Lance currently resides in  Oceanside ,  CA and is a principal liaison for CCI’s Veterans Initiative. He  frequently visits the Wounded Warriors Battalion at Camp Pendleton and Navy Medical Center San Diego to share his personal story with talk about the benefits that can be derived from an assistance dog.  Lance also serves as a Board Member for CCI.

Born on September 25, 1971, Lance Weir was raised in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. Much of Lance’s childhood was spent running around on his grandparents’ 100 acre farm. From a young age, he began playing little league baseball and the summer before his senior year in high school, he was an assistant director and coached for the little league program where he played as a youth. At Walnut Ridge High School, Lance was a three year letterman in football, basketball, track and tennis.

After graduating from high school, Lance joined the United States Marine Corps Reserves in 1990. After completing Boot Camp (in San Diego, CA), Marine Combat Training and Military Police Training, Lance worked for the Arkansas Department of Corrections as a Drill Instructor at the newly formed Boot Camp Program for first time offenders sentenced for ten years or less. Lance also enrolled in Arkansas State University but was unable to finish due to his accident on August 8, 1993 which resulted in quadriplegia at the C5-6 level. He spent the next several days in critical condition at the Med in Memphis, Tennessee and after eight months of rehabilitation, he was finally able to go home. Lance was 21 years of age at the time of his accident.

It took Lance a while to come to terms with his accident. In the three years that followed, he was honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps as a Lance Corporal but was only able to complete one correspondence course towards his college degree due to the overwhelming physical and mental demands associated with his injury. Thankfully, his life turned a corner after a medical follow-up at Craig Rehabilitation in Denver, Colorado. It was there that he realized he had no right to feel sorry for himself after watching a young teenage boy who was unable to swat away a fly that had landed on his nose. Another breakthrough came when Lance learned how to drive a van modified for a quadriplegic. When Lance left Craig Rehab, he went back to Arkansas and enrolled at Black River Technical College where he received his Associate of Arts Degree and was Student Body President. From there he went on to get his Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from Williams Baptist College in May of 2005.

Lance’s spirit, determination, and perseverance to overcome the unique and challenging obstacles due to his injury is truly an inspiration. The Arkansas Rehabilitation Services and the Governor’s Commission on People with Disabilities recognized Lance’s achievements by presenting him with the 2005 Arkansas Ability Award.

After receiving his Assistance Dog, Satine from Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) in Oceanside, California, Lance interviewed for a position within their organization.

When CCI offered Lance a job, he decided to make the big move from his home town of 4,500 to the seventh largest city in the country. Lance currently resides in Oceanside, CA and volunteers as CCI’s liaison to Camp Pendleton’s Wounded Warrior Facility.

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