| History | | | | needed. An assistance dog for autism supports a |
| The charity was founded in 1988 by Frances Hay | | | | family with a child affected by autism. Each dog acts |
| (195090) in Kenilworth Warwickshire. This was as a | | | | as a continuous focus, enabling a child to remain calm |
| result of Frances personal experience with her own | | | | in places they may have previously found too |
| pet dog helping Frances overcome her disability. | | | | challenging. |
| Dogs for the Disabled trains registered assistance | | | | Towards the end of their training each dog is matched |
| dogs to help people with disabilities live a more | | | | to a person on the charity's waiting list, the dog's skills |
| independent life. Their clients (people with a disability) | | | | and temperament are matched to the needs of their |
| have a wide range of disabilities from spinal injury to | | | | prospective client, so for example if a dog is to be |
| multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and stroke. It was the | | | | matched to someone who has no movement on the |
| first UK assistance dog charity to specifically train | | | | right-hand side, the dog will be trained to only fetch and |
| dogs to support the needs of children with physical | | | | pass things to the person on the left-hand side. |
| disabilities. In 2007, the charity extended its services to | | | | Following completion of a two-week residential course, |
| train assistance dogs to support families with a child | | | | both dog and client receive additional training in the |
| with autism. | | | | home, before being assessed to become a fully |
| The charity is based in Banbury, Oxfordshire, with its | | | | registered assistance dog partnership. A qualified dog |
| own national training centre, including dedicated training | | | | now changes coat colour again to a high-visibility |
| kennels, and purpose-built residential accommodation | | | | yellow jacket. |
| for clients who attend a two-week course learning | | | | Benefits |
| how to care for and work with their assistance dogs. | | | | Partnership with an assistance dog offers far more |
| Funding and costs | | | | than practical help. Disability can have a profound |
| Dogs for the Disabled receives no government funding | | | | effect on both the individual and their loved ones. Prior |
| and is supported by public donations, corporate | | | | to partnership, many clients describe feelings of |
| support, legacies and grants Dogs are often | | | | isolation, loss of confidence and lack of independence. |
| sponsored by individuals and companies, the sponsors | | | | An assistance dog becomes a social icebreaker, a |
| receive regular updates and photographs on the | | | | reason to go out, giving a new found confidence that |
| progress of their dog through puppyhood, training and | | | | opens doors to fresh opportunities including friendships, |
| partnership. | | | | hobbies, education and even careers. |
| Training an assistance dog partnership | | | | Retired dogs and dogs withdrawn from the scheme |
| Dogs normally enter the scheme as young golden | | | | The charity is committed to financially supporting the |
| retriever or Labrador puppies and live full time with | | | | dogs whilst in training, partnership, and when they are |
| volunteer socialisers until they are around 12 months | | | | formally 'retired' from working even if they continue to |
| old. The socialisers give the dogs basic obedience | | | | live in the clients household. |
| training with guidance from the charity's specialist staff. | | | | Dogs which are retired and can no longer live with the |
| During this period the dogs are allowed to visit public | | | | clients or dogs that are withdrawn from the training |
| places and experience situations they will meet as a | | | | programme, usually for reasons of temperament or |
| working assistance dog. To identify them as a 'puppy | | | | underlying health issues, are offered for rehoming with |
| in training' they wear distinctive green coats and lead | | | | carefully screened families. |
| flashes. | | | | Accessibility |
| The dogs are continually monitored for suitability, with | | | | Dogs for the Disabled is a fully accredited member of |
| the charity looking for calm confident dogs that want | | | | Assistance Dogs International, the worldwide body that |
| to work with people. At around twelve to fourteen | | | | sets standards for and accredits the assistance dog |
| months old, the puppy returns to the charity for | | | | movement. The charity is also an accredited member |
| intensive training lasting approximately 4-6 months. | | | | of Assistance Dogs UK. Members of both these |
| Dogs for the Disabled skilled trainers assess each dog | | | | organisations also work to improve understanding of |
| for its temperament and skills before deciding which | | | | assistance dogs amongst the public and to maintain |
| service they will be working in. | | | | and improve accessibility into public places for all |
| Each assistance dog is trained to undertake a range | | | | assistance dog partnerships. |
| of practical tasks, including opening and closing doors, | | | | Dogs for the Disabled's chief executive, Peter Gorbing, |
| retrieving items that may have been dropped or are | | | | has been President of Assistance Dogs International |
| out of reach, push access buttons outside shops or | | | | since 2007. |
| bark on command to raise the alarm when help is | | | | |