It is thanks to Ocho that I am able to continue my nursing career that I had worked so hard to achieve before becoming disabled. I am currently the only disabled nurse in the UK working clinically with a wheelchair and an assistance dog. I’m so proud to be able to raise awareness of the value of people with disabilities working in health and social care, hopefully changing the attitudes of the future and inspiring new nurses and health care workers with disabilities.

Before I trained Ocho I had no idea how much a dog could change someone’s life. I had seen guide dogs. But I didn’t know there were different types of assistance dogs. Ocho is able to help me with the tasks that able bodied people take for granted like picking up things I drop, loading and unloading the washing machine and opening doors. He helps prevent unnecessary pain and discomfort and reserves my energy. But more than that he has given me the confidence and independence to not just survive life as a person with disabilities, but to actually enjoy life and adventures again. I am so grateful to DogAID as a charity for giving disabled people like me futures.

Chloë is the only nurse in the UK using a wheelchair and an assistance dog. She is currently in need of a wheelchair accessible vehicle and could really use your help to raise the money required for the vehicle adaptations. Any donations are gratefully received via Just Giving.