what to write in SD essays

[bigcitydreams]

hey all, so I filled out all the paper work and everything and all I have to do now is write (2) essays. However, I am not exactly sure what to write in the essays. They gave a topic, but I am not sure what to say...anyone want to help me out??? 

The first essay is "Description of Recipient Essay"
So they want me to example myself, my home my family my activities, my personality, my disability, and my physical traits.

So in my essay do I write like I'm Kelly, I have red hair, I am very calm and easy going , I have epilepsy and have a huge family? (well of course I would elaborate) but is that what they want to hear? I am confused! 

The second essay is meaning and function of SD
So they want to know how it would be beneficial ( I get that part) But the second part is how do you feel it would help you other than physical tasks, and what do you feel it would offer you in return....I don't get that part...I mean yeah i get it, but what exactly do they want...yeah a loving home for the SD blah blah blah but like what else?

Gracias Amigos!

[Kirsten]

In the first essay, they don't care what you look like but your personality, your lifestyle, who you live with, what kind of housing you have, what your challenges are (because of your disability), and what your strengths are in dealing with your disability.  Your personality will give them some insight into what kind of dog to match with you personality wise.  Putting a sedate dog with an active athlete would not be a good match, for example.  They need to know what kind of home life you have to determine whether a dog, or a specific type of dog, will fit into that life.  For example, a large, high-energy dog does not tend to do well in a tiny apartment.  They need to know who you live with because, for example, if you live with small children that will also affect how they go about choosing a dog to match to you.

[responsiblek9]

 
Description of Recipient Essay

Tell them about yourself . How long disabled.
 What kind of activities do you do now?
Active, sedentary?  . Work, volunteer activities ,walking, hiking, fishing, gardening, painting drawing sewing knitting , type of social activities like church, political activities ,  etc.
( dont think i would put in "Groupie for a rock band"! )

height, weight ,  physical limitations if any
do you drive , ride buses , taxis, etc. Travel a lot or stay home .

Do you have a introvert or extroverted personality?
Want to be with people or not. Make friends easily or shy? Some of this they can guess from activities .
 Note:
I  personally am a very calm easy going person but an introvert . So I am uneasy around people and crowds because those do not refuel my batteries.  They could rapidly see from my type of activities i am not likely to be a highly social person because most of my activites are solitary.

Generally this will tell them a bit about you and your lifestyle to see if they have a dog who might fit .

In a free flowing format of just telling them a story  of who you are.
Many people identify themselves by their work so it can be hard for some people to go beyond just stating facts of what their job is. Like  NASA engineer. ____________________________________

How SD would be beneficial-
They want to see  why you want a SD beyond just doing work for you or just having the dog. .

What would the dog offer you that you would gain from having the dog do what you have had to ask humans to do previously?

Why do you want a service dog to do what you have people doing or need people to do for you?

What activites could you do or resume that you could not before with a service dog. Schooling? college? volunteer activites, Social events? What will you gain by having a service dog other than by the tasks the dog does?

Social benefits?
 Personal outlook perspectives?
Access to environments you could not previously go to without someone being available to go with you ?

It basically boils down to a few words.
Freedom,  Confidence, Independance , Betterment of ones living situation. 
Think along that vein and you will get what they really are asking . 
What motives do you have to KEEP a dog trained basically.
What would make this working dog be beyond price to you for what it gives you beyond what a pet would?

They are not asking the same things a rescue would who just want a loving home for a dog and not much else. .

[bj2circeleb]

THe more information you can put in about your day to day lifestyle the better. What is an average day like for you. Do you have a routine, get up at this time, what you do, need help with from humans, etc. If you catch public transport or drive, write that, how far you drive on most days, how far the bus stop or train station or the like is, etc. They need to know who you are and what you do and what the dog would be doing, day in and day out. If you think things will change with the dog, say that. How will you factor in the dogs needs to exercise, play time, etc, etc. Where do you plan to toilet the dog, how will you groom the dog, etc. This is about them saying how can we best match the right dog to this person and can we train a dog to assist this person. If they reject you it will be hard, but not bad as you know that they would not have been able to train a dog for you. The more information a porgram seeks about you the better it usually is as it shows that they are really looking at matching the personalities of the dog to the person, etc and this is important for both of you. This dog is going to be with you 24/7 for years. You hardly want to spend that time with a dog you have nothing in common with, who cannot enjoy the things that you enjoy and cannot handle the lifestyle you lead. Yes all good programs train dogs to cope with all eventaualities, but a dog that thrives in the city and loves the crowds doesn't belong in the country and while all SD should be comfortable around crowds, not all of them want to live in new york city for example, but for those that do thrive on that envrionment they need to provide the dog with the right home, person, etc. The others have also stated things I totally agree with.

[Rovingrebel]

also put if you have owned dogs before and about your experience with them. If you haven't owned them, but been around them a lot put that and what those experience were like

[Roxie]

First essay - talk about what makes you unique. Your place in the wold - community - family. What you stand for. What your passions are. How you feel about yourself. How you feel about having a disability. How you can use your disability as an asset in your life. Talk about yourself as a color, or movement, or energy. Talk about your achievements. Talk about your goals in life. TAlk about your bucket list.

Second essay - What will you "give" your dog? Talk about committment. Endurance. Love. Respect. Bonding. Freedom. Stewardship. Joy. Serenity. Contentment. Talk about discovering your dog's secrets (his/her passions, and joy) Talk about growing old - wise - patient - together. Strength. Compassion. Shelter. Protection.

I get real crazy when I write and try to myself in ways other people do not. I try to paint a picture for my readers, and motivate their movement where I want them to go. I just let it all go and put it all out on paper and polish it up later.

The best thing you can do is talk from your heart - not trying to sound any way other than sincere and a thinker.

I also like to keep reader's interest in my essays by adding a few unexpected things that will captivate the reader.

Roxie

[springingpups]

I also like to keep reader's interest in my essays by adding a few unexpected things that will captivate the reader.

Yeah!  So you could put in the middle of the essay "I wrote this naked!" 

Don't throw a pie at me, Roxie! 

[BlindMag]

I would also put in essay #1:  Your height, weight, and specific disability. These will likely be factors in matching you with a dog. What is your typical day like. Where do you go, what do you do. Do you work or plan to work later. Do you get up at the same time each day, what are your daily activities, how energetic are you, how far can you walk on average (or if in a wheelchair, how far do you go in that?) If in a wheelchair is it a power chair. How fast do you walk. Do you have trouble walking. What do you like doing for fun?  Would you prefer being around alot of people or doing things for fun by yourself? 

For essay #2:  What leisure activities will you do in which your dog can be included?  If you would offer a dog a structured routine, meet his daily needs, vetting and care; what do you think the dog will give you?  Like maybe emotionally or in your quality of life perhaps. Describe your disability, how it affects your daily activities and how a dog could help you do daily functions better. What will your dog help you most with.  How do you expect the dog to help you with that.  What will you give to your dog in return. What is your dog experience like, have you owned dogs before, how did you housetrain them, what did you feed them and how often, how often did you take them out, where did they live, (inside house, outside, indoor - outdoor). Where did they sleep.  What did you do with them when you could not take them with you somewhere or were gone overnight. How often were they taken to the vet, how long did you have the dog/s and what happened to them. That sort of thing.

<PAW>  Lindsay I do not think that is what Roxie intended, grin!!

[cowlypso]

I only had to write one essay for my application, which was describing my daily routine and all that stuff.  I also voluntarily included an essay about how my disability affects me, and where I have difficulties with daily life because of it.  I included that because my disability is not well-known or understood by many people.  Later, the director of the organization said that it was that essay, where I described in detail how my disability affects me, was the deciding factor in me getting a dog.  They had never worked with somebody with my disability before, so they weren't really familiar with it.  But after getting such a personal and detailed description, they were able to see how impaired I was and how a dog would be able to help me.

[Roxie]

lol...... so! you write naked, huh? TMI 4 me!!!

Lemon Meringue zooming your way!!!

   Roxie

[BlindMag]

Roxie, what a thing to do to a lemon merigue <wink>!

[Sheenar]

These are the same exact essay questions that I answered when I applied to Pebbles' school.

Provide as much detail as you can --what kind of lifestyle you lead (sedentary vs. active), activities, in what areas you have difficulties, etc.

 In the second essay, describe what the dog can provide for you in addition to the physical tasks (companionship, independence, regaining activities that you enjoy, etc.) As for what you can provide for the dog, you can include a loving home, exercise, regular vet care, regular praise for a job well-done, a high-quality diet, etc. Think about how the dog will change your life and how you will interact with your dog --what do you think your relationship will be like?

The more detail in these essays, the better. It will help the trainers to match you with the right dog for your disability and for your lifestyle.

[bigcitydreams]

ok that is pretty much what i was thinking ( although i have to say i didn't think to put i wrote this naked ahaha) i just tend to over analyze things and wanted to make sure it was perfect. usually i never get writers block, i for one find writing very theuraputic, however when i was trying to write these essays, words were just comming out in a jumbled mess!