The Application and training process
MCC’s Autism Service Dog programme follows the process below:
Waiting list open – chosen through a random selection process. The charity is committed to opening its waiting list each year. Each family who is interested in the programme are given one week to express their interest on the MCC website. On a specific date this expression list is then closed off and a random number generator is used to select 100 families. This is the fairest way the charity has found to select the list with the demand that we have.
Information session – All families who are successful in the random selection process then attend an information session, in Cork, with the MCC team. At this session the programme and commitment is outlined to the families. They get to ask any questions and they then receive a formal MCC application form.
Return application form - Application Forms are due back 2 weeks after the information session.
Handling assessment – Families travel to Cork to complete a handling session with the training team. At this session they are given the chance to handle an MCC dog under the guidance of the staff.
House visit and matching assessment – A member of the MCC training team travels to the family’s home to meet the whole family, and also carry out a risk assessment to ensure the house is safe for a puppy to be introduced. After this step is completed, the family is then accepted onto the programme.
Puppy placement – the family is matched with a puppy, and the puppy is placed in Cork.
Puppy programme – training is front loaded to ensure the success of the dog and the family. This is a 2-year programme, with ongoing, individualised support for all families.
Qualification and attachment training – after qualification the MCC trainer travels to the family’s local community to begin attachment training for the child.
Aftercare- My Canine Companion provides an extensive and ongoing aftercare service for all our clients and dogs to ensure their success into the future. We also provide a private social media platform which all our clients can access where they can ask questions about training, share stories and advice about our dogs and wider issues surrounding autism and disabilities.