Ohio TM Support Group

The Spring 2003 Meeting of the Ohio TM Support Group was held on Saturday, May 17 in Worthington. Attendance topped 30 and included people with TM and their family members and friends. Our guest speaker was Karen Shirk, Executive Director of 4 Paws for Ability, a helper dog placement and training organization that is headquartered right here in Ohio.

4 Paws for Ability is a not-for-profit organization that provides assistance dogs for people of all disability levels, including spinal cord deficits. Their dogs are trained to assist with a variety of tasks from helping with laundry and in the kitchen, retrieving dropped items, and even aiding in mobility. They offer great companionship, as well. Karen brought two dogs with her, T.C. and River, and showed a video explaining the details of their program. She also demonstrated some of the tasks the dogs can do and answered questions for nearly the whole afternoon. Several TM'ers left with applications and are planning on getting a helper dog of their own.

Anyone interested in learning more about helper dogs and about 4 Paws for Ability can call Karen Shirk directly at (937)374-0385 or visit their website at www.4pawsforability.org. Additional contact information can be found on their website. Be sure to tell her about the TMA connection.