Monkeys for the Disabled, What do you think of them?
By mari61960
@mari61960 (4893)
United States
January 22, 2007 1:56pm CST
Monkey Helpers for the Disabled (Helping Hands) is a national nonprofit serving quadriplegic and other people with severe spinal cord injuries or mobility-impairments by providing highly trained monkeys to assist with daily activities. As live-in companions, monkey helpers provide 20-30 years of service, bringing the gifts of independence, companionship, dignity and hope to the people they help. I think this is a wonderful program. They are located in Boston, Ma, USA. I have considered fostering a monkey for them, but haven't sent in an application yet. They have been doing this since 1979.
http://www.helpinghandsmonkeys.org/
5 responses
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
23 Jan 07
OMG, this is so special! Such a worthwile endeavor! What a wondeful way to have humans and animals co-exist and benefit each other so well. That is amazing, but after thinking about it, with their opposable thumbs, the mokeys can do most anything with their hands that a human can! Besides the ability to help the quadriplegic and impaired people physiclly, I can only imagine the tight bonds of companionship that must form. I know how tight I am with my cat and he certainly can't physically assist me in any way! I so wish I had the ability to foster a young monkey for them. Afterall, after raising 4 children, I am quite familiar with handling monkeys!
1 person likes this
@mari61960 (4893)
• United States
23 Jan 07
You're right there, they do say it's much like raising a child...lol Oh you just don't have the right kind of cat. Mine helped me just today. He washed my keyboard with diet pepsi for me. Wasn't that nice, I didn't even have to ask him...lol
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
25 Jan 07
ROFL! Oh, now my cat helps in THOSE kind of ways! He recently helped me to 'repot' a plant by 'un-potting' it for me.
1 person likes this
@dutchess67 (917)
• United States
25 Jan 07
You know, I have to be honest. Monkeys kinda creep me out. I don't know what it is about them, but I find them incredibly creepy.
When I read your question, I remembered that episode of Malcomb in the Middle with that guy who works with Malcomb's Mom. He was in a wheel chair and had one of those monkeys and it was trying to kill him. It was very funny, but still... with that whole creepy factor... for me... no way.
1 person likes this
@mari61960 (4893)
• United States
25 Jan 07
That's funny, I never saw that one....lol Okay we won't send any monkeys over to your place.
@mari61960 (4893)
• United States
23 Jan 07
Yes I'm sure the companionship is very helpful and they are so cute and entertaining by nature.
@SplitZip (1488)
• Portugal
22 Jan 07
I don't know about this... when monkeys get angry they bite! I've always been told that such wild animals, even after being domesticated or housebroken, are not completely reliable as pets, as they are still creatures of the wild. I think I'd still trust a dog over a monkey.
1 person likes this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
22 Jan 07
I saw that this morning on TV and it is amazing. They have dogs for the disabled but the monkeys can can pick things up and hand them to the disabled person and such other things with their hands.
1 person likes this
