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SoCalyorkiLvr · 06-24-2005, 11:46 AM

Here is the beginning of an article on the tasks a dog can be trained to do to assist a person with a psyciatric disorder like depression or panis attacks. These are qualifying disabilities under the ADA:

IAADP
International Association of
Assistance Dog Partners

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SERVICE DOG TASKs for PSYCHIATRIC DISABILITIES
Tasks to mitigate certain disabling illnesses classified as mental impairments under the Americans With Disabilities Act

Author: Joan Froling
Trainer Consultant
Sterling Service Dogs

SERVICE DOG TASKS FOR PANIC DISORDER, PTSD and DEPRESSION
According to the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), a service animal must be individually trained to do work or tasks of benefit to a disabled individual in order to be legally elevated from pet status to service animal status. The following list identifies a number of tasks a service dog could be trained to do that would serve to mitigate a disabling condition classified as a psychiatric disability. In particular, the tasks were developed for those who become disabled by Panic Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome ( PTSD), or Depression, conditions attributed to a brain chemistry malfunction. The author, a mobility impaired service dog trainer who has been deeply involved in the assistance dog field for the past decade, initiated research into this new kind of assistance dog in 1997. She became familiar with these disorders through the input of early pioneers of the psychiatric service dog concept. Subsequent research has involved garnering input from experts in psychology and psychiatry and from patients to gain a better understanding of the symptoms, treatment goals, and ways in which partnership with a service dog might become a valuable adjunct to conventional therapy.

In addition to task training, it should also be recognized that housebreaking, basic obedience training and mastering the behaviors of no nuisance barking, no aggressive behavior, and no inappropriate sniffing or intrusion into another person or dog’s space are an essential part of educating any dog for a career as an assistance dog.

Assistance Work or Tasks for Psychiatric Disabilities

I. Assistance in a Medical Crisis

II. Treatment Related Assistance

III. Assistance Coping With Emotional Overload

IV. Security Enhancement Tasks

I. ASSISTANCE IN A MEDICAL CRISIS

A service dog can learn a number of helpful tasks to assist his partner to cope during a sudden flare up of symptoms, medication side effects, or in a situation requiring outside help.

(The limit on the post makes it impossible foer me to list the tasks identified but I will list them in another post or you can read by going to the website yourself)

06-24-2005, 11:46 AM	#65
SoCalyorkiLvr BANNED! Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 8,246	Here is the beginning of an article on the tasks a dog can be trained to do to assist a person with a psyciatric disorder like depression or panis attacks. These are qualifying disabilities under the ADA: IAADP International Association of Assistance Dog Partners -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SERVICE DOG TASKs for PSYCHIATRIC DISABILITIES Tasks to mitigate certain disabling illnesses classified as mental impairments under the Americans With Disabilities Act Author: Joan Froling Trainer Consultant Sterling Service Dogs SERVICE DOG TASKS FOR PANIC DISORDER, PTSD and DEPRESSION According to the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), a service animal must be individually trained to do work or tasks of benefit to a disabled individual in order to be legally elevated from pet status to service animal status. The following list identifies a number of tasks a service dog could be trained to do that would serve to mitigate a disabling condition classified as a psychiatric disability. In particular, the tasks were developed for those who become disabled by Panic Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome ( PTSD), or Depression, conditions attributed to a brain chemistry malfunction. The author, a mobility impaired service dog trainer who has been deeply involved in the assistance dog field for the past decade, initiated research into this new kind of assistance dog in 1997. She became familiar with these disorders through the input of early pioneers of the psychiatric service dog concept. Subsequent research has involved garnering input from experts in psychology and psychiatry and from patients to gain a better understanding of the symptoms, treatment goals, and ways in which partnership with a service dog might become a valuable adjunct to conventional therapy. In addition to task training, it should also be recognized that housebreaking, basic obedience training and mastering the behaviors of no nuisance barking, no aggressive behavior, and no inappropriate sniffing or intrusion into another person or dog’s space are an essential part of educating any dog for a career as an assistance dog. Assistance Work or Tasks for Psychiatric Disabilities I. Assistance in a Medical Crisis II. Treatment Related Assistance III. Assistance Coping With Emotional Overload IV. Security Enhancement Tasks I. ASSISTANCE IN A MEDICAL CRISIS A service dog can learn a number of helpful tasks to assist his partner to cope during a sudden flare up of symptoms, medication side effects, or in a situation requiring outside help. (The limit on the post makes it impossible foer me to list the tasks identified but I will list them in another post or you can read by going to the website yourself)