European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 4, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Simian support Capuchin monkeys Aid the disabled Judi Zazula trains a Capuchin Monkey to rub her face with a Washcloth to ease an  York Bureau Enrietta likes to listen to music with sue Strong. She especially enjoys changing the cassettes. On the other hand the High Point of hellions Day is spoon feeding Robert Foster. Foster and Strong Are both quadriplegics paralysed from the shoulders Down and depend on their Quot assistants Quot to perform even some of the most Basic of tasks for them. Henrietta and hellion Are Capuchin monkeys provided by Quot helping hands Simian aides for the disabled a a non profit organization based in Boston. The project is the brainchild of or. Mary Joan Willard assistant professor of rehabilitation Medicine at Boston University s school of Medicine. In 1977 while visiting a quadriplegic Friend Willard found herself performing Many minor personal chores for him a such As combing his hair or getting him a drink. She became absorbed with the idea that there had to be a Way to assist these men and women to live their daily lives with a larger degree of Independence. Because of their manual dexterity monkeys were considered As Ideal aides to the disabled. The Capuchin a commonly called the a Morgan grinder Monkey Quot a was chosen because of its relatively Small size and its Friendly Demeanour. A my program was rejected 38 times Quot Willard says. Quot people viewed it As potentially embarrassing a a bizarre project that might win them the a Golden fleece Quot award. She launched a Public relations Blitz and it became a Media happening. Articles appeared in dozens of magazines a segment on the to show 60 minutes described the program. In 1979, with a Grant from the paralysed veterans of America Willard set about building a research organization and has watched it slowly evolve Over the last 11 years. Helping hands a the formal title a was founded in 1982, and is affiliated with Boston University with the Basic goal of providing monkeys to the disabled similar to the provision of seeing Eye dogs to the Blind. Funded by Grants from corporations As Well As individual contributions the Agency operates a program that places the monkeys in Quot Foster Homes Quot for the first three years of their lives. Here they learn to socialize with humans and inter react. At the end of the three year period the animals Are returned to the Agency and Are entered in an intensive six month training program where they learn to behave and perform More specialized tasks. Quot the biggest question was can you have this animal be helpful but not destroy your House when it was t Busy Quot is How Willard described one of the first problems she had to overcome. Early in the training schedule a Small Battery is attached to the monkeys Tail and a minor electric Shock can be administered whenever the animal misbehaves. In this manner the Monkey could be taught to be docile when not Busy performing personal chores. Judi Zazula program director is responsible for the training of the animals. She is assisted by College work study students who make a 2-4 year commitment to the program As part of their financial Aid package. By using a laser and pointing it at different objects while issuing simple verbal commands such As fetch change or push the Monkey learns to carry out the disabled persons wishes. The animals Are taught to turn off lights bring food on a special tray comb the patients hair and myriad other personal chores. One of the most common requests involves having the Monkey retrieve a fallen Mouth stick a a device with which the disabled can dial a phone or turn pages of a Book. The animal learns to pick up the stick and place it Back in the persons Mouth. They Are also often called on to reposition a Chin control unit which the disabled use to operate motorized wheelchairs. Upon completion of a directed chore they Are rewarded usually with some juice or a treat dispensed from a special unit on the quadriplegics chair. During this phase of training when preparing them to live with someone the Battery is avoided the program concentrates on accomplishments. After going through a rigorous screening process and filling out a detailed questionnaire applicants for a Monkey Are subject to visits in their Home by personnel from the Agency. They must show an ability to relate to and nurture the animal and be Able to handle the responsibility. Just a physical need on their part is not enough. It is estimated that Only five to 10 percent of the applicants Complete the qualifying phase. During the Home visits the Trainer usually Zaz Lawill determine if the accommodations Are suitable for the Monkey. When hellion was first introduced to Foster All the Monkey would do was scream until Foster left the room. This continued for several months before they began to develop a rapport. It was determined that it Wasny to so much Foster but rather that hellion disliked All men. Her reaction was related to her training. At the Point where she was introduced to the Battery and Given the minor shocks it was always men staffers who administered the Shock she automatically associated men with the unpleasant experience. From random acquisition of animals some from zoos others cast off pets or from laboratories the Agency has now progressed to where it has it s own Breeding Colony on discovery Island at Walt Disney world in Florida. With 17 animals living with individuals another 17 in training and 130 in Foster Homes Willard is hoping to transform her program from a research organization to a service Agency. She has set a target goal of 40 placements per year. Willard estimates that it costs $60,000 per animal from birth through training and into their lives with the disabled a Capuchin monkeys generally live for up to 30 years. The Agency donates each Monkey to its keeper. Individuals wishing to learn More about the program or wishing to make a tax deductible contribution May write Willard at helping hands Simian aides for the disabled inc., 1505 Commonwealth ave., Boston mass. It took several several months before hellion and quadriplegic Robert Foster whom she a helping to feed Here began to develop a , september 4, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 13