NEADS (National Education for Assistance Dog Services, also known as Dogs for Deaf and Disabled Americans), is a non-profit organization that was established in 1976.

NEADS’s national headquarters is located on 18 acres of protected wetlands in Princeton, MA, a rural setting close to Worcester in Central Massachusetts.

How They Are Funded

NEADS receives no federal government funding and relies on the support of individuals, foundations, corporations, service organizations, bequests and workplace campaigns.
Who They Help
Individuals with Hearing Loss, Combat Veterans, individuals with Physical Disabilities, Children on the Autism Spectrum, and classroom/ministry/therapy dogs that facilitate with group education programs.
Each dog is individually matched and trained to meet the needs of their partner. They learn to perform tasks like picking up dropped items, opening doors, alerting to phone or doorbell, and provide a calming influence and a safety factor that facilitates greater independence, self confidence, and communication with others. Our assistance dogs become an extension of their handlers and bring freedom, physical autonomy and relief from social isolation to their human partners.

Quick Facts

  • NEADS has trained over 1400 assistance dog teams since the organization’s inception in 1976.
  • NEADS trains a larger variety of assistance dogs than any other program in the US.
  • Inmates at 10 New England prisons help by training 90-95% of our assistance dogs.
  • NEADS established the first partnership with a prison solely dedicated to the training of assistance dogs for people who are deaf or have hearing loss (2010).
  • NEADS was the first assistance dog organization to develop a program specifically geared to Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans, Canines for Combat Veterans (2006).
  • NEADS was the first assistance dog organization invited to Walter Reed Hospital to give an in-service about how assistance dogs can help wounded veterans (2005).
  • NEADS is the oldest continuing hearing dog program in the country.
  • Our assistance dogs include both animal shelter rescues and puppies that are donated or sold to us by breeders.

Rene & Service Dog Saint


I just want to say thank you so much to NEADS. I got my life back from getting Saint. [Canines for Combat Veterans] is an amazing program for giving back to soldiers. So I just want to say thank you.

Rayanie & Social Dog Chief

My name is Rayanie, and Chief is my best friend, and I wouldn't trade him for anything. 

Tiffany & Service Dog for Therapy Rowan

I work at a 90-day residential facility for adolescent boys with drug addiction, and it's tough. Their 90 days is completely changed by having Rowan around and having him walk around the building. We get some kids that are pretty tough, and they melt with Rowan, and it's the coolest thing to see. I know from personal experience how much he's changing these kids' lives.



For more information Go To:

www.facebook.com/NEADSdogs

www.neads.org