who has a visual impairment

> around obstacles, to destinations (seating, across

> street, to/through door, to/into elevator, etc.).

> * Sound discrimination to alert a person with a

> hearing impairment to the presence of specific sounds,

> such as: Smoke/fire/clock alarms, Telephone,Baby

> crying, Siren, Another person,Timers buzzing, Knocks

> at door,

> Unusual sounds (things that go bump in the night, mice

> in the cabinet, etc.).

>

> General assistance, including: Mobility (helping

> person balance for transfer/ambulation, pulling

> wheelchair, helping person rise from sitting or fallen

> position).

> Retrieval (getting items that are dropped or otherwise

> out of reach, carrying items by mouth), Miscellaneous

> (e.g., open/close doors and drawers, help person

> undress/dress, carry items in backpack, act as

> physical buffer to jostling by others, put clothes in

> washer/remove from dryer, bark to alert for help).

> Sense and alert owners to oncoming seizures. It is

> currently unknown why or how some dogs are able to do

> this, but a number of dogs have demonstrated the

> ability to warn their owners of oncoming seizures,

> enabling the owners to position themselves safely.

>

> Brooklyn ('s dog) responds to ventilator and

> apnea alarms, monitors 's breathing and bumps

> her if she stops or breathes too shallowly, barks on

> hand signal command when can't speak or move

> hwe eyes to summon help, picks up drops items, gets

> telephone for us during an emergency, warns her of

> impending seizures. Stitches (lies dog) awakens

> her for ventilator alarms, gets us for apnea alarms,

> warns her of impendign seizures, provides balance

> stability to help prevent falls when she is ataxic and

> serves as a brace to pull herself up when she falls.

> Both dogs do limited hearing alert tasks and both can

> do ALL of the standard service dogs tasks (open doors,

> lights on/off, tug, carry, retrieve, etc).

>

> If any one is interested, I compiled a comprehensive

> listing of all of the recognized service dog agencies

> in the US and Internationally, plus a comprehensive

> listing of service dog abilities which I'd be happy to

> forward to anyone personally or the list (the

> documents are very large). The girls and I did a

> formal presentation for the International Post-polio

> and International Ventilators Users Confernece in

> June. I extended the offer to the UMDF for the

> Atlanta UMDF Conference, but haven't heard yet if the

> UMDF will consider it or would like us present the

> program.

>

> Individuals can also " owner train " , but the process is

> very time consuming and my be a challenge for someone

> unfamiliar with dog training. Plus, public access is

> essential and the recommended criteria is pretty

> specific and strict.

>

> Please feel free to post any specific questions. If I

> can't answer them, I;m sure ANnalies or

> could:)

>

>

>

> Joanne Kocourek (mom to , lies, and )

> visit us at: http://www.caringbridge.org/il/annakris

>

>

> Medical advice, information, opinions, data and statements contained herein

are not necessarily those of the list moderators. The author of this e mail is

entirely responsible for its content. List members are reminded of their

responsibility to evaluate the content of the postings and consult with their

physicians regarding changes in their own treatment.

>

> Personal attacks are not permitted on the list and anyone who sends one is

automatically moderated or removed depending on the severity of the attack.

>

>

[Guest guest]

As per Laurie's request, I have uploaded three files specific to service dogs.

1) A comprehensive listing of the service dog training agencies throughout the

US and Internationally. 2) A comprehensive list of the tasks a serivce dog can

be taught to perform. 3) A document that reviews the factors one should consider

when determining if a serivce dog might be an option for themselves or a loved

one.

I anyone has any specific questions regarding serivce dogs, I'd be happy to

answer them. Our home is blessed to have two, very well trained. treasured

service dogs.

I don;'t think I have the ability to load a photo of the girls and their dogs.

Maybe, if some of us meet in Milwaukee again this summer, someone with that

capability would be willing/able to do so for me.

Laurie Fitzgerald laurie.fitzgerald@...> wrote:

Joanne

Could you please put your document on the web site under

files. This way, all of us (and those in the future) will have access

to it. You also might want to put a picture of each of the girls and

their dogs under the picture areas.

laurie

> Hi ,

>

> lies and both have a service dog.

> has had Brooklyn for almost three years. lies has

> had Stitches for just over a year. Their dogs were

> trained by East Coast Assistance Dog in Torrington CT.

> Boot camp was held in Dobbs Ferry, NY. There is no

> way to effectively put into wpords the difference

> their dogs have made in their lives, both medically,

> socially and emotionally. They are no longer the kids

> with this problem (or difference) or that, but the

> gilrs with those fantastic dogs. If you open our

> caringbridge page (www.caringbridge.org/il/annakris)

> you can see a photo of the girls and their dogs.

>

> Who May Benefit

>

> Service dogs can benefit people with disabilities

> associated with many diagnoses, including (but not

> limited to):Spinal cord/head trauma (injury, stroke),

> Visual or hearing deficits, Arthritis, Ataxia/poor

> balance, Multiple sclerosis, Cerebral palsy, Muscular

> dystrophy, Spina bifida, Seizure disorders, Cardiac

> and pulmonary disease, Arteriovascular disease

> (primary or secondary to diabetes, etc.), Psychiatric

> disabilities.

>

> Any person who has a physical or mental impairment

> that substantially limits a major life activity might

> be a candidate for a service dog.

>

> Consideration of a person as a candidate for a service

> dog should include not only the diagnosis of a chronic

> disability, but also the person's ability to function

> on a daily basis:

> * How difficult are activities of daily living?

> * Will the person have better stamina if s/he can

> conserve energy by having the dog perform tasks?

> * Would having a service dog help the person get

> more physical exercise, be more mobile?

> * Would a dog help socially by being a distraction

> from the person's disability, or help the person

> externalize his/her focus of attention?

> * Would the dog's presence alleviate some of the

> safety and well-being concerns of significant others

> who cannot be with the person all day?

> * Would the person eat better if the dog carried

> the food from the refrigerator, or if they

> synchronized their meals?

>

> Health Benefits:

> Service dogs help people overcome the limitations of

> their disabilities and the barriers in their

> environments.

> Scientific research has begun to validate the role of

> service dogs for people with disabilities. In 1995, a

> 2-year study by Dr. , et. al., found that

> people with disabilities who had service dogs scored

> higher for psychological well-being, self-esteem,

> community integration, and the amount of control they

> could exert over their environment. In addition, the

> number of personal assistant (human) hours required

> for care decreased by an average of 78%. This

> represents significant potential savings in health

> care costs. Other studies support the findings of

> improved self-esteem, independence, and social

> acceptance.

>

> Additional research has documented benefits of

> companion animals: Lowered blood pressure, Moderation

> of stress, Improved motivation, Decreased serum

> cholesterol, Mitigation of the effects of loneliness.

>

> All these are added benefits which a service dog can

> provide, in addition to performing the tasks which it

> is trained to do.

>

> Tasks Performed by Service Dogs:

>

> Service dogs can be trained to reliably perform many

> tasks, some of which are:

>

> * Leading a person who has a visual impairment

> around obstacles, to destinations (seating, across

> street, to/through door, to/into elevator, etc.).

> * Sound discrimination to alert a person with a

> hearing impairment to the presence of specific sounds,

> such as: Smoke/fire/clock alarms, Telephone,Baby

> crying, Siren, Another person,Timers buzzing, Knocks

> at door,

> Unusual sounds (things that go bump in the night, mice

> in the cabinet, etc.).

>

> General assistance, including: Mobility (helping

> person balance for transfer/ambulation, pulling

> wheelchair, helping person rise from sitting or fallen

> position).

> Retrieval (getting items that are dropped or otherwise

> out of reach, carrying items by mouth), Miscellaneous

> (e.g., open/close doors and drawers, help person

> undress/dress, carry items in backpack, act as

> physical buffer to jostling by others, put clothes in

> washer/remove from dryer, bark to alert for help).

> Sense and alert owners to oncoming seizures. It is

> currently unknown why or how some dogs are able to do

> this, but a number of dogs have demonstrated the

> ability to warn their owners of oncoming seizures,

> enabling the owners to position themselves safely.

>

> Brooklyn ('s dog) responds to ventilator and

> apnea alarms, monitors 's breathing and bumps

> her if she stops or breathes too shallowly, barks on

> hand signal command when can't speak or move

> hwe eyes to summon help, picks up drops items, gets

> telephone for us during an emergency, warns her of

> impending seizures. Stitches (lies dog) awakens

> her for ventilator alarms, gets us for apnea alarms,

> warns her of impendign seizures, provides balance

> stability to help prevent falls when she is ataxic and

> serves as a brace to pull herself up when she falls.

> Both dogs do limited hearing alert tasks and both can

> do ALL of the standard service dogs tasks (open doors,

> lights on/off, tug, carry, retrieve, etc).

>

> If any one is interested, I compiled a comprehensive

> listing of all of the recognized service dog agencies

> in the US and Internationally, plus a comprehensive

> listing of service dog abilities which I'd be happy to

> forward to anyone personally or the list (the

> documents are very large). The girls and I did a

> formal presentation for the International Post-polio

> and International Ventilators Users Confernece in

> June. I extended the offer to the UMDF for the

> Atlanta UMDF Conference, but haven't heard yet if the

> UMDF will consider it or would like us present the

> program.

>

> Individuals can also " owner train " , but the process is

> very time consuming and my be a challenge for someone

> unfamiliar with dog training. Plus, public access is

> essential and the recommended criteria is pretty

> specific and strict.

>

> Please feel free to post any specific questions. If I

> can't answer them, I;m sure ANnalies or

> could:)

>

>

>

> Joanne Kocourek (mom to , lies, and )

> visit us at: http://www.caringbridge.org/il/annakris

>

>

> Medical advice, information, opinions, data and statements contained herein

are not necessarily those of the list moderators. The author of this e mail is

entirely responsible for its content. List members are reminded of their

responsibility to evaluate the content of the postings and consult with their

physicians regarding changes in their own treatment.

>

> Personal attacks are not permitted on the list and anyone who sends one is

automatically moderated or removed depending on the severity of the attack.

>

>