Service animal

Service animals provide assistance to people with disability by performing tasks that an individual is unable to perform independently. Service animals are specifically trained to suit the individual needs of a person with a disability and include guide dogs, assistance dogs and hearing dogs.

Guide Dogs

Guide Dogs can promote the independence of persons who are blind or vision impaired. Their primary role is to assist their owner to avoid obstacles, allowing them to travel around safely and independently. Many people who are blind or vision impaired do not require the assistance of a guide dog, but manage with assistance from canes, low vision aids, electronic devices and training in orientation and mobility. Guide Dogs are most commonly Labradors or Golden Retrievers and are trained to move freely along a path of travel to assist the person who is blind to avoid bumping into things, avoid overhead obstacles such as low branches, safely negotiate road crossings and obey a wide range of commands. By law, Guide Dogs are allowed to travel anywhere in public with the person they are assisting.

Assistance Dogs

Assistance dogs assist people with disability by helping them to achieve a greater level of independence. Assistance dogs can be trained to perform specific tasks such as opening and closing doors, turning light switches on and off, pressing pedestrian crossing buttons or retrieving and picking up items from the floor.  Assistance dogs can also assist with reducing an individual’s requirement for attendant care and promoting confidence and wellbeing in the owner.  

Hearing Dogs

Hearing dogs can be beneficial for people who are deaf or have severe hearing loss.  They are trained in sound awareness and respond to numerous domestic and environmental cues to promote the safety and independence of their owner.  A hearing dog can let its owner know when an auditory alarm sounds, when there is a knock at the door, when the kettle is boiled, when a baby cries or for other auditory cues. Hearing dogs can also be taught to respond to simple sign language or verbal cues.

Workplace solutions and adjustments

Service dogs are legally entitled to travel anywhere, including public transport, taxis and all public places with the person they are assisting. A service animal is not a pet, thus they do not need to comply with businesses “no pet policies” and employers are required make necessary adjustments to accommodate the service animal within the workplace. Simple changes in the workplace might include extra room for the animal to be by the employee whilst working, along with an allocated space for their food, food supplies and water bowls. A dog toileting area would also be a necessity along with a time allowance for the Service dog user to walk the dog for this reason.

More information on specific types of Service dogs for people with disability can be found at the links below:

• braille or tactile maps
• orientation sessions and training

References

Assistance Dogs Australia 2011, FAQs, Assistance Dogs Australia, Sydney, viewed 15 March 2011, http://www.assistancedogs.org.au/faqs.php.

Guide Dogs NSW/ACT 2011, What we do, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, Sydney, viewed 15 March 2011, http://www.guidedogs.com.au/what-we-do.

Lions Hearing Dogs 2011, How Our Dogs Help, Lions Hearing Dogs, Adelaide, viewed 15 March 2011, http://www.hearingdogs.asn.au/how-our-dogs-help/.

Would you like further information?

• Guide dogs
• Service animals