Another Language: Writer Jeanne Braham Explores the Relationships between People and Their NEADS Dogs

We are thrilled to announce the forthcoming new book Another Language: Portraits of Assistance Dogs and Their People by Jeanne Braham, which will be released on March 15, 2012. Photographs by Robert Floyd.

Here is a description of the book:

The profiles in Another Language celebrate the healing bonds between service dogs and their people. Through these oral histories, and backed by the power of photographs, sixteen people who have worked with the NEADS/Dogs For Deaf and Disabled Americans program in north-central Massachusetts tell their own stories in their own words. You’ll meet an Iraq war veteran, people who use wheelchairs or who have balance problems due to debilitating disease, trainers who raise service puppies and others who work with NEADS’ human clients, and more. Writer/interviewer Jeanne Braham, along with photographer Robert Floyd, bring the stories to life in a way that’s respectful, compassionate, and compelling.

Advanced Praise:

The importance of assistance dogs cannot be overstated, and Jeanne Braham has done a wonderful job of describing them.  The photos are spectacular, and no one will read this book without gaining insight into the relationship of these dogs and the people who benefit from their good sense and loyalty.  It’s a must read for anyone who has such a dog, and even more a must-read for anyone who needs one but does not have one.  Congratulations to Braham for putting this all together, and congratulations to the dogs she describes. —Elizabeth Marshall Thomas
Anthropologist and author Elizabeth Marshall Thomas’s books include the best-selling The Hidden Life of Dogs and The Social Life of Dogs.

In crisp and lucid prose Braham records the lives of a dozen individuals and their canines, ranging from hearing dogs to walker dogs for balance to trauma dogs for returning vets with PTSD. Those of us who have dogs for pure pleasure marvel at the skills these animals have mastered and their intense loyalty to the humans they care for. A rich story, well told. —Maxine Kumin
Pulitzer-prize winning poet Maxine Kumin’s most recent collection is Where I Live: New and Selected Poems 1990-2010.

Jeanne Braham’s book Another Language profiles independence, hope and opportunity.  These portraits highlight our mission of matching the very best trained assistance dogs to our client’s individual needs, whether our Canines for Combat Veterans, Dogs For Deaf and Disabled Americans, or our new program Trauma Assistance Dogs. We at NEADS are thrilled to see the work we do every day portrayed so eloquently in these pages.  —Gerry DeRoche
Gerry DeRoche is Chief Executive Officer of NEADS/Dogs For Deaf and Disabled Americans

For more information, or to make an advanced purchase, visit the Bauhan Publishing website or Amazon.com

8-year-old Cassidy Learns she is Matched with an Assistance Dog — Video

Cassidy is an 8-year-old girl with autism who has been waiting to be matched with the perfect NEADS assistance dog. This is her reaction when her mom tells her that NEADS has matched her with a yellow lab named Trixie.

NEADS Client Adopted by New Hampshire Town for Christmas

John & Lois

The good folks of Jackson, NH have adopted two wounded veterans and their families this holiday season. One of those veterans, John Oliveira, is a NEADS client. John, his assistance dog Lois, and John’s wife and three kids will travel to Jackson for Christmas, where the entire community has decided to give them a holiday worth remembering.

Most of us have wonderful memories of gathering with family and friends to celebrate the wonders of Christmas. However, for wounded veterans, this season can be bittersweet, a reminder of explosions and debilitating injuries. Could one family, one community, help wounded warriors escape the daily pressures of coping with disabilities, finances, and emotions?

That’s exactly what Dr. and Mrs. Gerald Carrier of Jackson, and their children and grandchildren decided to do in 2008.

“We wanted to give these wounded veterans and their families a Christmas they can look forward to and remember for a lifetime,” said Dr. Carrier.

Working with the Wounded Warrior Project, the Carriers adopted two military families, bringing them to Jackson for an old-fashioned New England Christmas. That was the beginning of the Christmas Can Cure tradition that gets the entire community involved, from business owners to individuals who donate money and their time to drive the families to and from activities.

The public is invited to meet this year’s recipients — retired Navy Lt Commander John Oliveira, and retired Army Specialist Eddie Platt — on Friday, Dec. 16, at 10 a.m. for the opening flag-raising ceremony at the Jackson Town Offices.

This story was originally posted in the Conway Daily Sun. Click here to find out how you can help, and to read more!

Matt & Tina — A Great Assistance Dog Team

What is it like to work and bond with an assistance dog? Check out this short video by our recent graduate Matthew Nedela. This says it all…

Austin John Burchard Visits R.I. Prison where his Assistance Dog was Trained

NEADS client Austin John Burchard, who was recently matched with assistance dog Chase, visited the Rhode Island prison where Chase was trained — and met the man behind bars who trained Chase.

Click here to read the article from WPRI.

Here are some photos of Austin and Chase learning how to work together, when Austin came to the NEADS campus to be matched with his assistance dog Chase:

Chase brings Austin an item

Chase turns on the lights for Austin

Chase opens a door for Austin

Chase goofs off and makes Austin laugh

Chase fetches a pen for Austin

Austin and Chase have a bonding moment

Austin and Chase ride the lift to get into the wheelchair accessible van

Austin and Chase go to the mall to learn how to work in public together

A bonded pair!

The Gift of Naming a Puppy

This gallery contains 9 photos.

What makes our Name-A-Puppy program so special? Hear from Sherry, whose friends named a puppy in her honor: My friends named a dog in my honor; it was such a meaningful gift in so many ways.  Each time I got … Continue reading →

The Prison PUP Partnership, from a Client’s Perspective — By Brenda Bodanza

Brenda, with Liberty, at a fundraiser for the Prison PUP Partnership: "To do a fundraiser for NEADS/Dogs for Deaf and Disabled Americans is a way I can give back for the blessing they have given to me with Liberty, my service dog!"

It takes a multitude of people committed to providing unconditional love and dedication to train a service dog, including breeders, weekend puppy raisers, sponsors, trainers and inmate handlers in the Prison PUP Partnership. I feel if it weren’t for the Prison Pup Partnership, clients wouldn’t be able to receive their furry canine aides as quickly as they do.

My own personal experience of receiving my service dog Liberty — and having the opportunity to witness firsthand where she was trained — was an opportunity I will never forget. In April 2010, I ventured to JJMoran Medium Prison in Rhode Island to meet the inmate handler that gave his heart to this furry little lady.

I observed four immate handlers, as they displayed their pride (like a parent showing off their child). They had the dogs run through their tasks, showing us the added specialties each dogs was trained to do.

Of course Liberty’s handler had my eye, as I watched him demonstrate with Liberty her abilities to open a door, take out a blanket, close the door and come put it on my lap. I watched her flush the toilet and put her paws in the sink to wash, and then to my amazement, her handler held up cue cards that stated commands and with out any words, Liberty performed each and every one of them with a bow at the end. She can also turn lights on and off, open and close the door, retrieve items dropped on the floor, bark for help, and many other things. And all this time I was watching this man glow, as he beamed for the unselfish tasks he had prepared for me through Liberty.

I truly feel regardless of the crimes that took place in these inmate handlers’ lives, it is God’s given work to be able to look past these mistakes and appreciate, as well as acknowledge, what these handlers have done for us. Training these pups is never an easy task. It is constant dedication, loyalty, perseverence and commitment. I totally feel the Prison Pup Partnership is the added foundation of NEADS.

Brenda, with Liberty: "Fundraising for NEADS is the least I can do for the impact these handlers have made on my own life!"

I had the pleasure of listening to the Deputy share his pride about the benefits of the NEADS Prison PUP Partnership, as well as his pride for what the handlers do. The prison staff and inmate handlers work together with much admiration for this outstanding program. This is such a demonstration of how everyone is united for the mission of NEADS. Everyone’s common interest is in the making of the service dogs.

I have had the utmost pleasure of meeting prison staff members from the Gardner and Shirley Prisons, with whom NEADS is also partnered, and heard their enthusiasm over the Prison Pup Program as well. I listened to their admiration regarding the great job these inmate handlers do.

It is so rewarding to hear so much positive feedback about the Prison PUP Partnership, where one can put aside any personal judgment about the inmates and instead focus on the commitment and talent within those prison walls. One never excuses the crimes that brought the inmate handlers to prison, but the Prison PUP Partnership program offers these inmates the opportunity to nurture, to be compassionate, to be a part of humanity with a goal in mind…the making of a service dog! So I applaud these handlers for what they do for the displaced veterans and disabled humans like me!

I have great pride in the Prison Pup Partnership for I have seen firsthand God’s amazing plan through this program — it is more than inmate handlers giving back to society, it is teaching that everyone involved can come together as a unit to support and encourage each other, and acknowledge that we all are human and can learn from one another!

What is the Prison PUP Partnership?
90-95% of NEADS puppies are trained in correctional facilities throughout New England. NEADS began the Prison PUP Partnership in 1998 at North Central Correctional Center in Gardner, Massachusetts. Since then, we’ve added more than a dozen additional participating prisons to our partnership. Our statistics show that dogs trained by prison inmates complete the additional required advanced training in half the time of most dogs raised exclusively in foster homes. Inmates are able to provide more consistent training at a higher level simply because of the amount of time they are able to devote to the dogs. This enables us to place dogs faster with people in need.

Dante Brodeur and Sister, Marta Jayne Brodeur, Raise Money To Get Dante Assistance Dog

TelegramTowns Worcester featured a NEADS client on July 14th:

FRIENDS IN NEADS - Marta Jayne Brodeur, 13, and her brother, Dante Brodeur, 9, of Watt Road sold snacks and drinks recently to raise money for Dante's special NEADS dog. The family needs to raise $9,500 for the cost of training the dog. Donations may be made at www.neads.org, where Dante has a page under "Meet Our Clients."

To contribute to Dante and Marta’s efforts to raise money
for Dante’s assistance dog, click here

See the original story here

The Many Faces of Disability: How I fit in Society — By Crystle Chase

Crystle gives Holly the command to sit.

I was coming out of the grocery store one day and I had just arrived at my car. I had the trunk open and was about to load the first bag, when I noticed the elderly woman next to me staring at me while she put her bags in her car.

I looked back, not offended, just curious, at why I appeared so interesting to her. She noticed my expression, and explained herself.

She told me, cautiously, that she had been sort of watching me in the grocery store, and that she could not, for the life of her, figure out what my disability was. I took this as a compliment, and figured that Holly and I had developed real grace together. She followed her statement up with a question, “are you training the dog,” she asked. I explained that I was not, and that Holly was my service dog. Rather astounded, and quite befuddled, she continued to ask questions.

If she was my dog, she inquired, what was disability? Why did I need her? What did she do for me? How long did I have her? How was she trained?

Patiently, and one by one, I answered her questions. I explained politely that I am disabled, and that Holly picks things up, helps me do the laundry, tells me when there is a knock at the door, and alerts me to smoke alarms. I followed this rather generic answer up with the usual comment, “and much much more!”

But the woman did not seem satisfied. She clearly did not mean to pry, and each question was asked with a tone of respect and genuine interest, so I continued to educate her and was glad to do so.

I told her the story everyone with a NEADS dog tells at least a few times in their partnership: Holly was trained in prison for a year; yes, she is friendly; no, sorry, you can’t pat her right now; you can’t pat her because she’s working, and so on, and so on.

When the woman ran out of questions she looked at me with awe. I had nothing left to tell her, so I waited for her explanation. She said, “You just look so healthy. You look beautiful.” She said this over and over, waiting for my reply.

Holly wearing her working gear.

People have questioned my having Holly before, but not like this. I know my disability is not usually visible, especially to people who aren’t familiar with disabilities, but this woman wanted to learn. She was fascinated with the concept that there could be something different, very different, with someone and you just could not see it. She was not accusing or doubtful of me, she was just astonished. All I could say was that there are many faces with disabilities, some you can notice, and others are invisible.

She thanked me for my time and patience, and moved on a little wiser. She was from a different generation; one which was not educated in diversity like the current generations have been. Still, without knowing appropriate social etiquette, she did not offend me one bit. I have to tip my hat to her.

Given her enthusiasm, I have to think that she told her friends or family about our chat. I had been in a rush, and she might have been as well, but her stopping and taking that moment to learn was, and will always be worth my time, and appreciation. In five minutes, her curiosity and my patience could have opened many minds; I know it opened hers.

For more information on the etiquette of petting a working service dog, click here.

For more information on the rights of people who have a service dog, click here.

9 Years with My Service Dog — by Scott Maenpaa

This June, Scott graduated with a B.A. from Boston Architectural College. He received the President's Award for his achievements and for being an inspiration to others.

Alex is 11 years old and we have been together for more than 9 years now and during that time we have developed a very close relationship. He is like my child. We are together nearly 24 hours a day/7 days a week. He assists mostly by fetching and carrying items for me while I push my chair. He is a great helper and loves to do his jobs. Outside of his everyday duties, I make sure he has time to play and be around other dogs. He loves to swim and roll in the grass (and snow). My office has adopted him as the company mascot, and we frequently go on trips, attend functions, sporting events, parties and other social gatherings. He is always a hit wherever we go and people are drawn to him and the work of the NEADS organization.

We have done so much over the years and my life is better because he is in it. He is a great companion. No matter what, a few minutes of petting or playing with him brighten even my darkest days. He is older now, but he still has a lot of puppy left in him and I look forward to many more memories and experiences with him. He has been such a great help and NEADS is a great organization for training and matching dogs like Alex with disabled persons.

Service dog Alex received "honorable mention" at Scott's graduation ceremony, although he had a repulation for sighing and stretching during long (boring) lectures!

Alex enjoying the snow in winter.