Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristin Hartness.
Kristin, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
In the early 90’s I was completing testing to determine the cause of a variety of symptoms which started impacting my activities when I was 16. This long journey raised a variety of questions and possible diagnosis including simple infections and life ending diseases. It ended with two simple letters – ones I could live with – MS. This autoimmune disease presented in my life with short disruptive bursts scrambling signals between my brain and my body. Over time these episodes became longer and more frequent until they became constant. Tools like an AFO, canes, cooling wrist bands and neck scarves became normal. In 2000 a friend talked with me about a new style of service dog being trained at a training organization near my home – a Stability (Balance) Service dog. This type of service dog is a large dog trained to reduce falls by providing balance, counterbalance and retrieval. I sent in my application. April 1, 2001 I met the dog that changed my life.
Laddie, a smooth coat collie, was exceptional at his job. He was devoted to me and we trusted each other completely. I knew I was reclaiming my life from the limitations MS was placing. I didn’t know just how much he would change the entire trajectory of my life. 11 months later I was hired to lead a young nonprofit organization – Canines for Disabled Kids.
Laddie gave me the tools to know I was independent, that I could do things without waiting for someone to have time to help me. I wanted to give this gift to others. Canines for Disabled Kids (CDK) provided me with the platform to do just that.
For almost 25 years, as the Executive Director, I have traveled the country, with some visits into Canada, educating communities about service dogs, raising money to support scholarships for children needing service dogs, helping adults and children to obtain service dog and raising the awareness of service dogs and the laws that define them
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The journey has not been smooth. I had to control my personal demons – often pushing myself to discover my limits, never wanting to be the reason activities were canceled. There weren’t targeted medications or therapies. There weren’t programs encouraging inclusion with adaptive sports, travel, careers and so many things available today. I learned to let go of many things and look for new things to hold on to.
It was hard to see discrimination dressed up in love and concern.
It was hard to constantly explain that my service dogs were (and still are) tools – not emotional support companions or pets.
It was hard to fight my body while fighting for access to the world I wanted to be part of.
It was hard to explain I wasn’t going to get better or be healed
I learned to advocate for myself while explaining Ablism to loved ones without hurting them.
I learned I could fight for others without turning people off – this took a while 🙂
I learned to create a path that others could follow.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Canines for Disabled Kids?
Canines for Disabled Kids (CDK) is a small nonprofit serving people though the US and Canada helping individuals and families define the skills set needed, identify the right training program and obtain service dogs. CDK offers scholarships to children and provides educational awareness programs in schools, businesses and communities across the country.
We are not affiliated with a specific training program. We work to assure the individuals have the knowledge and resources to be sure their training program produces an ADA compliant service dog, that they get the proper training and support on how to use their service dog and that they know the law about responsibility and access. We advocate in the community to assure service dog teams are welcomed and have full access to school, work, restaurants, movies and everything the ADA promises. We work to bring everyone in line with the ADA not just one training program’s rules.
I am proud of our scholarships and that we help more children obtain service dogs
I am proud that we help remove barriers for service dog users
I’m proud that we take some of the stress out of the process and make the world a little easier to access
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I want to see more service dogs working
I want to see improvement in the way service dogs are documented – perhaps with an SD license instead of a traditional dog license that would also make it easier for businesses to welcome service dog teams
I think it is important that we take steps to better identify how many service dogs there are and support them without stifling the creativity that helps grow the industry
Pricing:
- service dog cost between $35,000 – $50,000 to produce
- individuals may be required to raise between $0 – $30,000
- Individuals should fundraise so they don’t pay out of pocket
- fundraising should be done with a 501c3 so it does not impact other services, benefits or taxes
Contact Info:
- Website: https://caninesforkids.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caninesfordisabledkids/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Caninesforkids/#
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/canines-for-disabled-kids/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@caninesfordisabledkids6197/videos
