OT Assistant in the New York Times
In today's edition of the New York Times, an article on service dogs for wounded veterans profiles Harvey Naranjo, an adaptive sports program coordinator and a certified occupational therapy assistant at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Naranjo, who is also a specialist in the Army Reserve, began bringing his own dog, Deuce, to work with severely disabled vets at Walter Reed. He saw how well the soldiers responded to Deuce, and so began referring soldiers to other service dog groups who have set up programs specifically for veterans.
Naranjo describes a very interesting perspective on service dogs -- as a replacement for assistive technology devices and ADL aids. Some of the veterans who have prosthetics use their dogs to help maintain balance. Today's young soldiers, Naranjo told the Times, don't want to use a cane or crutches, but a dog can provide the same stability without attracting as much attention to the disability.
The article profiles several veterans, the injuries they suffered in Iraq or Afghanistan, and the way their service dogs have improved their lives. Read the article at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/11/giving/11DOGS.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink, and a slideshow of the veterans and their dogs can be found at http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/11/11/giving/20081111-DOGS_index.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink.