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ECAD Service Dog Training Program |
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Training service dogs to help the physically challenged gives our children an opportunity to make the transformation from service receivers to service providers. Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities, or ECAD, began its program on the Green Chimneys campus in 1995. During its first decade, the program has grown from one small class on the Green Chimneys campus to seven programs across the state and in Connecticut.
ECAD's mission is to enable people with disabilities to gain greater independence and mobility through the use of specially trained dogs. At Green Chimneys, there are two intensive ECAD training classes and a third pilot program for students with a shorter attention span. Children learn how to train puppies and build self-esteem.
Using students with emotional or learning disabilities as trainers not only offers a unique approach, but also reduces the cost of training assistance dogs and decreases the waiting time for the people who need these dogs. To date, ECAD has placed more than 110 service dogs with children and adults from across the country who have various disabilities.
ECAD is a member of Assistance Dogs International and the Delta Society. To learn more about ECAD, visit www.ecad1.org. |
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Last Updated on Thursday, 06 December 2012 23:47 |