Assistance Dogs International Conference - August 19-22, 2018 | Minneapolis, Minnesota
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Assistance Dogs International Conference August 19-22, 2018 | Minneapolis, Minnesota Presented by: ®
® Can Do Canines is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for people with disabilities by creating mutually beneficial partnerships with specially trained dogs. Since 1989, Can Do Canines has provided more than 600 assistance dogs to people with disabilities; all free of charge. Our fully trained dogs, sometimes adopted from local animal shelters, are provided to our clients who live with disabilities that involve mobility challenges, hearing loss or deafness, seizure disorders, diabetes complicated by hypoglycemia unawareness, or children with autism. The board and staff at Can Do Canines are pleased to sponsor the Assistance Dogs International conference and honored to act as host of the event. Welcome to Minnesota!
Conference Schedule
Welcome
Welcome to Minnesota...................................................4
Nametags and Banquet Tickets......................................5
Resources.....................................................................6
Activities........................................................................7
Hotel Map.....................................................................8
Schedule
Daily Schedule..........................................................9-15
Presentations
Keynote Presentations.................................................16
Breakout Sessions.................................................17-23
Speakers
Keynote and Guest Speakers..................................24-29
Entertainment...............................................................30
Welcome
Richard Lord
On behalf of the Assistance Dogs
International Board, I would like to
welcome all the participants to the
Assistance Dogs International conference.
I hope you have a fruitful experience, gain
and share some knowledge, find old friends
and make new ones, and take something
with you that will have a positive effect on
your program and your life.
Please come and find me if you have some
points of interest to discuss, or you just
want to say G’day.
Richard Lord
Board President, Assistance Dogs International
Alan Peters
Can Do Canines is so honored to host this
year’s conference.
We are excited about the topics the
speakers will cover, and hope the
innovative ideas and discussions will result
in improved practices for those we serve.
We hope you enjoy your stay in Minnesota
and find the conference both useful and
enjoyable.
®
Alan Peters
Executive Director, Can Do Canines
4
Assistance Dogs International Conference 2018
We l c ome
Nametags and Banquet Tickets
Your nametag is your pass to certain areas of the conference and must be readily
accessible or visible to conference volunteers in order to enter any part of the conference.
The different color stripes on the nametags signify your affiliation with Assistance
Dogs International (ADI). It helps volunteers, conference attendees, moderators, and
committee chairs recognize your affiliation with ADI.
Nametag Color Code
Blue Accredited Membership Level (voting rights) Access to all meetings and
workshops. Full participation and voting privileges in meetings. Accredited
voting status must be confirmed before the start of the conference to have voting
privileges at the 2018 conference. Please Note: Only one designated person per
member organization may vote or speak at any meeting.
Yellow Candidate Level (non-voting rights) Access to all meetings, workshops, and
banquet. May attend business meetings to observe only.
Red Non-ADI Member Guest Not a member of Assistance Dogs International
(ADI). May attend all workshops, events, and banquet. May not attend any
business or committee meetings.
Green Conference Guest | Keynote Speaker | Non-ADI Member Speaker
Purple Conference Volunteer who will be able to assist you with any questions
or help you may need during the conference sessions.
Banquet Tickets
Your banquet ticket is placed inside your nametag holder. You must bring your banquet
ticket to the banquet. Please place your ticket at your place setting so your waitperson
may serve you the correct meal choice. Any special dietary need is your responsibility to
address to the hotel staff.
5
Assistance Dogs International Conference 2018
Welcome
Minneapolis Resources
Animal Emergencies Hospital Animal Supplies
Blue Pearl Veterinary Partners Fairvew Southdale Hospital Chuck and Don’s
7717 Flying Cloud Drive 6401 France Ave. S 8537 Lyndale Ave. S
Eden Prairie, MN 5534 Edina, MN 55435 Bloomington, MN 55420
952-942-8272 952-924-5000 952-345-7099
Open 24 hours ER open 24 hours View hours online
Transportation
Light Rail Transit Metro Transit Bus App-Based Transportation
Bloomington Central Station Buses pick up at dozens App-based services like
is located two minutes from of locations in and around Uber and Lyft are available
the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Minneapolis. For route and in Minneapolis and the
Here, you can get a ride to schedule information call surrounding areas. To use
downtown Minneapolis, the 612-373-3333 or look online these services for the first
airport, and Mall of America. at metrotransit.org. time, do the following:
Pay with cash for each light rail Pay with cash for each bus ride or First install the app and register an
ride or purchase a visitor pass purchase a visitor pass on the Metro account. Then you can request a
on the Metro Transit app or at Transit app or at metrotransit.org/ ride to your destination. Pay with
metrotransit.org/visitor-pass. visitor-pass. credit or debit card.
6
Assistance Dogs International Conference 2018
We l c ome
Minneapolis Activites
Minneapolis is known for its parks and lakes, but is also home to many cultural
landmarks. You can use public transportation, rent a bike, or even walk to activities.
Sculpture Garden The Guthrie Theater
Home to more than 40 iconic sculptures Center for theater performance,
including the Spoonbridge and Cherry. production, education, and training.
Blue line, Bus 6 (about 1 hour) Blue line, 7-minute walk (about 37 min)
The Walker Art Museum Twins vs. White Sox Baseball Game
World class contemporary art center At the Twin’s Stadium in downtown,
located next to the Sculpture Garden. Minneapolis on August 20 at 6:10 p.m.
Blue line, Bus 6 (about 1 hour) Blue line (about 40 min)
Mall of America Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
The largest mall in the U.S. with more A 14,000-acre National Wildlife Refuge in
then 500 stores and an amusement park. central Minnesota with hiking trails.
Blue line (about 11 min) 10-minute walk
Historic Fort Snelling Paisley Park
Learn stories of the 1820’s military fort Tour Prince’s 65,000 square-foot recording
and its surrounding area. and production complex and his final home.
Best route by Uber or Lyft Best route by Uber or Lyft
Minneapolis Institute of Art First Avenue
Fine art museum consisting of works of Minneapolis’ epicenter of live music and
art from the world’s diverse cultures. entertainment.
Blue line, Bus 11 (about an hour) Blue line (about 40 min)
Plan Your Stay
The following events begin the weekend following the conference.
Minnesota Renaissance Festival Minnesota State Fair
Live armored jousting, 250+ vendors, and “The Great Minnesota Get-Together,” one
16 stages of live entertainment. of largest state fairs in the United States.
Best route by Uber or Lyft Blue line, A line (about an hour)
Open weekends starting August 18 Open daily starting August 23
7
Assistance Dogs International Conference 2018
Welcome
Hotel Floor Plan
The entire Assistance Dogs International Conference takes place on the first floor of the
Hyatt Regency Hotel in Bloomington.
8
Assistance Dogs International Conference 2018
S c h e dule
Conference Schedule
Sunday, August 19
9 a.m. - 12 p.m ADI board meeting
Interlachen
Board Room.
1:30-2:30 p.m. Can Do Canines tour
Busses depart hotel lobby at 1:30, 2, and 2:30
Pre-registration required for tour
5:30-8 p.m. Conference registration check-in
Prefunction area
6-8 p.m. Welcome mixer
Stone Arch Room
8-10 p.m. Hospitality suite #429 open
9
Assistance Dogs International Conference 2018
S chedul e
Monday, August 20
7-8 a.m. Continental breakfast
Prefunction area
8-8:15 a.m. General Session | Conference Welcome
Grand Ballroom Richard Lord, ADI Board President
Alan Peters, Can Do Canines Executive Director
8:15-9 a.m. Keynote Presentation | Sharing Your Mission
Grand Ballroom Powerfully to Raise More Money
Lori L. Jacobwith, Ignite Fundraising
9-9:15 a.m. Break | Prefunction area
9:15-10:30 a.m. Morning Breakout Sessions
Admin Engaging Our Board. Expanding Our Reach.
Ballroom #2
Training Reducing Reactivity
Grand Ballroom
Breeding Panel: Culture of Collaboration—ABC Breeding Cooperative
Stone Arch Room
10:30-10:45 a.m. Break | Prefunction area
10:45 a.m. - 12 p.m. Morning Breakout Sessions
Admin Panel: Leadership Succession Planning
Ballroom #2
Training Panel: Best Practices Utilizing Prison Dog
Training Programs
Grand Ballroom
Breeding Practical Guidelines for Genetically Improving Health
and Behavior Traits
Stone Arch Room
10
Assistance Dogs International Conference 2018S c h e dule
12-12:15 p.m. Press conference with local media
Waterford Meeting Room
12-1 p.m. Networking lunch
1-2:30 p.m. General Session | Panel: Service Dog Identification: It’s a
Grand Ballroom Global Issue
Various speakers
2:30-2:45 p.m. Break | Prefunction area
2:45-3:45 p.m. Afternoon Breakout Sessions
Admin Donor Center Fundraising
Ballroom #2
Training Behavior Checklist (BCL)—Assess Maturing Dogs
Grand Ballroom
Breeding The Working Dog Project: The Behavioral Genetics of
Success and Failure in Working Dogs
Stone Arch Room
3:45-4 p.m. Break | Prefunction area
4-5 p.m. Afternoon Breakout Sessions
Admin Regional Chapter Membership Meetings
Ends at 6 p.m. North America—Ballroom #2 | Europe—Wakota Meeting Room
Oceania—Interlachen Board Room
Training Training Demonstrations Exchange/Tips
Grand Ballroom
Breeding Genetic Improvement is Possible Through
Selective Breeding
Stone Arch Room
5-7 p.m. Dinner on your own
7-10 p.m. Hospitality suite #429 open
11
Assistance Dogs International Conference 2018S chedul e
Tuesday, August 21
7-8 a.m. Continental breakfast
Prefunction area
8-8:10 a.m. General Session | Welcome
Grand Ballroom Richard Lord, ADI Board President
8:15-9:30 a.m. Morning Breakout Sessions
Admin ADI Business Meeting
Ballroom #2
Training Panel: The “Right” Job for the “Right” Dog
Grand Ballroom
Training Client Participation in the Process of Training
Service Dogs
Stone Arch Room
9:30-9:45 a.m. Break | Prefunction area
9:45-11 a.m. Morning Breakout Sessions
Admin ADI Business Meeting Continued
Ballroom #2
Training Panel: Finding and Retaining Puppy Raisers
Grand Ballroom
Training Professionally Guided Owner Service Dog Training
Stone Arch Room
11-11:15 a.m. Break | Prefunction area
12
Assistance Dogs International Conference 2018S c h e dule
11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Morning Breakout Sessions
Admin ADI Business Meeting Continued
Ballroom #2
Training Research Aimed at Quantifying and Optimising
the Performance of Glycemia Alert Dogs
Grand Ballroom
Training Veterans Administration Service Dog Benefit Program
Stone Arch Room
12:15-1 p.m. Networking lunch
1-2 p.m. Afternoon Breakout Sessions
Admin Creating a Sustainable Organization
Ballroom #2
Training Panel: Service Dog Tasks Trained to Mitigate
Military-Related PTSD Demonstrations
Grand Ballroom
Training Panel: Autism Programs Around the World
Stone Arch Room
2-2:15 p.m. Break | Prefunction area
2:15-3:15 p.m. Afternoon Breakout Sessions
Admin Major Gifts Fundraising and Planned Giving
Ballroom #2
Training Strength and Flexibility Exercises for Assistance Dogs
Grand Ballroom
Training Panel: Autism Programs Around the World Continued
Stone Arch Room
3:15-3:30 p.m. Break | Prefunction area
13
Assistance Dogs International Conference 2018S chedul e
3:30-4:30 p.m. Afternoon Breakout Sessions
Admin Learning From Natural Disasters
Ballroom #2
Training The Magic of Games for Your Dog
Ends at 5 p.m. Grand Ballroom
Training Accreditation Overview
Stone Arch Room
4:30-4:45 p.m. Break | Prefunction area
4:45-5:30 p.m. Afternoon Breakout Sessions
Admin Courthouse Facility Dogs: Your Organization
Makes Front Page News
Ballroom #2
Training Equipment Exchange
Starts at 5 p.m. Grand Ballroom
Training Fly the Friendly Skies and Flight to Nowhere
Stone Arch Room
6-11 p.m. Banquet and Awards Presentation
6-7 p.m. Social hour
Prefunction area
7-8:30 p.m. Banquet and Awards Presentation
Grand Ballroom
8:30-9 p.m. Keynote Presentation | Kevin Kling
Grand Ballroom
9-11 p.m. Music by Pandora’s Other Box
Grand Ballroom
14
Assistance Dogs International Conference 2018S c h e dule
Wednesday, August 22
8-9 a.m. Continental breakfast
Prefunciton area
9-9:15 a.m. General Session | Welcome
Grand Ballroom Richard Lord, ADI Board President
9:15-10 a.m. Keynote Presentation | Compassion Fatigue and Supervision
Grand Ballroom Russ Turner, People Incorporated Mental Health Services
10-10:30 a.m. Break | Prefunction area | Hotel checkout opportunity
10:30-11:30 a.m. Morning Breakout Sessions
Admin Crisis Communications: They’re All Drunk in Singapore
Ballroom #2
Training Challenging Assumptions
Grand Ballroom
Training PTSD: What Programs Need to Know About
Working With Veterans
Stone Arch Room
11:30-11:45 a.m. Break | Prefunction area
11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. Keynote Presentation | What is the Human Dog Bond?
Grand Ballroom An Innovative Initiative to Explore
Helen McCain and Duncan Edwards, Dogs for Good
12:45-1 p.m. General Session | Closing
Richard Lord, ADI Board President
1-2 p.m. Lunch on your own
2-5 p.m. Accreditation assessors meeting
15
Assistance Dogs International Conference 2018S ession s
Presentations and Speakers
Keynote and General Sessions
Sharing Your Mission Powerfully To Raise More Money
Lori L. Jacobwith, Ignite Fundraising
A magic “fix” for all your fundraising challenges appears to be to share more stories.
You’ve got a picture, a few facts about the person in the picture, and you’ve got your story.
Unfortunately, that’s not enough to get people to take action. While sharing a story about
your impact IS important, often what is called a story is actually a report. We’ll dive into
the topic of sharing “mission moment” stories AND talking about money as fundraising
strategies. To move from sharing reports to engaging, action-causing stories you’ll learn
how to use the secret weapon that makes this an Advanced Storytelling session. You’ll
learn why talking about money is one of the best ways to raise even more.
Panel: Service Dog Identification: It’s a Global Issue
Danielle Forbes, National Service Dog Training Centre, Inc.
Peter Gorbing, Dogs for Good UK | Richard Lord, Assistance Dogs Australia
Sheri Soltes, Service Dogs Inc.| Moderator: Al Peters, Can Do Canines
Hear about the impact “fake service dogs” are having in different parts of the world.
Examine a comprehensive attempt to address the problem in one country.
Discuss how ADI members can come together to be part of the solution.
Compassion Fatigue and Supervision
Russ Turner, Training Institute and People Incorporated Mental Health Services
Helping people who are disadvantaged and vulnerable takes a toll on a person’s emotional
and physical health. This session is designed to help supervisors understand the
relationship between chronic unremitting stress, vicarious trauma and short and long term
health risks for staff. Learn how assessment tools are used in the mental health field to
identify areas of concern and a person’s current risk for compassion fatigue and burnout.
Learn how a supervisor can build wellness, health and resilience into a staff person’s day.
What is the Human Dog Bond? An Innovative Initiative to Explore
Helen McCain and Duncan Edwards, Dogs for Good
Dogs for Good has developed a ‘Foundation Workshop’ supporting clients and volunteers
to understand how to build a really strong bond with their dog so that both people and
dogs thrive. This work builds on the idea that we all need to move beyond thinking just
about dog ‘welfare’ to focusing on dog ‘well-being’. Learn the background to this initiative,
the benefits, and how to put it together.
16
Assistance Dogs International Conference 2018S e s s ions
Admin Track Breakouts
Courthouse Facility Dogs: Your Organization Makes Front Page News
Ellen O’Neil-Stephens and Celeste Walsen, Courthouse Dogs Foundation
Laura Watamanuk, Pacific Assistance Dogs Society
Courthouse facility dogs, handled by professionals working in the legal system, have not
only improved the investigation and prosecution of crimes, but each of these dogs has the
potential to reduce the emotional trauma experienced by thousands of crime victims and
witnesses during the course of their career.
Creating a Sustainable Organization
Michele Ostrander, Freedom Service Dogs
Nonprofit organizational life cycles have been well documented—starting with
grassroots, moving through adolescence, and with planning, to maturity. This session
will provide practical tools for helping nonprofits move from adolescence to mature,
sustainable organizations designed to meet the needs of clients. Discussion will include
staffing; getting the right people in the right seats; strategic planning; creating goals and
operational plans; fund development; board and leadership; and finance and operations.
Crisis Communications: They’re All Drunk in Singapore
Jon Austin, Austin Group
A discussion of the importance of crisis communications planning and preparation.
In the course of the presentation, attendees will learn the elements of a robust crisis
communications plan, who should be on a crisis communications team (and who
shouldn’t) as well as 10 tips for dealing with an unexpected and unwelcome
event challenging your organization.
Donor Center Fundraising: Practical Tips for Engaging With Your Donors
Heather Christopherson, H.A. Christopherson and Associates, LLC
You’re busy taking care of all the day-to-day work that needs to get done to serve both
the dogs and the people who need them. Another day has gone by, it’s 6pm, you’re
exhausted from managing staff and volunteers...and fundraising gets pushed off another
day. Learn and discuss some simple fundraising and relationship tips that will help you
“get it done” in a small shop.
17
Assistance Dogs International Conference 2018S ession s
Engaging Our Board. Expanding Our Reach.
Lori L. Jacobwith, Ignite Fundraising
Your board is among your most powerful assets. Often board members don’t want to be
involved in fundraising or view it as someone else’s job. The result is that many board
members do nothing or very little when it comes to fundraising and staff doesn’t ask for
the kind of help that makes a difference. The outcome: You don’t reach your fundraising
goals and sometimes staff becomes resentful that the board isn’t doing more to help.
You and your board members require clear direction and guidance about how to engage
your board. This is a session about effortlessly creating an environment where your
board supports your fundraising efforts so it actually feels rewarding and an integral part
of their board involvement. Learn how your board can help increase your fundraising
revenue by nearly 40% and NOT have to ask anyone for a contribution.
Panel: Leadership Succession Planning
Jillian Ashton and Sally Irvin, ICAN | Jen BrodKorb, Service Dogs for America
Cabell Youell, Saint Francis Service Dogs | Moderator: Robin Dickson, ADI Accreditation
Without a leadership transition plan, an organization can be left floundering with
uncertainty for months as their donors, staff, and clients wonder who is running the
operations. This session will address pros and cons of various transition models, and
explore factors that make for a successful and thriving transition.
Learning From Natural Disasters
Jeanine Konopelski, Canine Companions for Independence
In 2017, Canine Companions for Independence® evacuated three of their six training
centers due to hurricanes and wildfires. An assistance dog organization’s crisis
communication plan and emergency business evacuation policy has unique challenges,
including crisis plans for canines and students with disabilities. Having backup plans
for your backup plan is a must, wherever your organization is located. Learn how to be
prepared if the worst happens in this timely and informative session.
Major Gifts Fundraising and Planned Giving
Randi Yoder, American Public Media
Individual giving still offers nonprofits the greatest opportunity for revenue growth,
sustained donor loyalty and long term financial sustainability. How strong is your major
gift program? Have you launched a planned giving program? What role can board
members and volunteers play in advancing these programs? In this program, we’ll review
the tenants of a strong major giving program, cover the basics of launching a planned
giving program, discuss basic roles for volunteers and answer your questions about
major individual giving.
18
Assistance Dogs International Conference 2018S e s s ions
Breeding Track Breakouts
Panel: Culture of Collaboration—ABC Breeding Cooperative
Caitlin Bonaldo, Dogs with Wings Assistance Dog Society
Lauren Tyler, Begin University of Canine Studies
Madeline Bruggeman, Saint Francis Service Dogs
Amanda Nicholson, Susquehanna Service Dogs | Lisa Shaffer, Paw Print Genetics
Zuhey Medina-Gonzalez, Southeastern Guide Dogs | Moderator: Julianne Larsen, Can Do Canines
In order to achieve the common goals ABC Breeding Cooperative members share
among diverse programs, a culture of collaboration is the most vital “piece of the
puzzle” to ensure members remain open, cooperative, and encouraged to put our
best genetic foot forward.
Genetic Improvement Is Possible Through Selective Breeding
Eldin Leighton, Canine Genetic Services, LLC.
Genetic improvement occurs by correctly identifying genetically superior young dogs
to become parents of the next generation. Knowing which young dogs are genetically
superior, however, is the challenge of most breeders. Across the world, working dog
breeding programs are beginning to use estimated breeding values (EBVs) to remove the
guess-work of identifying these best young dogs. How to obtain EBVs will be explained
along with how to use them to obtain genetic improvement.
Practical Guidelines for Genetically Improving Health and Behavior Traits
Jane Russenberger, Guiding Eyes for the Blind
Practical instruction will be presented that any organization can use to produce healthier
dogs with behavior traits desired for guide or service dog work. What data should be
collected and what tests and scoring systems have proven to be helpful will be described.
How this data can be used to improve successive generations for traits such as hip and
elbow quality, confidence, thunderstorm fear, and body sensitivity will be explained.
The Working Dog Project: The Behavioral Genetics of Success and Failure in
Working Dogs
Jessica Hekman, D.V.M., Ph.D., Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Genomic tools have the potential to help working dog organizations boost success rates by
informing breeding and placement decisions. However, they are incredibly challenging to
build, as behavior is shaped by hundreds of genes—and environment. Our new Working
Dog Project is collaborative initiative focused on tackling this challenge. By combining
data from many types of working dogs, and from pet dogs, our goal is to develop well-
validated genomic tools accessible to any organization.
19
Assistance Dogs International Conference 2018S ession s
Training Track Breakouts
Accreditation Overview
Lynn Hoekstra and Robin Dickson, ADI Accreditation
Understanding of the complete Accreditation process and procedures.
Panel: Autism Programs Around the World
Alberto Alvarez-Campos and Claire Dickson, Assistance Dogs Australia
Célia Schwank and Peter Kaufman, Stiftung Schweizerische Schule für Blindenführhunde
Laura Edwards, Freedom Service Dogs | Danielle Forbes, National Service Dogs Training Centre
Moderator: Robin Dickson, ADI Accreditation
Learn about best practices from around the world with Autism Service Dogs.
Behavior Checklist (BCL)—Assess Maturing Dogs
Jane Russenberger, Guiding Eyes for the Blind
The Behavior Checklist (BCL) has proved to be an easy to learn, open source scoring system for
guide and service dog behavior. This presentation describes the testing situations at multiple
age points, explains how the data are used to identify dogs needing intervention and shows how
to screen candidates for breeding and as guide dogs. Results of our most recent analyses will be
shared on the genetics of behavior for common behaviors important in guide dog work.
Panel: Best Practices Utilizing Prison Dog Training Programs
Lacy Gillotti, NEADS | Kaity McGinn, Can Do Canines | Mike Hanna, Paws with a Cause
Moderator: Ken Kirsch, ADI Accreditation
There are many prison-based dog training programs installed around the United States.
However, they are not all the same and some are quite unique. Learn about various approaches
to using prison programs to meet unique program needs and to maximize the quality of the dogs
when they return to the training center.
Challenging Assumptions
Mike Hanna, Paws with a Cause
A period of struggle and growth at Paws with a Cause taught us a lot about how to question
ourselves. Training dilemmas relevant to many dogs and organizations will be provided. Some
training dilemmas may be counter intuitive, challenging or controversial. Training trainers
to learn how to build skills to overcome obstacles, not just look for someone or something to
provide an answer.
Objective 1: To create mental challenges or moral dilemmas to reflect on or discuss. The
skill may be more important than the answer.
Objective 2: Present some ideas that may help break through performance or production
and placement barriers.
20
Assistance Dogs International Conference 2018S e s s ions
Client Participation in the Process of Training Service Dogs
Laura Edwards, Freedom Service Dogs | Rick Yount, Warrior Canine Connection
Many clients would benefit from a provider model that allows them to participate in a
training process that happens over a period of time. Service dog organizations have the
opportunity to develop programs pairing appropriate clients with a dog while teaching and
training in small group settings. This course aims to instruct service dog providers in how
to develop and establish these programs.
Equipment Exchange
Moderators: Robin Dickson and Ken Kirsch, ADI Accreditation
Come see the latest in equipment for clients and training assistance dogs. We welcome you
to share your best equipment ideas—even if they are homemade!
Panel: Finding and Retaining Puppy Raisers
Anna Jones, Assistance Dogs for Achieving Independence
Kerry Lemerise, Guiding Eyes for the Blind | Brenda Kennedy, DVM, MS, Canine
Companions for Independence | Moderator: Ken Kirsch, ADI Accreditation
Every program is faced with the challenges of recruiting and retaining valuable
puppy raiser volunteers. Learn from our panel on their best practices.
Fly the Friendly Skies and Flight to Nowhere
Sheila O’Brien, America’s VetDogs | Nancy Weitgenant, Can Do Canines
Participants will learn training practices to prepare graduate teams for safe and successful
airline travel. Learn about the world’s only canine “Flight to Nowhere.”
The Magic of Games for Your Dog
Sally Montrucchio, Next Step Service Dogs
The Magic of Games is for the beginner to the advanced trainer—perfect for puppies to
the advanced doggie student. Participants will be introduced to games that will engage
their clients and dogs in the art of learning from positions, retrieval, problem solving and
independent thinking while shortening the dog’s learning curve and having fun at the
same time! By mixing games into a training session, clients will be eager for more.
Professionally Guided Owner Service Dog Training
JoAnn Turnbull and Glenda Laird, Handi-Dogs
For over 40 years Handi-Dogs has been teaching people to train their own dog to be their
own service dog. Learn about our processes from pre-application through certification
phases. Examine staffing needs and nuances of this type of training vs. traditional training,
including assessing appropriateness of both ends of the leash will be covered.
21
Assistance Dogs International Conference 2018S ession s
PTSD: What Programs Need to Know About Working With Veterans
Sally Irvin, ICAN | Ken Kirsch, ADI Accreditation
We will provide a general overview of how PTSD manifests in Veterans. More specifically
this session will address: What is important for all program staff to know about PTSD; what
is important for the front-line staff to know about PTSD; how to recognize growing anxiety
and dissociation in veterans with PTSD; techniques to use to safely and effectively interact
with veterans when they are in a heightened state; general suicide awareness training
and the special issues of how suicide risk may present differently in veterans vs civilian
population; practical actions to take when you believe a veteran is contemplating suicide.
Reducing Reactivity
Morgan Karol, Freedom Service Dogs
Techniques will be discussed that can be used to help dogs who are reactive on leash. This
typically consists of barking, growling, or lunging at specific triggers. Using corrective or
punishment methods may suppress the behavior, but do not address the root cause, often
leading to resurgence of the behavior. The method discussed in this presentation aims to
change the dog’s emotional response to the trigger and provide them with an alternative
behavior.
Research Aimed at Quantifying and Optimising the Performance of Glycemia Alert Dogs
Claire Guest, Medical Detection Dogs
This session will describe a range of studies carried out at Medical Detection Dogs, aimed
at quantifying and optimizing the performance of glycemia-alert dogs. In initial studies,
clients reported improved quality of life, reduced fear of hypoglycemia, and significant
studies have used owner-independent measures; CCTV and continuous glucose monitoring
to explore differences in dog sensitivity and specificity, and to identify factors affecting this.
Panel: The “Right” Job for the “Right” Dog
Kim Hyde, Southeastern Guide Dogs | Laura Hilbert, British Columbia Guide Dogs
Ken Kirsch, ADI Accreditation | Moderator: Robin Dickson, ADI Accreditation
What behavior traits and temperament assessments are used when selecting a dog for a
career for various types of assistance dogs.
Panel: Service Dog Tasks Trained to Mitigate Military-Related PTSD
Brett Simon, K9s for Warriors | Katie Young, Southeastern Guide Dogs
Rick Yount, Warrior Canine Connection, Inc. | Moderator: Ken Kirsch, ADI Accreditation
Through the use of video/PowerPoint and dog demonstrations, a variety of training
procedures and tasks will be explained that help to mitigate military-related PTSD.
22
Assistance Dogs International Conference 2018S e s s ions
Strength and Flexibility Exercises for Assistance Dogs
Jenny Barlos and Kim Holmes, Assistance Dogs for Achieving Independence
Our dogs may become susceptible to repetitive motion injuries or weakness just like
humans. They wear the same equipment and may be doing the same tasks over and over
each day. These exercises and stretches can be done from an early age and throughout
their lives to combat the effects and keep our dogs as strong and as flexible as possible.
Training Demonstrations Exchange/TIps
Moderator: Robin Dickson and Ken Kirsch, ADI Accreditation
Learn unique tasks, tips and tricks for training assistance dogs. We welcome you to bring
your best ideas to demonstrate and share!
Veterans Administration Service Dog Benefit Program
Joyce Edmondson, Veterans Health Administration
This session will provide an explanation of the service dog benefits regulation and how
we administer those benefits to eligible Veterans. We provide for guide dogs, hearing
dogs, mobility dogs, seizure response dogs and mental health mobility dogs. Provide
contact information for your programs and recommendations for most successful ways
to work with VA medical centers to get the dog you provide to a Veteran insured under
the benefit.
23
Assistance Dogs International Conference 2018S peakers
Keynote and Guest Speakers
Thank you, Assistance Dog International members—We are grateful to all the
members who provided speakers and panel participants, bringing their experience
and expertise to the conference. This spirit of sharing knowledge is one of the
things that makes Assistance Dogs International a great organization.
Lori L. Jacobwith | Ignited Fundraising
Named one of America’s Top 25
Fundraising Experts, Lori L. Jacobwith
is an internationally-recognized master
storyteller and fundraising culture change
expert.
She has more than 30 years’ experience
helping nonprofit organizations raise $300
million dollars from individual donors. And
counting.
Lori has a passion for the positive.
She helps find the “it’s possible” angle
to most any fundraising challenge.
Lori’s gifts and talents help executive
directors, development directors and
even fundraising committee chairs’
communicate powerfully to exponentially
increase fundraising.
Lori also delivers virtual fundraising
communications training through her
annual Ignite Your Fundraising Results program. In addition to Fire Starters
her must-read weekly blog, Lori created the only step-by-step training program
that marries the art of fundraising with the power of storytelling. The Complete
Storytelling System provides a “home-study” experience to deeply engage board
members and catapult individual donor fundraising to unbelievable levels of success.
A longtime member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Lori holds a BA
from the University of Minnesota and additional training from Indiana University’s
Fund Raising School.
24
Assistance Dogs International Conference 2018S p e a ker s
Duncan Edwards and Helen McCain | Dogs for Good
Duncan has worked in the assistance dog
world for over 21 years, beginning his career
at Dogs for Good as an instructor training
assistance dogs for physically disabled adults.
As the charity grew its services to support
both children and adults with complex needs,
Duncan has taken an active role in providing
services that are centred around both the needs
of each individual and family and the wellbeing
of dogs. He is passionate about the human-dog
bond and the charity’s belief that by developing
mutually beneficial partnerships the impact can
be truly life-changing. Duncan’s current role as
client services manager includes leading a team
of instructors who match and train assistance
dog partnerships for children and adults with
physical disabilities and children with autism.
He also manages the charity’s innovative
Family Dog service where parents attend workshops and have access to on-going
support from the charity’s specialist team to support a child with autism through a
well-trained pet dog.
Helen McCain is Director of Training and
Development at Dogs for Good. Over many
years Helen has led the development of
assistance dog services to help adults and
children with a wide range of disabilities and
also children with autism. The charity was the
first to bring assistance dog services for children
to the UK in 2003 and Helen personally trained
the charity’s first autism assistance dog in 2007.
Helen has played an integral role in setting
standards for Assistance Dogs International
and is also an assessor of assistance dog
organisations around the world ensuring
a high level of standards in all accredited
organisations.
Helen was instrumental in developing Dogs for
Good’s Community Dog service, training therapy and activity dogs to work alongside
specialist handlers in schools and communities. Together they help adults and
children overcome specific challenges and develop life skills.
25
Assistance Dogs International Conference 2018S peakers
Russ Turner | People Incorporated Mental Health Services
Russ Turner, MA, MS, is the Director of
People Incorporated’s Training Institute.
During his 12 year tenure he has
developed and taught a curriculum
of training classes in subjects related
to behavioral health for mental
health professionals and agencies
and organizations in the community
including law enforcement, healthcare,
and social services.
He trains trainers, works with leaders,
and has consulted and coached on
numerous mental health related projects.
He has worked as a teacher or trainer
for over 25 years in a variety of countries
and settings including Japan, the Czech
Republic and the UK.
His teaching philosophy is that adults
learn best when they are challenged, the material is applicable to work situations,
and sessions are interactive and engaging.
26
Assistance Dogs International Conference 2018S p e a ker s
Jon Austin | Austin Group
Jon Austin specializes in issue and
crisis communications management for
companies, non-profits and government
agencies. In 2001, he spent six days with
United Airlines in response to the September
11th attacks. In 2014, Austin embedded with
the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health on
issues related to infectious diseases. In 2018,
he staffed Minnesota’s Joint Information
Center alongside local, state and federal
agencies in support of Super Bowl LII. He
is a veteran of more than 20,000 media
interviews.
Heather Christopherson | H.A. Christopherson & Associates
For over 20 years, Heather has been
working with small to large nonprofits
to advance their goals in fundraising,
donor communications and volunteerism.
Heather earned her BA in Sociology &
Political Science from the University of
Pittsburgh, as well as a Masters in Public
Administration with a specialization in
nonprofit management and fundraising. She
has been a Certified Fund Raising Executive
since 2003 and is a 2015 alum of the James
P. Shannon Leadership Institute at the
Amherst H. Wilder Foundation.
27
Assistance Dogs International Conference 2018S peakers
Joyce Edmondson | Veterans Health Administration
Joyce is a 35+ year employee. Joyce has
held several different positions from bed
side nurse to central office policy. She was
assigned to service dogs in September 2010
and has been working with congress and
other stakeholders to provide the best for
Veterans everywhere with regard to service
dogs. She is working with other agencies to
advance service dogs in the public.
Jessica Hekman | Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Jessica Hekman received her DVM from
the Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary
Medicine in Massachusetts, where she also
received a Master’s degree for her work on
stress behaviors in hospitalized dogs. After
graduation, she completed a year-long
internship specializing in shelter medicine
at the University of Florida Maddie’s Shelter
Medicine Program. She received her PhD in
genetics at the University of Illinois Urbana-
Champaign, studying a group of foxes (often
known as the “Siberian silver foxes”) which
have been bred over many generations to be
friendly to humans. She is currently working
at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
as a postdoctoral associate, studying the
genetics of behavior in pet dogs through the
Darwin’s Ark project and the genetics of working dogs through the Working Dog
Project.
28
Assistance Dogs International Conference 2018S p e a ker s
Eldin Leighton | Canine Genetic Services, LCC
Eldin A. Leighton, PhD, retired from The
Seeing Eye in 2015. For 20+ years, he
managed their breeding program producing
500-600 puppies per year. In 1973, the US
Army assigned him as Research Geneticist to
the Superdog Project, a research effort begun
in 1968 to genetically improve the military
working dog. He and Jane Russenberger
are the authors of IWDR, the International
Working Dog Registry. He and his son
Samuel own a consulting business, Canine
Genetic Services, LLC.
Randi Yoder | Minnesota Public Radio and American Public Media
Randi Yoder, senior vice president/chief
development officer for Minnesota Public
Radio and American Public Media, oversees
major individual, planned and institutional
giving and leads a $75M capital campaign.
Prior to joining the organization in March
2011, Yoder held executive level development
positions with the Greater Twin Cities
United Way; St. Catherine University; and
the Carlson School of Management at the
University of MN. She also has served as
an associate with Hanson, Henley Yoder
and Lamb and president of Yoder Henley
Development Resources.
29
Assistance Dogs International Conference 2018Entertainment
Entertainment
Kevin Kling | Monologist and Playwright
Monologist and playwright Kevin
Kling grew up in Osseo, Minnesota
and graduated from Gustavus
Adolphus College. He has performed
his plays in Sweden, Sydney and
Perth, Australia, Edinburgh, Scotland
and in the Czech Republic. His
autobiographic piece Home and
Away premiered at the Seattle Rep
and moved to Second Stage Theater,
off Broadway, under the direction of
David Esbjornson, where it received
a received a Drama Desk Award
nomination.
His plays have been produced at
The Goodman Theater, The Jungle
Theater, the Denver Center Theater,
Seattle Rep, the Cincinnati Playhouse,
Interact, the Guthrie and regional
theaters throughout the country. He
has been awarded fellowships from
the National Endowment for the
Arts, The McKnight Foundation, The
Kevin Kling | kevinkling.com Minnesota State Arts Board, The Bush
Foundation, The Jerome Foundation.
He is a McDowell Fellow and has
received the Whiting Award, the A.P. Anderson Award, the VSA Jeahny, and the Eric
Peterson Award. Kevin was officially appointed the Minneapolis Story Laureate by
Mayor RT Rybak in 2014.
He appears often at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee,
has been a frequent commentator for National Public Radio’s “All Things
Considered”. He has authored five books, The Dog Says How, Holiday Inn, Big Little
Brother, Big Little Mother and On Stage with Kevin Kling. His book, Come and Get
It, was chosen as the 2012 Minnesota Center for Books Arts “Winter Book”. Kevin
has produced six storytelling CDs.
30
Assistance Dogs International Conference 2018Notes
Assistance Dogs International Conference
August 19-22, 2018 | Minneapolis, Minnesota
Title Presenting Sponsors
®
Keynote Speaker Sponsor Bronze Sponsors
Donor Vendors
4Legs4Pets Bold Lead Design, LLC
Planet Dog Foundation BrilliantK9
Canine Genetic Services, LLC
Dog Tracker
NutriSource
Paw Print Genetics
Ruffwear Inc.
Layout design by Sarah Lennander
Cover illustration by Cheyenne SmithYou can also read
