New Leader Dog, Olaf joins the team!

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Olaf, a 18 month old yellow lab, who has been carefully trained by the staff and volunteers at Leader Dogs for the Blind has now joined Adaptability for Life LLC in October 2025. His job is to keep Deb safe as she travels in the world.

Have you ever wondered what makes a good Leader Dog?

It takes dedication, time, and heart to raise a Leader Dog. Each puppy is selected for their temperament, curiosity, and focus. From their first days, they’re socialized to stay calm in public spaces, learn complex commands, and make judgment calls to protect their handler’s safety.

By the time a dog like Olaf graduates, they’ve completed months of specialized training, which includes guiding through busy streets, navigating curbs and obstacles, and responding to environmental sounds or cues. Their goal isn’t just obedience—it’s partnership, built on trust and communication.

Leader Dogs for the Blind, based in Rochester Hills, Michigan, believes every person who is blind or visually impaired deserves the tools to live independently. Their programs extend far beyond guide dog training—they also offer:

  • Orientation and Mobility Training: Short-term courses that teach individuals to travel safely with a white cane before getting a guide dog.

  • Teen Summer Camps: Building independence and confidence for young people with vision loss.

  • Accelerated Mobility Programs: Intensive sessions designed for adults looking to refresh or expand their travel skills.

All these services—including training, room and board, travel within the U.S. and Canada, and equipment—are provided free of charge. Funding comes entirely from individual donors, Lions Clubs, corporate partners, and foundations. Thanks to this generosity, Leader Dogs for the Blind provides both dogs and mobility training at no charge to their clients.

If you’d like to learn more or support their work, visit Leader Dogs for the Blind.

Continuing the Mission of Access and Understanding

Adaptability for Life’s cultural competence - ethics continuing education courses focus on helping psychologist, nurses, dentists, doctors, chiropractors, therapists, and other healthcare professionals and families better serve individuals with vision or hearing loss, blindness, deafness and combinations of sensor loss through culturally competent, practical, and engaging continuing education. These are approved by Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification.

For those seeking to enhance their skills in communicating with those who have vision or hearing loss, consider enrolling.

2-Hour CE: Effective Communication with Clients Who Are Hard of Hearing
4-Hour CE: Understanding the Diversity of Legal Blindness, Impacts & Solutions (approved for 4 CE hours in Ethics)
6-Hour CE: Providing Culturally Competent Healthcare for Those Aging with Dual Sensory Impairments

Each course blends over 25 years of experience in rehabilitation counseling and disability services with lived insight and real-world examples. You’ll walk away with tools that help prevent social isolation, improve connection and communication, and foster hope—even in the face of progressive sensory loss.

What You’ll Gain

  • Strategies to prevent social isolation and despair

  • Tools to support clients experiencing progressive loss

  • Skills to improve communication and connection

  • Easy, low- or no-cost accessibility techniques

  • Real-world examples you can apply immediately

About the Instructor

Deb Marinos, MS, CRC, LPC, is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, Oregon Licensed Professional Counselor, and CMBM Mind-Body Skills Group Facilitator. She brings decades of teaching experience with health care professionals and other working with individuals navigating sensory loss and disability. Her courses are designed to be interactive, helpful, and will give you more comfort in your work.

Take the Next Step

If you’re ready to strengthen your skills, deepen your empathy, and make your practice more inclusive—join Deb and Olaf on this journey.

👉 Explore the Cultural Competence & Ethics accredited continuing education courses and sign up today at Adaptability for Life