Ken Kirsch: Hi, I am Ken Kirsch, Training Manager at Paws With A Cause.

Today, I am discussing Assistance Dogs International. Assistance Dogs International or ADI is a coalition of not-for-profit organizations that train and place assistance dogs. The purpose of ADI is to improve the areas of training, placement, and utilization of assistance dogs as well as staff and volunteer education.

Members of ADI meet regularly to share ideas, attend the seminars, and conduct business regarding such things as educating the public about assistance dogs and the legal rights of people with disabilities partnered with assistance dogs, setting standards and establishing guidelines and ethics for the training of these dogs and improving the utilization and bonding of each team.

ADI member programs currently use the ADI Public Access Test to certify their own graduate teams. Although, it's voluntary to certify assistance dog teams, it's an important stamp of approval that creates an agency's credibility and lets you as a consumer know that agency has met the minimum international standards of ADI for training and placing assistance dogs.

In addition to being able to take pride in what you and your dog have accomplished as a certified graduate you might receive the Program's Identification Card and dog equipment. And be offered assistance from the program should you be denied public access. Each program's requirements and benefits are different and it's up to you to be a good consumer and find the program that best meets your needs.

When looking for an assistance dog agency to work with, look for an agency that is ADI accredited so that you know that they would be held to the highest training standards for your assistance dog.

So that's the basics on Assistance Dogs International and how their efforts can help you in selecting a quality agency to work with.