A trained service dog can change someone’s life.
The term service dog is a broad term that covers everything from seeing-eye dogs, hearing dogs, and medical alert dogs. They are there for their owner to help with mobility, difficult day-to-day tasks, alerting people during an emergency, and so much more.
Although they can be expensive to train and obtain, some charities match individuals with service dogs. They are well worth every cent for people with disabilities. There are tons of organizations that help with training, registering, and fitting the dog to the individual. You can learn more and access helpful resources at servicedogregistration.organd other sites like it.
For now, though, read on to discover five ways service dogs can help those with disabilities.
1. Mobility Assistance for the Visual and Hearing Impaired
One of the most common uses of service dogs is for those with visual and hearing impairments. The blind and visually impaired and deaf and hearing impaired communities have forged special relationships with service dogs, who can do so much for them.
In this role, service dogs can guide people through their surroundings, help them avoid obstacles, assist them onto elevators and escalators, guide them across the street when the proper walk sign is on, and more. Dogs for the hearing impaired can be trained to use physical nudge cues to communicate with their owners who cannot hear their barks.
2. Seizure Alert Response
Service dogs can be specifically trained to help people with epilepsy or other conditions which cause seizures.
The Epilepsy Foundation states that these dogs provide a whole range of services like barking to signal to caregivers that a seizure has occurred, protecting the person experiencing the seizure, and activating an alarm.
Dogs can be trained to react to seizures and predict the onset of seizures before they even occur, giving them the time to get their owners to a safe place.
3. Diabetes and Hypoglycemic Alert Dogs
Every dog owner, regardless of their level of ability, knows how perceptive our furry friends are. This quality allows dogs to train as companions for those living with diabetes, hypoglycemia, and other blood sugar disorders.
Diabetes service dogs and hypoglycemic alert dogs can detect biochemical changes occurring within their owners’ bodies before their owners do, alerting them to stabilize their blood sugar and calling for emergency services if it’s too late.
4. Air Travel
As of 2020, it was decided that only those with documented physical disabilities and psychological disorders can bring their service dogs on airplanes in the USA. Emotional support animals are sadly no longer permitted.
If you meet TSA’s requirements and are allowed to bring your service animal along in flight, they can be of enormous help to those living with disabilities. From navigating through security to shuffling down the cramped aisle of the plane, modern air travel would be too difficult without a trained companion.
5. Children with Special Needs
Children with physical and intellectual disabilities stand to gain the most from the emotional support of a service dog. Service dogs can accompany your child to the doctor, school and comfort them at night when it can be scary to be alone.
The Bottom Line
Registered service dogs are worth the investment if you or your child are living with a disability. They tirelessly rise to the occasion to meet our demands and shower us with love every time we see them. Navigating the world with a disability often makes life unnecessarily difficult. Keeping a trained service dog brightens that dark horizon with joy, support, and responsibility.
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