Reading Education Assistance Dogs
What Others Say ...
Intermountain Therapy Animals (ITA) is
Reading Education
a Utah nonprofit organization, founded in
“When children read to dogs, the experience
1993, whose mission is to enhance quality of
®
Assistance Dogs
is just magical—there’s no other way
life through the human-animal bond.
to describe it.”
Please contact us to learn more about the
– Dana Tumpowsky
R.E.A.D.®, program, and to find out how
Director of Public Relations,
you can help bring this wonderful experience
Salt Lake City Library
to more children:
“When my son started reading to Buddy ... I
801.272.3439
started to notice how excited he was about
www.therapyanimals.org
reading, how he talked about it, and about
the dog, all the time, and how the excitement
What? Dogs Can’t Read!
and interest in reading carried over, even
Of course they can’t. But they can be great
when the dog wasn’t there.”
listeners. And their presence creates an
– Keegan’s dad
inviting and motivating environment:
Twin Falls, Idaho
• relaxed
“Little did we realize what an impact you
Reading Education Assistance Dogs® and R.E.A.D.® are
• comfortable
registered service marks of Intermountain Therapy
would make. Academically, those students
Animals. All rights reserved.
• safe
that participated in R.E.A.D. experienced
• nonjudgmental
phenomenal growth. And, as icing on the
• empowering, and
cake, students began to enjoy reading to
• FUN!
themselves, too, began to exhibit a curiosity
for different books, and most importantly
®
R.E.A.D. has received
gained self confidence in not only their
worldwide media attention
reading ability, but their ability to interact
with others in positive ways.
More than 80 articles have been published
about the R.E.A.D. program, from the Wall
“I look forward to
Street Journal and national magazines like Time,
expanding the program
Parenting, Family Circle, and Our Children (of the
to touch more children.”
®
National PTA), to national television (Ani-
– Rae Louie
mal Planet and the Westminster Dog Show),
Principal, Bennion Elementary School
and even to the cover of The Weekly Reader (First
®
Salt Lake City, Utah
Grade Edition)! R.E.A.D. has also been
featured in both a book and journal pub-
®
lished by the Association for Childhood
PO BOX 17201, SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84117
Education International.
Intermountain Therapy
replaced by eager anticipation, and learning
Where Does R.E.A.D. Happen?
Animals, a nonprofit orga-
occurs. The handler is a skilled facilitator,
nization, launched R.E.A.D.
too—shifting performance pressure off the
R.E.A.D. programs are being implemented
in 1999 as the first comprehen-
child and providing support, while the child
all across the country in:
sive literacy program built
gets the supervised reading practice necessary
• elementary schools
around the appealing idea of
to build vocabulary, increase understanding
• libraries
reading to dogs, and the
of the material, and gain fluency as a reader.
program has been spreading
• preschools and child care facilities
rapidly and happily ever since!
The Results are Significant
• before- and after-school programs
Participating kids make enormous strides in
• healthcare facilities
How Does It Work?
reading and communication skills while,
• boys and girls clubs
R.E.A.D. utilizes registered
along the way, building self-esteem, confi-
• youth detention facilities
therapy animals who have been
dence, and social skills. And there are bonus
trained and tested for health,
benefits—performance in other subjects tends
Creative new ideas and variations occur with
safety, appropriate skills and
to improve, as does attendance and even
our teams all the time!
temperament. When these
personal hygiene.
special animals come to hear
In addition, when children accomplish
children read, it’s fun! And
goals set in the program, they receive
that makes all the difference.
brand new books to keep which are
“pawtographed” by their 4-
®
What is R.E.A.D. ?
But Why Dogs?
footed reading companions—
no small reward!
The Reading Education Assistance Dogs®
Learning to read is often less about intellec-
(R.E.A.D.) program improves children’s
tual limitation than about overcoming fears.
reading and communication skills by em-
“Fear can destroy intelligence,” says educator
ploying a powerful method: reading to a dog.
William Ayers.
But not just any dog.
Animals are ideal reading companions
R.E.A.D. dogs are registered therapy animals
because they:
who volunteer with their owner/handlers as a
• help increase relaxation and lower blood
team, going to schools, libraries and many
pressure
other settings as reading companions for
children.
• listen attentively
• do not judge, laugh or criticize
Today, hundreds of registered R.E.A.D.
Buddy
teams work throughout the United States and
• allow children to proceed at their own pace
Canada. R.E.A.D. is one of those ideas that,
• are less intimidating than peers
in the words of Bill Moyers, “pierces the
When a R.E.A.D. dog is listening, the envi-
READING EDUCATION ASSISTANCE DOGS® AND R.E.A.D.® ARE
mundane to arrive at the marvelous.”
ronment is transformed, a child’s dread is
REGISTERED SERVICE MARKS OF INTERMOUNTAIN THERAPY
ANIMALS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
