Denise and Higgins

Facility Dog Team: Teamed Summer 2009

My professional career began as an Adapted Physical Education (APE) teacher, working with students who cannot safely or successfully participate in regular physical education classes. The majority of the students are in special education for a variety of reasons including autism, physical impairments, or developmental disabilities. After 14 years of teaching APE, I took a break from teaching and became a police officer and worked in that career for 13 years before returning to my roots in APE. I am currently completing my second year teaching in the Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD). Each of the two APE teachers in the district provide services to over 50 students in 3 different schools. While the job is challenging for us, the difficulties of working with these students is nothing compared to the tough, tough road the students and their families endure every day. APE is a bright spot in what can be a tedious day. While physical education exercises and games can be fun for most kids, many special education students who are challenged with the simple task of opening a hand to pick up a ball (let alone throw it), find the activity quite challenging and sometimes painful. Having a dog to play ball with melts away that pain and the task becomes pure joy. We all know that going for a walk is a healthy activity. Yet, due to the extremely difficult hurdles these students have to overcome, many APE students choose not to try to walk. Having a walking partner with a perky prance and wagging tail is a motivator that will get even the most challenged student up and moving. APE students are no different than other kids in the sense that they will work harder when rewarded. Spending one-on-one time with a soft, warm, loving dog is one of the greatest rewards they can imagine! Play, motivation, and reward are just a few of the ways that a Facility Dog can be used in an APE program. While these things are easy to visualize and to write about, it is difficult to put into words the anticipation in the minds of these special students knowing that they will get to spend a portion of their day with their pal Higgins, and to describe the joy reflected in their faces when they walk in the door and Higgins is ready to play and to share his unconditional love with them at the end of their day. While Higgins and I bring unique backgrounds to our team, we share the same goal - improving the lives of kids. We are truly a team with the potential to touch the lives of many children, in many different and wonderful ways! May 8, 2009