This talk was presented at the conference "Autism in the Family: Can Dogs Help" held in London on the 22nd June 2013. Helen McCain is the Director of Training and Development at Dogs for the Disabled. She has been with the charity for 23 years and worked alongside its founder, Frances Hay. Helen has carried on Frances Hay’s vision of ‘all dogs playing a meaningful role in people’s lives’ by setting up the PAWS service which helps families with a child with autism make the most of their relationship with their pet dogs. She is a member of the ‘Pet Dogs for Children with Autism’ research management group.

1. From assistance dogs to
pet dogs:
Bringing Two Worlds
Together……..
Helen McCain
Director of Training & Development
Dogs for the Disabled

2. Recognising the
needs of individual
families and
providing the
opportunities for
success

3. Recognising the qualities and
characteristics of individual
dogs and providing the
opportunities for success

4. The values of a structured
programme like PAWS