A Leader in the Industry

For almost 35 years, NEADS/Dogs for Deaf and Disabled Americans has set industry standards for assistance dogs. We have made a commitment to our clients to train the best dogs and provide the most comprehensive services possible. By combining innovation, experience and a whole lot of heart, we are a leader in the industry.

• NEADS has trained over 1,300 assistance dog teams since the organization’s inception in 1976.
• NEADS trains a larger variety of assistance dogs than any other program in the US.
• NEADS trains assistance dogs for people who are deaf or have hearing loss; people with balance and stability issues; people with a variety of physical disabilities; wounded combat veterans; teachers, ministers and therapists; children on the autism spectrum; and children with physical disabilities.
• Inmates at ten New England prisons help by training 90-95% of our assistance dogs.
• NEADS established the first partnership with a prison solely dedicated to the training of assistance dogs for people who are deaf or have hearing loss (2010).
• NEADS was the first assistance dog organization to develop a program specifically geared to Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans, Canines for Combat Veterans (2006).
• NEADS was the first assistance dog organization invited to Walter Reed Hospital to give an in-service about how assistance dogs can help wounded veterans (2005).