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PHOTO: Freesia, at Beirman Autism Center in Warren, R.I., and (below) with her handler Maeve London. Freesia was trained at ACTS in North Conway. (Submitted photo)
NORTH CONWAY, N.H. — Bierman Autism Centers, of Warren, R.I, recently chose Assistance Canine Training Services of North Conway as its holiday donation recipient, in honor of the autism center’s training dog, Freesia.
Giving back to the community is a part of a holiday tradition at Bierman, and each location team chooses its recipient. The Warren location chose to recognize the work Freesia is doing by supporting ACTS.
Freesia was raised by volunteers Steven Hayden and Monica Philbin, of Meredith, and completed a two-year training program with ACTS. She was teamed with Maeve London, an occupational therapist working with children diagnosed with autism at Bierman in November. Since then, Freesia has been changing lives and helping people every day, Bierman officials said.
“Working with Freesia has enhanced my therapy in innumerable ways,” London said. “ACTS did a fantastic job preparing her to work with children. Whether she is putting on a costume to target dressing skills, catching a ball thrown for upper limb coordination, or ‘reading’ obedience commands written out by clients, Freesia increases engagement and therapeutic outcomes every day.”
London said that Freesia is “everyone’s favorite coworker,” and she increases morale and supports her team with enthusiasm. “I am forever grateful to ACTS and Bierman for making this partnership possible, and to Freesia for being the best therapist on four paws,” she said.
Kathy Metz, executive director of ACTS said, “We are proud of the work Freesia is doing and are very grateful for the staff of the Bierman Center for choosing ACTS as the recipient of their donation. While our service dogs profoundly affect the life of one person, our facility dogs touch the lives of many. Freesia is a wonderful example of the important work being done by our ACTS dogs.”
ACTS is a non-profit founded in 2007 under the umbrella of the Nathaniel J Williams Foundation, the organization’s mission is to acquire, raise, train, and place assistance dogs with persons with disabilities and organizations/clinicians working with persons with emotional, psychological, developmental, or physical problems.
