Last week, I received an email notification from Keystone Services that my application for a Hearing Service Dog from Susquehanna Service Dogs has been accepted. I have a home visit appointment with Patti Forker, Chief, Workplace Support Section of the Department of Public Welfare of Bureau of Human Resources to come to my home to make sure it is a safe place to have such a valuable partner.
Once that is complete and we pass the home inspection, it is a matter of waiting until puppies are available and ready to meet them. There are events a couple of times a year where applicants and the puppies get together for "Meet the Puppies" to see which puppies and humans connect for a lifelong partnership together. From there, puppies will begin training with expert trainers to help assist their human.
After that part of the training with the dog are completed, then the human applicant is brought into the training program for very intense two and a half weeks of training with the dog.
These dogs are bred to assist humans, trained and are worth $20,000.00 each. There are a lot of grants and funding available, however, the end cost in my particular case is going to be $5,000.00. This is due on the first day of my training session. This is only a small cost compared to the overall expense of such a highly trained lifelong working companion.
After the dog and I have been on our own for 6 months, we will be retested on our skills together and any training adjustment will be made at that time. In fact, each year there will be testing and any time adjustments need to be made, they will be addressed for the remainder of the dog's life.
I am raising money to help pay the cost, support and care for my future workmate through the proceeds generated from My Signing Time Store at http://www.XpressiveHandz.com
Raised on the Southern Oregon Coast, now retired on the Southern Oregon Coast. I was a hard of hearing child who grew up to be a deafened adult. I share and write about deafness, hearing loss and other things I find interesting. I am a 50 something year old woman who could be anyone's mother, grandmother or friend. I've traveled the U.S., and I've lived in Europe. I'm currently residing near the beach with Fabulous Husband and 11 year old son. ~ Joyce Edmiston
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Congrads! I also wanted to thank you for putting me on your "Links to websites mentioned, and worth mentioning" for my post on '10 IPhone apps for the Deaf and HOH'!
ReplyDeleteI wish you the best of luck in raising the money!
You're welcome, and thank you!
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited for you!! It sounds like their dept. of public welfare has got a uniquely good thing going! I hope they are running the program as well as it sounds. It will be great to hear how it goes.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link to my blipfoto blog!
It's always nice to hear from "home". :-) I've missed, you, Annie. Yes, the program is amazing! I should put a separate link up for Annie's Cottage! I didn't think of that. :-)
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