Systemic changes needed to support service dog teams
Neurodivergence & Dog Training Welcome to the final installment of our three-part series on neurodiversity. In Part 1 we explored what neurodivergence means and why it matters. In Part 2 we got practical, looking at flexible and client-centered approaches to training. Here in Part 3 we zoom out to the bigger picture: what does it actually look like to … Read more
How Do You Train in a Way That Works for Every Neurodivergent Client? Welcome back to Part 2 of our three-part blog series on neurodiversity! In Part 1, we explored what it means to be neurodivergent, challenged some common misconceptions, and heard from Atlas trainers and clients about why building a more inclusive training world matters. … Read more
For our blog topic this month, we decided to dive into the growing and fascinating area of neurodiversity. This is a topic that we find genuinely exciting to explore, as our field is gaining a richer understanding of neurodivergent thinking — and increasingly recognizing it not as a deficit to be managed, but as a … Read more
Picture books are a magical part of my childhood memories. From the smell of rows and rows of plastic-wrapped books at the local library, to lying on my belly on the living room carpet, flipping pages, to learning the art of the story and beginning to write my own, illustrated stories helped me to navigate … Read more
We are honored to announce that Atlas Assistance Dogs has officially earned full accreditation from Assistance Dogs International (ADI)! This marks a defining moment in our organization’s journey, one that affirms our commitment to the highest standards of ethical, humane, and effective service dog training. Why ADI Accreditation Matters ADI is a worldwide coalition of nonprofit organizations … Read more
Service dogs are trained to provide assistance with a host of tasks to help mitigate their person’s disability. They can help retrieve items for people with limited mobility or sense an impending seizure or cardiac episode. They can even detect if their owner’s blood sugar is at dangerous levels and alert others if it’s a … Read more
We are proud to announce that Atlas Assistance Dogs has earned candidacy with Assistance Dogs International (ADI)! ADI is a worldwide coalition of non-profit organizations that train assistance dogs. They have become a leading authority and have set standards and best practices within the international service dog industry, and we are proud to be one … Read more
Atlas Assistance Dogs is proud to celebrate the 31st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. On July 26th we celebrate this important civil rights law that works to ensure all people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. A Brief History of the ADA While the ADA was signed into … Read more
People with invisible disabilities face many barriers and stigmas. Disability Pride Month is a time to bring visibility and empowerment to people with all types of disabilities, visible or not.
– by Catherine Cheng What’s the Difference? One of the most misunderstood concepts is the difference between an emotional support animal (ESA) versus a service dog. You may ask: Is there even a difference? Aren’t the terms interchangeable? And the answer is that there is a huge difference! Here is the definition of a service … Read more