Help NEADS win $100,000 from Toshiba!!! It’s easy!

We are so excited to announce that NEADS/Dogs for Deaf and Disabled Americans is one of five finalists in the running to win a $100,000 technology makeover from Toshiba… but we need your help! And it’s so EASY!

1. Log into your Facebook account.
2. Click this link: Toshiba Help the Helpers Contest (or https://apps.facebook.com/tosh-helping-helpers/contests/160128/voteable_entries/43014453)
3. Click VOTE NOW and take a look at the video we created about NEADS.
4. That’s ALL!

You can vote once a day EVERY SINGLE DAY between now and March 9, 2012! Please share this exciting news with your friends, family, and Facebook followers and let them now how they can help. We can make this happen together!

Thank you so much for your help, don’t forget to vote every day, and keep your fingers crossed!

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.

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!

What Can a Hearing Dog Do?

In this video, trainer Brian Jennings demonstrates how a hearing dog helps someone who is Deaf or has hearing loss.

Dogs at your Desk: Access TCA

NEADS corporate partner Access TCA hosted a “Dogs at your Desk” day at their company. What is “Dogs at your Desk”? Well, it’s an opportunity for members of the corporate community to participate in training NEADS dogs to be effective assistance dogs.

Approximately six dogs will come to your office with their trainers. After you and your coworkers receive a short education session, the dogs will spend the day happily meeting your officemates and practicing “down” under your desk. The “Dogs at Your Desk” program helps to familiarize the dogs in training with the sights and sounds of a busy corporate environment, including elevators, fax machines and cafeteria noise.

In order to make the activity a successful training experience for the dogs, employees are expected to engage in a normal work day. As a result, offices do not lose any valuable work time.  However, the presence of our highly trained, lovable dogs contributes to a positive office environment that has been shown to increase morale and productivity for weeks to come! It is a fun day for everyone involved, but serious work is accomplished in getting the dogs ready to help people with disabilities in their workplace.

To learn more about how your company can participate in a Dogs at your Desk Day, please visit our website for more information. Please note, we can only service offices that are within one hour of the NEADS Princeton, MA campus.