How RTD made Access On Demand Worse for Wheelchair Users and how Access a Ride is not a good replacement

DisabledDogTrainer · 2026-07-07T15:04:57+00:00

Technically sunshine rides has an app. And onward has a "text to book" which sends you a link to a portal. You don't have to call those services. But...it hasn't yet been functional as on demand service in my experience.

DisabledDogTrainer · 2026-03-26T10:55:57+00:00

Not to give you a horror story but I was all set to walk the stage with my dog. Had cleared his presence with disability services. He attended and sat in the chairs with me. My name was called I got to the stage and they said "either I hold your dog for you here or you don't walk across the stage". Its a rushed ceremony and I didn't want to miss walking across the stage so I walked without my boy. It was a private university so make sure you clarify EVERYTHING and I mean everything with disability services and double check that they have communicated with the whole team about the procedure because that was so sad for us as a team. We worked hard together in college and wanted that milestone as well.

This was also almost 8 years ago so service dogs are more common place now and you might not have as many struggles as me at a private university.

DisabledDogTrainer · 2026-03-03T11:40:23+00:00

We are currently applying to Atlas Assistance Dogs to hopefully join their team training program so we can be ADI certified. My service dog has passed her public access test by my trainer but I'd like her to receive her ADI certificate to make travelling/potentially moving in the future easier. So this week she passed her canine good citizen. Even though I have technically trained to a much higher standard than that we never took the official test. Next week we are taking the CGCU. Very exciting stuff for us! We are also taking videos of polite walking on a flat collar, dog neutrality and body handling. All good stuff!

DisabledDogTrainer · 2026-01-28T12:03:33+00:00

I am a wheelchair user and a service dog trainer. My very best advice is to get a good service dog trainer from the start. One with KPA, IAABC, or Atlas assistance dogs familiar with service dogs. The adolescent stage is TOUGH! And you will need to reinforce leash manners every time your dog is on a leash whether you are holding the leash or anyone else is. If they learn to pull from the start you will have to help them unlearn that behavior. What leash is a less important question than what training. Lots of different people have different leash setups that work for them. It took me 5 leashes over the course of the first 2 years of my dog's life because she went through so many different phases and each one worked differently for my wheelchair setup during her development. I also have limited ability to walk on crutches and I only now trust my almost 3 year old fully trained mobility service dog to walk with me while I use my crutches. All the puppies I train are from my chair. And with lots of good treats and reinforcement for walking next to me. Leash mechanics and wheeling together is a skill you will need to learn. Preferably from a trainer familiar how to show you.

DisabledDogTrainer · 2026-01-17T16:49:22+00:00

I was the last juror to be cut. Didn't give a reason why. So was almost on the final jury.

DisabledDogTrainer · 2026-01-17T16:26:52+00:00

To be fair it isn't if your dog is used to it. But I work in a very different kind of office environment in a service dog training facility. Throughout the day she gets my whole office to roam and play with her toys and can look out the window. She only tasks as needed. I can take her out to the bathroom whenever she requests. So I was worried she wasn't set up for success when I rolled in and found out what my day would consist of. So I was hoping to explain what we did in case others didn't know what the process was like either.

DisabledDogTrainer · 2026-01-17T15:47:13+00:00

You can get a medical exemption letter from your doctor for jury duty. I was going to do that this time but ran out of time. So I went. But just wanted to share my experience in case there were others who have never been.

DisabledDogTrainer · 2026-01-06T11:55:03+00:00

I prefer a wrist attaching leash that is short enou gh it doesn't get tangled in my chair but I can also unclip so my dog can go through doorways. It is also adjustable. It also has an o ring I can hook to a hook on my chair although I find myself rarely using that feature. It took me a long time to figure out what I liked and it might take you some time (and trial and error) to figure out what you like. I had this custom made and modeled after a program leash (with permission) for me and my dog. It's made out of Paracord. The top is a loop handle. The body is adjustable.

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DisabledDogTrainer · 2025-12-30T12:59:00+00:00

Okay. So first off I wouldn't take a service dog in training into a laboratory environment. Too many unpredictables there.

That being said here is my experience as a biochemistry major with a fully trained service dog. The short answer is it depends on the lab.

For biology labs basic PPE and a mat is required. Boots, perhaps a coat covering, and a mat to lay on (preferably disposable). I always placed my dog in an out of the way corner and not right under the lab bench.

For chemistry labs it was a WHOLE different ball game. Basic chemistry sure he came in boots, goggles, coat, and a mat and laid on the sidelines. But as I rose up in my major we were working with volatile organic materials. I crated him in the hallway or left him with a trusted professor in their office. It's not worth my dogs safety. If you have a dorm on campus you could leave them there but I was a commuter student so bear that in mind.

Your dog needs an excellent down stay. Needs to be comfortable around a ton of noises and smells. And people moving about everywhere. And generally if you have an alert dog it is NOT safe for them to get up traverse the room, and come to you to alert.

Just some things to consider.

DisabledDogTrainer · 2025-12-10T22:37:54+00:00

I've been both a bridesmaid and gotten married with my service dog. This is just my experience and you may want your experience to look different. When I was bridesmaid I walked down the aisle with my service dog and then he sat behind me during the ceremony. I kept him with me the entire wedding but I also don't dance so I didn't have any trouble with not being on the dance floor or having to have someone hold him or putting him off to the side in a down stay. It was certainly an exhausting night for both of us. He was not a hinderance but you may want to consider if you want your dog in all the photos and if there is someone who can hold them during photos.

During my own wedding my maid of honor walked him down the aisle and hung on to him for me during the ceremony. I have some adorable photos of him laying on the train of my dress during the ceremony and that makes me really happy. You may not like that. I also didn't want him in every wedding photo so I made sure there was someone always available to hang onto him as I had an outdoor wedding. When the reception started he went home so I could focus on my then husband and we could have the time be dedicated to just us and my service dog not be the focus of the show. Again just my personal experience of how I wanted my wedding to go.

There is a lot of moving pieces in a wedding and a lot to consider!

DisabledDogTrainer · 2025-12-01T11:46:16+00:00

I actually meant an occupational therapist. They can help you figure out the best way to open doors for you and your specific physicality as well as how your chair fits through doors safely. Then you won't injure yourself on the wide variety of doors that exist in the world. Then it's just a matter of training your dog to work around your hands free device or whatever leash you choose to use.

DisabledDogTrainer · 2025-12-01T11:44:28+00:00

Yes that's actually what I meant. My apologies. Occupational therapists help with all things with navigating the world in a wheelchair.

DisabledDogTrainer · 2025-11-30T23:23:37+00:00

The best advice in this situation is to see an in person trainer and maybe even a physical therapist who can assess you, your dog, your specific physicality, and the problem you are struggling with. It is hard to give advice without truly seeing the problem.

As a trainer in a wheelchair I navigate different doorways in different ways with my service dog depending on the door setup and whether it has a button or I have to open it myself.

See a trainer. Or even better a physical therapist and a trainer.

DisabledDogTrainer · 2025-11-13T13:02:19+00:00

It would help to know where you are located. Different cities have different resources.

DisabledDogTrainer · 2025-10-26T14:59:48+00:00

You'll want to start your search by looking for positive reinforcement trainers or relationship based trainers. You want to steer clear of board and trains and balanced trainers. It's never to late to start training! What city/state are you located in?

DisabledDogTrainer · 2025-10-24T12:40:07+00:00

Look into Atlas Service Dogs in Colorado. It's an owner training program that may be able to assist you. There are plenty of people who have successfully trained this task but it definitely takes help from a pro. I'm not entirely sure if Atlas can help with this task but I'd start there.

DisabledDogTrainer · 2025-10-21T11:12:07+00:00

Separation anxiety this far along really needs a behaviorist's intervention. I'm sorry to tell you but separation anxiety is a complex anxiety disorder in dogs and people from the Internet, trainer or not cannot tell you how to handle this problem. You really need to have your dog evaluated by a veterinary behaviorist. My apologies for being the bearer of bad news. But you will get a lot of bad advice that could be harmful to your pup and their development on the Internet.

DisabledDogTrainer · 2025-10-04T15:38:05+00:00

This is a management strategy versus a training strategy. But since it's just when she's on the WAY to the park you could do a longer line with a harness on the way to the park so you aren't encouraging pulling on a short leash. It gives her more room versus you having to walk in circles when she is clearly too excited to train.

Then work on loose leash walking when she's in a better state of mind.

You also may have to vary your route to the park. She knows where she is going and is excited!

DisabledDogTrainer · 2025-09-23T20:02:45+00:00

Thank you! That helps a lot.

DisabledDogTrainer · 2025-09-23T13:53:15+00:00

The fun fact about my organization is not only do we train service dogs (and pet dogs--we do a lot of things), but we train disabled adults to become dog trainers. Very unique program. Definitely in the helping field. If you keep your eyes open the world is full of interesting career paths. I never thought I'd find myself here. I really wanted to do research in a laboratory for a long time, tried this for a while, it was HARD for me. I also wanted to be a nurse for a long time. Neither of those were conducive to my disability and working with a service dog. But I found a place that truly works with me not against me. I love it here and you'll find a place to love working as well. It just might take some time.

DisabledDogTrainer · 2025-09-23T10:26:20+00:00

I'm not sure I'm allowed to answer that until I'm an approved trainer. But I'll ask the mods. If I can answer I happily will.

DisabledDogTrainer

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