MidAmerica Service Dogs' Foundation

MidAmerica Service Dogs' Foundation provides service dogs to children and adults with mobility disabilities free of charge. We are an Illinois non for profit 501 (c)(3) serving the Chicago metropolitan and suburban areas.

Service Dogs are specially trained to assist a disabled person with daily living skills such as picking up objects from the floor, opening and closing doors, turning lights on and off, acting as a brace and much more. Service Dogs are covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act and have full access to all public places.

Our service dogs are trained for mobility disabilities such as, but not limited to, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, arthritis, lupus, rheumatiod arthritis and spinal cord injuries. Our dogs know over 80 commands. Listed below are some of the tasks and assistance our service dogs are trained for:

• Pick up and retrieve items
• Turn lights on/off
• Alert when help is needed
• Open doors, drawers, cabinets, refrigerator, freezer
• Help with shopping/retrieve items from shelves
• Hit elevator buttons
• Assist with dressing/undressing
• Help with laundry/household tasks
• Lift legs onto a footstool, couch, or bed
• Brace individuals needing assistance with sitting, standing, walking and stair climbing

To be considered for a service dog, a person must have a mobility need (disability) as their primary reason for application. Our dogs, as well as our trainers, specialize ONLY in this spectrum. We do not train or provide autism service dogs, seizure alert dogs, PTSD or emotional support dogs, or psychiatric support dogs.