A service dog or animal is one that helps guide people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person to take their medications, calming a person with anxiety or suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or performing other duties.

Service dogs are dogs are specially trained dogs for patients with disabilities. The hearing dog is a special kind of service dog which are trained to help the hearing impaired and deaf people. They help by alerting the disabled when it hears important sounds such as phone rings, doorbells, alarm clocks and smoke alarms. They are of great help not only within the house, but also outdoors. They alert the handler when someone calls out the person’s name, approaching sirens, and forklifts. Hearing dogs can be recognized by the bright orange leash and collar they are made to wear. Sometimes they even wear a jacket or a cape which can be of any color.

Some service dogs are also trained as mobility assistance dog to help a physically handicapped person. They are trained to open and close doors, pick up things, and even turn on and off the switches. Dogs with larger build are also trained to pull patients in wheelchairs. They do this with the help of a special harness which facilitates them to pull objects.

They are also trained as walker dogs, which are also nicknamed as living canes. They help patients with Parkinson’s disease and other disorders. They assist their owners with the help of their gait and also provide balance while walking. In case the handler falls off, the dog helps to regain position by acting as a brace. All kinds of mobility assistance dogs are allowed in areas where pet aren’t allowed, like in public places and transportations.

Dogs are also trained for assisting people with Type 1 diabetes. They are service dogs trained to smell the odor changes in the body which helps to determine hypoglycemia or low blood glucose. Another type of service dogs is seizure response dog. They help patients with epilepsy or seizure disorder. They help to seek help in case of emergency, block the handler with absence seizures, pull dangerous objects away from the body, and wake up the unconscious patient. They are also trained to use a pre-programmed phone. They also provide physical and emotional support and also carry information about the patient’s medical condition.

Service dogs are also trained to help people with psychiatric disabilities such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, autism, and post traumatic stress disorder. They alert the handler to take medicines, and also help people having hallucinations, paranoia or alerting behaviors. They also act as a brace and help to retrieve objects. Dogs which help the visually impaired people or blind people are known as guide dogs. They help the handler to walk around obstacles. But the disadvantage here is that dogs are partially color blind. They cannot see red and green color, so they cannot help the blind with traffic signals. They even cannot be trained to interpret street signs.

October 15th marks White Cane Safety Day which is celebrated on this date around the world. In the United States, it is a national observance, which was first celebrated in 1964, after the proclamation by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

White Cane Day celebrates the achievements of blind or visually impaired people. A white cane is an important mobility tool for such people as well as the symbol of their independence.

Canes have been used by blind people for centuries, but the white cane was introduced in the early 20th century. Canes were painted white to be more easily visible. For blind people, the white cane is an essential tool that gives them the ability to achieve a full and independent life.

For centuries, a traveling tool has existed giving people who are blind or visually impaired the ability to get around safely and independently anywhere they choose to go: the white cane. This piece of equipment also serves as an indication to others that the user is blind or visually impaired.

• 1937: Michigan began promoting the white cane as a visible symbol for people who are blind. A bill was written and proposed in the Michigan state legislature, giving the carrier of the white cane protection while traveling on the streets of Michigan. It was signed into law in 1937.

Today, the white cane is recognized as a means for empowering and identifying people who are blind or visually impaired around the world.

Types of White Canes:

Today’s white canes take various forms with slightly different functions.

• The standard mobility caneis long, white and lightweight. It is used to navigate obstacles from the vibrational feedback provided as the cane is tapped or slid along the ground.
• The support caneis rigid and helps with physical stability. It is used by people with visual impairments who also have mobility challenges.
• The ID caneis a small, foldable cane used by people with partial sight to let others know they have a visual impairment. Its purpose is identification, not mobility.

Did you Know? White canes are made from aluminum, fiberglass or carbon fiber, and can weigh as little as seven ounces.