Stakeholder Perceptions of the Need for Research on Elements of Service Dog Partnerships in the Workplace

2015 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 320-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret K. Glenn

Purpose:To examine the perceived need for research on elements of successful service dog partnerships in the workplace outlined by stakeholders in an exploratory study.Method:A structured mixed methods approach was used to gather ideas from people with service dogs, trainers, vocational rehabilitation counselors, and other health care professionals. Sixty-eight people participated in the process, from brainstorming elements (n= 24), sorting them into clusters (n= 10), rating the items for importance (n= 40), and need for research (n= 34). Among those rating research, most were service dog handlers (55%). Primarily, the group had experience with mobility/stability dogs (45%) or medical alert/response service dogs (35%).Results:Sixty-eight elements were brainstormed and rated according to need for research. The clusters Monitoring and Dog Preparation received the highest mean ratings in response to the question,What is your perception of the relative priority of conducting research on this item?All 68 elements were perceived to be in need of further research.Conclusion:The conclusion was that the elements established in this study should generate scholarly activity in the rehabilitation and disability research and service community with the intent of identifying promising practices related to the use of service dogs in the workplace by people with disabilities.

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret K. Glenn

The use of service or assistance dogs has increased over the past three decades but is still considered by many to be an emerging concept for assisting people with disabilities to navigate a number of environments. This is predominately due to the minimal research that has been done on the effect and promising practices. One area, employment, has been completely overlooked in research related to service dogs. This research project undertook an exploratory study to gather data on the elements of service dog partnerships that have been successful in the workplace. A structured methodology using mixed methods was used to gather ideas from a diverse group of stakeholders, people with service dogs, trainers, vocational rehabilitation counselors, and other healthcare professionals, to form a common framework for addressing the issue in future research and development of interventions. The results identified 68 elements that respondents perceived and rated to be important or highly important to the phenomenon. They were categorized into six clusters: (1) dog preparation, (2) monitoring, (3) employee competence, (4) legal knowledge, (5) information and education, and (6) coworker preparation. The discussion identified key points that might support the development of successful employment outcomes for people working with service dogs.


1982 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 703-714 ◽  
Author(s):  
James K. Morrison ◽  
Bruce D. Layton ◽  
Joan Newman

In a small geographical area a study was undertaken to determine the ethical conflicts experienced by mental health workers related to their clinical interventions. An Ethical Conflict Questionnaire, a 20-item, self-report attitude measure, was sent to all mental health workers in a tri-city area. A multivariate analysis of variance of the 164 returned questionnaires indicated that sex, years of clinical experience, and occupation (psychologist, psychiatrist, psychiatric social worker, psychiatric nurse, and a combined group of mostly vocational rehabilitation counselors and mental health therapy aides) significantly affect reported ethical conflict.


Author(s):  
Michelle Krawczyk

People with disabilities use various assistance devices to improve their capacity to lead independent and fulfilling lives. Service dogs can be crucial lifesaving companions for their owners. As the use of service dogs increases, nurses are more likely to encounter them in healthcare settings. Service dogs are often confused with therapy or emotional support dogs. While some of their roles overlap, service dogs have distinct protection under the American Disabilities Act (ADA). Knowing the laws and proper procedures regarding service dogs strengthens the abilities of healthcare providers to deliver holistic, patient-centered care. This article provides background information about use of dogs, and discusses benefits to patients and access challenges for providers. The author reviews ADA laws applicable to service dog use and potential challenges and risks in acute care settings. The role of the healthcare professional is illustrated with an exemplar, along with recommendations for future research and nursing implications related to care of patients with service dogs.


2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (5) ◽  
pp. 313-318
Author(s):  
Julia J. Davidson ◽  
Therese M. Cumming ◽  
Iva Strnadová

With the rising use of service dogs to support students with disabilities, it is important that teachers are knowledgeable about how they can be incorporated into their classroom. A recent ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court has highlighted the legal responsibility of schools to allow access to the service dogs of students. However, information focusing on the preparation of teachers for this possibility is lacking. This article provides both general and special education teachers with guidelines for including service dogs in their classroom. Background information regarding service dogs is included in addition to practical considerations concerning students, the classroom, the service dog, and planning process.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Terry Crowe ◽  
Victoria Sanchez ◽  
Chardae Durden ◽  
Margarita Ortega y Gomez ◽  
Melissa Winkle ◽  
...  

Abstract This qualitative study investigated the impacts of a court-ordered service dog training program on justice-involved U.S. veterans. An experienced qualitative research team conducted three focus groups with nine veterans to explore how training service dogs influenced their daily lives. Focus groups were audio recorded, transcribed, and manually coded. Two graduate research assistants developed preliminary themes; the full team generated final themes. Themes illustrated how participation in the program: 1) decreased physical and emotional isolation; 2) assisted veterans with reintegrating into civilian life; 3) improved emotional self-regulation; and 4) helped veterans discover potential; 5) find camaraderie; 6) reconnect with community; and 7) create a sanctuary. In a follow-up session, several participants confirmed that the results accurately captured their experiences. The overall finding suggests the service dog training program served as a rehabilitative process for justice-involved veterans to rediscover their abilities and talents that existed before their experiences in the justice system.


1976 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 76-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen A. Felice ◽  
John E. Muthard ◽  
Laurie S. Hamilton

The findings of a pilot study of spinal-cord injury in Florida covering three topics are reported: 1) the incidence of spinal-cord injury in Florida, 2) the experiences of spinal-cord injured (SCI) persons and vocational rehabilitation counselors and their perceptions of the adequacy of their community's treatment and rehabilitation services for the SCI, and 3) the availability of facilities, equipment, and personnel for the care of SCI individuals in Florida. Recent developments in care for the SCI in Florida are discussed.


2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 4-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenny K. Yan ◽  
Michael P. Accordino ◽  
Daniel L. Boutin ◽  
Keith B. Wilson

Contemporary demographics reveal that the Asian Population is the fastest growing minority in the U.S. Thus, vocational rehabilitation counselors must be prepared to face cultural dynamics that can influence outcomes in the treatment process. While many people may view Asians as a homogenous population, people who are of Asian descent come from many places including, but not limited to Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, Vietnam and Asian/Pacific Islander population. The present study provides information about the Asian culture relative to people with disabilities and seeks to give clinicians more tools to apply when working with people who are of Asian descent. Asians represent 4.8% of the civilian non-institutionalized population. Since the Asian/Pacific Islander population is a large racial ethnic group in the U.S., it is important to understand how vocational rehabilitation counselors educate them to live in their new land.


2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 12-19
Author(s):  
Emily M. Lund ◽  
Jared C. Schultz ◽  
Michael R. Nadorff ◽  
Katie B. Thomas ◽  
Dalia Chowdhury ◽  
...  

This study examined experiences with and knowledge of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) among a multistate sample of 253 vocational rehabilitation (VR) counselors. Over 90% of counselors reported working with clients who had expressed thoughts or behaviors related to NSSI, and over 20% reported doing so once a month or more. Only 44.7% reported having received training on NSSI. Scores on a brief NSSI knowledge questionnaire demonstrated generally accurate responses but also some gaps in knowledge. These findings indicate that rehabilitation counselors in public VR settings frequently work with clients who display thoughts and behaviors related to NSSI and may benefit from training and support in this area.


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