The Service Tree lists all services in "branched" groups, starting with the very general and moving to the very specific. Click on the name of any group name to see the sub-groups available within it. Click on a service code to see its details and the providers who offer that service.
Service Animals
Programs that provide and train recipients in the use of dogs who have been taught to help people whose autism limits their ability to perform activities of daily living. The dogs may alert the individual to important sounds, e.g., a smoke alarm or the doorbell which may be lost in the overall onslaught of sensory input, guide the person from an overstimulating situation or find a specific person such as a caregiver when the person becomes confused, notify the person when s/he is exhibiting "stimming" behaviors such as hand flapping or head banging, and guide the person when in the community by drawing his or her attention to information that requires priority processing, e.g., when approaching an intersection. When partnered with a child, autism service dogs can help to ensure the child's safety by preventing or alerting parents to wandering or bolting behavior and tracking a child who succeeds in escaping; improve management of difficult behaviors such as seizures or tantrums; increase impulse control; facilitate sensory integration and calming; provide companionship and socialization support; and improve the child's ability to function in public.
Programs that provide and train recipients in the use of dogs who have been taught to help people who are blind increase their mobility and independence in a sighted world. The dogs are taught to observe traffic, lead their masters around obstacles, stop at all curbs and disobey commands that would endanger their master's safety.
Mobility Assistance Service Animals
Programs that provide and train recipients in the use of animals who have been taught to provide personal assistance such as pulling wheelchairs or fetching items for people with physical disabilities who have limited mobility.
Programs that provide and train recipients in the use of dogs who have been taught to work with and respond to individuals disabled by mental illness. The dogs may remind the individual to take medication at a specific time; turn on lights and search a room for intruders; warm the person's body during a panic attack; interrupt checking and other repetitive behaviors; stay with the person during acute emotional stress; alert to mania, panic attacks or dissociative episodes; interrupt dissociative episodes or flashbacks; assist the individual in distinguishing "reality" from auditory or visual hallucinations; provide a constant grounding presence; and serve as a trustworthy companion when the person is negotiating paranoia.
Programs that provide and train recipients in the use of dogs who have been taught to help people who are deaf increase their independence and ability to communicate in a hearing world. The dogs obey sign language commands and are taught to respond to a variety of sounds including ambulance sirens, doorbells, alarm clocks, smoke alarms, crying babies and teakettles.