NEADS has once again achieved reaccreditation by Assistance Dogs International (ADI). ADI, the leading authority in the Service Dog industry, establishes and promotes standards of excellence in all areas of Service Dog acquisition, training, and partnership. NEADS is a charter member of ADI, which was incorporated in 1988.
Once accredited initially, a program like NEADS becomes a member of ADI. Member programs must complete a reaccreditation every 5 years to comply with ADI’s Standards of Practice. ADI accreditation is a peer-review process conducted by a trained ADI assessor. Currently, there are 133 ADI accredited Service Dog programs in the world. While no national Service Dog certification exists, ADI is the only organization that comes close.
“NEADS is proud to be an active member of ADI,” says Gerry DeRoche, NEADS CEO. “ADI standards have become the benchmarks to measure excellence in the Service Dog industry, and prospective clients can feel confident that an ADI-accredited organization like NEADS is trustworthy and can truly change their lives. Every aspect of our program, from the training of NEADS dogs to the education and support our clients receive, meet the extraordinary criteria established by ADI.”
