The Most Advanced Assistive Technology...

"The most advanced technology capable of transforming the lives of people with disabilities has a cold nose and a warm heart!" (--from the CCI website).

Me and TBG holding down the fort

SWMBO was invited to present and have a booth at the Assistive Technology for Kansans Expo in Wichita this past week. The Expo was held in conjunction with the Kansas Speech, Language, Hearing Association conference. Some of my buds from KC were going to come, too, but it was a hectic week for everyone, so it ended up being just me, SWMBO, and TBG. I'm so sorry they couldn't come, because....

WE HAD SO MUCH FUN! You know, a lot of times at these booths, you meet people who just want to cop a pet. They think I'm cute, adorable, sweet (which of course, I am!) and they want to meet me and tell me all about their loved canine at home. And, this is fine; I meet lots of nice people this way, get to work on my manners, and generally I'm able to give those folks a smile during the day. But, this time at this booth was different.

I met so many people who were seriously interested in me, Canine Companions for Independence, the dogs we provide, and puppy raising. It was amazing. I talked to a man who uses a power wheelchair and was concerned that he might run over a service dog's paws if he made a quick left turn. SWMBO and he talked about the training we receive and how this would be worked out during the two weeks of Team Training. I answered questions for a young woman who uses a wheelchair and was worried about having a service dog because of her small dog at home. SWMBO let her know that it's OK with CCI to have other pets in the home and suggested that she call CCI to inquire.

This was my friend, the artist, that I met at the Expo. She wanted to take me home. I have to say that I wasn't adverse to that idea. Look at my mad "Visit!"

I talked with many human service professionals about hearing dogs (it was the Speech, Language, Hearing Association after all!) for their clients. I talked with moms who were interested in Skilled Companion Dogs for their sons and daughters. And, surprisingly, a lot of folks were interested in puppy raising--SWMBO even ran out of those brochures!

And--the presentation! I was fantastic, on target, and magnificient, if I do say so myself. I showed off my commands to the extent that even TBG was proud (and that's hard to do--just ask Ansel III). What was heartwarming was the number of people who cried during the presentation--SWMBO was really on her game too!

Me and SWMBO resting after the presentation

So, we had a great time, a lot of fun, and hopefully gave some folks information that they needed.

But boy, it was hard to do that on my own. I really missed my CCI buds and crashed when I got home!

Leave me alone, please. I'm resting.