Assistance dog

An assistance dog pressing a button to open an automatic door.

An assistance dog is a dog trained to aid or assist a person with a disability. Many are trained by a specific organization, while others are trained by their handler (sometimes with the help of a professional trainer).

Disability
Theory and models Disability theory Ableism / Disablism Medical model Social model
Education Mainstreaming Individualized Education Program (IEP) Special needs Special school Special education Learning disability
Therapy Physical therapy Occupational therapy Speech therapy
Societal implications Disability rights movement Inclusion People-first language Pejorative terms
Personal / physical assistance Personal care assistant Activities of daily living Orthotics and braces Prosthetics Assistive technology Assisted living Mobility aid Physical accessibility Universal design Web accessibility
Socioeconomic assistance Social Security Disability Insurance Supplemental Security Income Ticket to Work Disability Living Allowance Disabled students allowance Disabled Persons Railcard Freedom Pass
Groups and organizations Society for Disability Studies DPI CCD Reach Canada Visitability
Disabled sports Special Olympics Paralympics Deaflympics Extremity Games
Culture Disability in the arts Disability art Disability in the media
Disability portal Category: Disability Category: Disability lists

Classification

There are three general "types" in which an assistance dog may be further classified. Most assistance dogs will be trained for only one of these, though "combination" dogs do exist.

• Guide dogs assist the blind and the visually impaired.

• Hearing dogs, or signal dogs, help the deaf and hard of hearing.

• Service dogs refers to dogs not specifically trained for visual or hearing impairment, but trained to do other work, such as mobility assistance dogs, seizure alert dogs or other medical alert dogs, and psychiatric service dogs. In the United States, the term "service dog" may be used synonymously with "assistance dog," and is occasionally used for other types of working dogs as well. These dogs can in some instances be dual classified as Therapy Dogs. Also any of the above named dogs "in training" are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Americans with Disabilities Amendment Act (ADAA, which expanded some legal protections), even if the handler at the time is not "using" the dog in the capacity for which it is being trained. In most of the rest of the world a distinct separation between service dogs and assistance dogs is observed.

See also

• Assistance animal
• Autism service dog
• Dogs for the Disabled (in the UK)
• Medical response dog
• Mobility assistance dog
• Psychiatric service dog
• Seizure dog

External links

• Service Dogs and More - A large print site about Assistance Dogs
• Assistance Dogs International
• Christy Hill's Assistance Dog page no longer exists, please go to her business page
• Delta Society's National Service Animal Resource Center
• DMOZ Open Directory Project: Service Dogs
• International Association of Assistance Dog Partners
• Service Dog Central (includes guide and hearing dogs as well)
• (Online Registration For Your Dogs)