The ADA defines a service animal as any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability. If they meet this definition, animals are considered service animals under the ADA regardless of whether they have been licensed or certified by a state or local government.
We are working hard on trying to get the public to understand our dogs and to see that they do indeed help. I have met a lot of people with different disabilities, and I learn more new needs every day. Let us look at some of the ways dogs help that are overlooked by many.
1. Seeing eye dogs.
2. Seizure alert/response.
3. Hearing dogs for the deaf and hard of hearing.
4. They can carry small packages or items in their mouth.
5. Help go up and down steps.
6. Help give you balance when standing for a time.
7. Help in getting up and down into a chair, couch etc.
8. They pull wheelchairs.
9. They can give envelopes with money to cashiers, banks, etc.
10. They pick up dropped objects such as the phone, car, keys, pencils etc.
11. Carry backpacks for schoolbooks.
12. They can carry your medication for you.
13. They open doors at stores and restaurants and at home, including, for example, refrigerator doors, etc.
14. They open drawers at home.
15. Turn on and off lights.
16. They assist with grocery shopping by getting things off the shelf.
17. They can help with the laundry by getting clothes out of and in machines.
18. They help with pulling people out of bed.
19. They help people get dressed and undressed.
20. They are trained for people with social phobias, such as agoraphobia.
21. They help people with panic attacks.
22. Help people that are bipolar & manic depressive
23. Ease us in a time of stress
24. They lessen the sense of isolation and cabin fever. (This is me).
25. Give you confidence to leave the house. (Me Again)
26. Help you handle being approached in public.
27. Give you the most unconditional love and companionship.
28. There are also therapy dogs. They go to see patients, and they help by letting the patients pet them.
As I have said, I had to be baby-sat before I had Tagert because my seizures were so severe. This is only a partial list. I do not know all the ways they can be of help to us. If your dog helps you in a way I have not listed, please feel free to write and I will add it to the list. Our Dogs are the most wonderful things, and I am truly blessed to have found mine.
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