I am getting this information second-hand from a spokeswoman volunteer working for CCI. She said they recently expanded their operations with PTSD in mind and especially veterans, but also just PTSD.
I was told that anyone with a disability on the list can apply, and that the dog and education/training is all totally free. You would have to pay for your travel by car, maybe hotel, to the training site. However, I'm sure this would count as tax deductible medical expense, but I don't know that for sure. It depends.
I do know that when I worked as a HUD apartment manager (senior/disabled property) those kinds of expenses were 100% included in medical and deducted 100% from annual income to determine income-eligibility. Don't know about annual federal taxes. Well, Beyond my expertise there.
It looks like you apply, wait about 2 weeks. Get a response, get a phone interview, and then get put on a waiting list. It looks like it takes 1-2 years in some cases to get your trained dog. And they do ongoing support and education, so that the dog is trained to suit your specific personality and you specific needs, which can change.
You have 8 years with the service dog, when they are retired. The person who raised the dog as a pup gets first right to get them back, and then the dog will go to someone on the waiting list, usually someone who works with the organization.
Link to application: Link Removed
I hope that if you think you can handle a service dog, this would be a quality experience.
Muse
I was told that anyone with a disability on the list can apply, and that the dog and education/training is all totally free. You would have to pay for your travel by car, maybe hotel, to the training site. However, I'm sure this would count as tax deductible medical expense, but I don't know that for sure. It depends.
I do know that when I worked as a HUD apartment manager (senior/disabled property) those kinds of expenses were 100% included in medical and deducted 100% from annual income to determine income-eligibility. Don't know about annual federal taxes. Well, Beyond my expertise there.
It looks like you apply, wait about 2 weeks. Get a response, get a phone interview, and then get put on a waiting list. It looks like it takes 1-2 years in some cases to get your trained dog. And they do ongoing support and education, so that the dog is trained to suit your specific personality and you specific needs, which can change.
You have 8 years with the service dog, when they are retired. The person who raised the dog as a pup gets first right to get them back, and then the dog will go to someone on the waiting list, usually someone who works with the organization.
Link to application: Link Removed
I hope that if you think you can handle a service dog, this would be a quality experience.
Muse