A brief description of what Assistance Dogs can do/provide

Information provided by Tony and Erika in Miami:

Definition:

Service Dogs assist a physically disabled individual by mitigating the recipients' limitations of mobility, coordination, strength, or balance. They learn a vocabulary of up to 80 commands, which can be used to complete an unlimited number of tasks of daily living. For example, the dogs can pick up dropped items from a key to a crutch, retrieve a phone or alert someone in an emergency, turn on lights, pull a wheelchair, or brace for balance. The dogs also open doors, both literally and socially. Many ECAD clients report increased social interaction and decreased depression, loneliness, and health problems after receiving a dog.

Here are some sites and applications:

East Coast Assistance Dogs
http://www.ecad1.org/

Assistance Dogs International

http://www.assistancedogsinternational.org/servicehearingproviders.php

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