The ERIC Clearinghouse on Disabilities and Gifted Education has received
questions about helper monkeys several times through the AskERIC
question-answering service.  Here's what we tell people:


Helping Hands has been helping many high-level quadriplegics regain a measure of
independence since 1979.  Capuchin monkeys were chosen to help disabled people
with the daily chores of life because they are small, intelligent, have a
friendly nature, and are highly human-like.  These animals offer companionship,
spending much of their time sitting in their owner's laps, but always ready and
willing to perform a helpful task.

Some examples of the jobs Capuchins might do include:

*  Put a cassette into a tape player
*  Fetch a magazine or book and place it on a reading stand
*  Turn on and off lights
*  Push buttons on televisions, VCRs or microwaves
*  Take food out of the refrigerator and help with feeding
*  Comb hair
*  Retrieve small items
*  Scratch an itch.

For more information on eligibility and application for someone with
quadriplegia, or about volunteer foster parenting with the Capuchin monkey
program, call or write:

Helping Hands--Simian Aides for the Disabled, Inc.
1505 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA  02135
617-787-4419

This is believed to be the only program of its kind in the United States and the
demand is high.  Therefore, the waiting list is quite long.  I hope this
information is helpful to you.  Please contact us again if we can be
of further assistance.

Bernadette Knoblauch
bknoblau@inet.ed.gov

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The ERIC Clearinghouse on Disabilities and Gifted Education
The Council for Exceptional Children
1920 Association Drive
Reston, VA  22091
1-800-328-0272    (703) 264-9474  FAX (703) 264-9494
ericec@inet.ed.gov
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