HELPING
HANDS is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for
quadriplegic individuals by training capuchin monkeys to assist them with
daily activities. It's difficult to imagine what it would be like to be a
quadriplegic. Yet in a split second, it could happen to anyone. And when
it does, people lose more than control of their arms and legs -they lose
control of their lives. Each day becomes a challenge to regain that
control and as much independence as possible. Our monkeys are
affectionate, responsive friends whose companionship can brighten a
disabled individual's outlook on life, relieve hours of loneliness and
help him become more independent. Monkey helpers perform simple, every day
tasks, such as getting something to eat or drink, retrieving dropped or
out of reach items, assisting with audio cassettes, video cassettes, CDs, and books, turning
lights on or off-tasks that we take for granted, and in many
cases, our monkeys have enabled people to work from their homes.
Helping Hands charges no fees for its services and is largely supported by
private contributions. Tragically, the median age of
individuals when they are injured is twenty-six. The majority of
injuries are the result of automobile collisions, falls, and diving
accidents. Of the 250,000 quadriplegics in the United States, an estimated
6,000 to 12,000 are appropriate candidates and are highly motivated to use
monkey helpers. As with
Seeing Eye dogs, the level of injury,
living situation, vocational activity, and attendant resources rule
out other candidates. Once in their electric wheelchairs, many
quadriplegics are left alone for as long as eight hours a day.
Few have families that can be with them constantly, and fewer still
can afford to pay full-time attendants. Monkey helpers are
meant not to replace, but to supplement the assistance of family
members or paid attendants who bathe, dress, feed, and otherwise
attend to their needs each day.
Monkeys are devoted helpmates, giving
their disabled companions independence, dignity, and love. They
often describe the love they feel for their monkey as one
would describe their love for a child.Background-The idea for monkey helpers occured to Dr. M.
J. Willard, a behavioral psychologist,
while she was assisting an individual who was then recently
paralyzed from the shoulders down in a car accident. Willard thought
that an animal with hands, such as a capuchin or "organ grinder"
monkey, could perform the simple tasks that a quadriplegic could no
longer do for himself. Known for their manual dexterity and friendly
disposition, capuchin monkeys are particularly well suited to be
trained as monkey helpers.
Judi Zazula, an
occupational therapist and rehabilitation engineer, joined Willard
in pursuing the idea, as she knew from her experiences what a
difference an affectionate monkey could make to someone who was
severely disabled. They placed Hellion, the first monkey helper,
with Robert in 1979. Zazula, now executive director, has focused her
attention on developing the foster family, training, and placement
programs that allow capuchin monkeys to successfully assist disabled
individuals.
improving the quality of life for
quadriplegic individuals by training capuchin monkeys to assist them with
daily activities. It's difficult to imagine what it would be like to be a
quadriplegic. Yet in a split second, it could happen to anyone. And when
it does, people lose more than control of their arms and legs -they lose
control of their lives. Each day becomes a challenge to regain that
control and as much independence as possible. Our monkeys are
affectionate, responsive friends whose companionship can brighten a
disabled individual's outlook on life, relieve hours of loneliness and
help him become more independent. Monkey helpers perform simple, every day
tasks, such as getting something to eat or drink, retrieving dropped or
out of reach items, assisting with audio cassettes, video
cassettes, CDs, and books, turning
lights on or off-tasks that we take for granted, and in many
cases, our monkeys have enabled people to work from their homes.
Helping Hands charges no fees for its services and is largely supported by
private contributions. Tragically, the median age of
individuals when they are injured is twenty-six. The majority of
injuries are the result of automobile collisions, falls, and diving
accidents. Of the 250,000 quadriplegics in the United States, an estimated
6,000 to 12,000 are appropriate candidates and are highly motivated to use
monkey helpers. As with 
