Breaking Barriers Through Canine Companionship

For those with physical disabilities, every day can be a constant challenge. On top of chronic pain and mobility issues, there is also the difficulty of completing everyday tasks that many able-bodied people deem ‘easy’. Too often, physically disabled people are excluded from fully participating in society because of these barriers. 

At Community Foundation Ireland, we understand that this creates an issue far greater than that of physical limitations: a lack of self-worth, empowerment, and independence. Every day, people who struggle with physical disabilities are made to feel inadequate because they cannot complete things in the same way others can. This can lead to feeling isolated and excluded from the community, which can be extremely harmful. 

Irish Dogs for the Disabled is partnering with Community Foundation Ireland to change that. With specialized training programs, they help to connect people with ethically bred and trained dogs that can help with practical, ‘everyday’ tasks.  

4 programmes are offered, including the flagship Mobility Assistance training programme. During this process, children with conditions like cerebral palsy or ataxia train with a dog that will safely aid them in their everyday lives (usually before the child is 12). There is also a version for adults with Parkinson’s or MS that focuses on assistance for regulating walking. 

Their Task Assistance training where the dogs help their owners complete everyday tasks (opening and closing doors, fetching the post, retrieve items, etc.). This is targeted at wheelchair users with conditions like spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, etc. 

Additionally, the organisation offers therapy and facility dogs to help with those needing a companion on the day-to-day. These dogs either go home with the person they were partnered with or will be partnered with therapists to help those with anxiety or depression, etc, in the office.  

All these programmes meet specific needs to best provide alternative support to those with physical disabilities. The positive impact that these dogs have on the people they are partnered with and their everyday mobility issues is clear. More than that though, there is new sense of freedom given to those who have never been able to be independent.  

At Community Foundation Ireland, we recognize the incredible potential of this program, which is why we’ve remained a consistent partner to Irish Dogs for the Disabled. In fact, this year marks another milestone: the Dogs for the Disabled organisation yet again receiving a grant from the RTÉ Toy Show to help grow their operations and impact on the community as a whole. 

Community Foundation Ireland is dedicated to helping people thrive in their communities and through our long partnership with Irish Dogs for the Disabled, we see first-hand how the service provided by these dogs brings people together and opens doors for people across the country.