My Nonprofit Reviews

During my senior year of college (2018-2019), I was an intern with the Assistance Dog Education Program and Training (ADEPT), a partnership between PawPADs and the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. As an intern, I gained immense experience in service dog training/handling, participated in community education, attended ADEPT class, and led special projects in the topics of School Resource Dogs and Animal-Assisted Intervention. This experience was life-changing and the highlight of my college career.

ADEPT is a revolutionary partnership in the field of experiential education and higher education. There is no other program like ADEPT in the United States. It manages to spread the word about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Disability acceptance, animal ethics, and the power of positivity all while its student interns receive college credit toward their degree. Meanwhile, high-quality assistance dogs are ethically trained that will enrich the lives of individuals with disabilities or in group settings such as schools and assisted living communities. Student interns will also go on to graduate and continue to be advocates in their respective fields. So many lives are changed because of this program. With continued support and advocacy, ADEPT will pave the way for experiential education and utilizing the human-canine bond to enrich lives.