community outreach

Assistance Dogs of the West works to broaden public education and awareness of the challenges faced by people with disabilities and the valuable service provided to them by trained assistance dogs.

This is accomplished through a variety of avenues.

• Agency and Program partnerships (some examples: Adelante Development Services, Veterans Administration, New Mexico Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, NM Children Youth and Family Department)
• Public Education through participation in professional Conferences, Community Events and ADW Website www.assistancedogsofthewest.org (some examples: Southwest Conference on Disabilities, NM Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Statewide Staff Meeting, Santa Fe Public Schools Regional Youth Career Fair, Santa Fe Community Career Fair, New Mexico Week for the Animals, Farmington Disabilities Conference, NM Department of Health Abilities Awareness Day
• Successful Lobbying for client placement financial support through New Mexico Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, ongoing appeals for Commercial Insurance to NM Public Regulatory Commission, lobbying legislators for service dog public access, benefit coverage support
• Community presentations to educational, civic and corporate groups (some examples: Santa Fe Care Center visits, SF and Albuquerque Civitans, Rotary Clubs, Albuquerque Humane Society Summer Camps, Santa Fe Animal Shelter Volunteers, Girls, Inc. groups, UNM Occupational Therapy Program, SF High School Special needs classes
• Sharing Expertise with media, professional organizations, and government agencies