ASIST/ASSISTER: Who We Are
Although guide dogs have been generally accepted as assistance animals for over 85 years, historical records stretching back centuries show that dogs have a long history of aiding persons who are blind. Two of the many figures in Spring on the Yellow River, a thirteenth-century Chinese scroll painting, for example, are a blind man using a dog as a guide. Turning to Europe, in the Middle Ages a monk by the name of Bartholomew recorded the following observation: “The blind man is often brought to such a circumstance that, in order to pass over and escape the perils of a bridge or a ford, he is compelled to trust to a dog more than to himself . . . ”
Although people who are blind have used dogs as guides for centuries, recognizing the many other ways in which assistance animals can help persons with disabilities is a relatively recent phenomenon that has finally reached critical mass. Assistance animal organizations have scrambled to keep up with the need for training standards, which are the basis for the legislation that allows the animals to accompany persons with disabilities into public places such as shopping malls, entertainment venues, government offices and on public transit. The public must be able to expect a certain level of training so as to ensure public safety.
We are ASIST/ASSISTER, a not-for-profit organization that, in its founding board of directors, encompasses extensive knowledge of animal training and behaviour, the world of disabilities, and an understanding of standards – three elements we believe essential for a successful assistance animal training program.
Our training personnel are qualified not only to train, but also to evaluate and prepare assistance animal teams for third-party certification, which eliminates bias in the certification process. Our system allows the team's human partner to be a part of, and contribute to their community with confidence.
We emphasize teamwork: the person with the disability relies on a support team of family, friends, medical personnel and trainers, while building and maintaining a strong bond with the animal selected as animal team partner. The human-animal bond forms the basis for the human-animal team. Each partner in a team – human or animal – has needs that deserve equal consideration. Taking care of all needs makes the team stronger, and so its members work better together. Integrating all the elements necessary to produce a strong, successful team is how we got our name: ASIST/Assister, which stands for ASIST - Animal Services & Integrated Support Teams / ASSISTER – Animaux d'assistance et équipes de support - services intégrés.
