Shadia Hancock

An appreciation post for my assistance dog, Arwen. In celebration of International Assistance Dog Week 2026 (Aug 2-8), I reflected on the positive impact my own assistance dog, Arwen, has had on my life over the last four years, and how she supports me daily. I welcomed Arwen home when she was a puppy and started assistance dog-specific training once she turned one. Last year, I was proud to have passed our Public Access Test (PAT) together, which is an assessment that evaluates whether the...

Shadia shares their thoughts on World Autism Month and tips on engaging with Autistic led resources.

There is much focus on helping autistic individuals during the early years of their lives. There are systems offering early support,...