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VIDBE-Q Volume 63 Issue 4
realization that many of our clients come to. But for others, that increased
independence means they are one step closer to meeting their dog. They are one step
closer to the life that they want to live. They are one step closer to having the
independence and confidence that they never knew they'd have again. That's what
makes LDFB so special.
Where do you want to go?
Although each O&M client has an individualized plan when it comes to learning
skills and concepts, the structure of the week can look very similar. Clients work from
Monday through Friday and have two sessions per day, one in the morning and one in
the afternoon. Since the model for O&M services is so unique at LDFB, I was not sure
what to expect. But once I got into the swing of things, I felt right at home planning and
implementing instruction, taking my clients to different training environments, and
cultivating a plan of action based on client needs. Many weeks, the framework looked a
lot like this:
Monday morning is a mix of feelings for people. O&M clients are typically
nervous about the week ahead and about leaving home; but, the kitchen staff and
Residence Assistants are so friendly and accommodating, it's hard to not feel at home
on the first day. After breakfast, the clients introduced themselves to one another and
to the COMS that would be working with them that week. They then split into different
rooms to discuss their more individualized needs and goals. Clients would answer
questions like: Why leader dog? What are your mobility goals? What do you think a
dog would help you do? I always appreciated having this conversation with clients
because I got a sense of who they were, what made them tick, and what they wanted to
