Assistance dogs: unlocking the door to independent living

None of us is entirely self-sufficient. However independent we think we are, from time to time we all need support, whether from family, friends or professionals. As the European Network on Independent Living (ENIL) puts it, “independence is created by having assistance when and how one requires it.”

Assistance dogs can be the key that unlocks the door to independent living. Guide, hearing and service dogs are trained to provide the support and independence to help people with disabilities navigate everyday life. Assistance dogs open up opportunities for choice, control and freedom at home, work, community or when out and about.

As members of Assistance Dogs Europe (ADEu) - part of Assistance Dogs International (ADI) - mark European Independent Living Day on May 5th, it’s worth taking time to reflect on the amazing job that assistance dogs do to help thousands of people live independently. Guide dogs help visually impaired or blind people move around safely and autonomously. Hearing dogs alert their users to essential sounds like phones, doorbells or smoke alarms, while service dogs help people who live with various disabilities including assistance with mobility, medical alerts, autism, dementia and managing PTSD.

It’s essential that when considering an assistance dog that any practical assistance people need should be based on the user’s own choices and aspirations. Assistance dogs are not miracle cures, but they can make the difference between independent living and relying on other people. This year, with the focus of European Independent Living Day on young people, it’s great to celebrate the amazing work of ADI member programmes in transforming the lives of children and young adults.

ADI member Dogs for Good, for example, was the first charity in the UK to train assistance dogs for children with physical disabilities - helping them with practical tasks such as picking up toys and other dropped items, opening and closing doors, dressing and undressing, and helping with physiotherapy workouts. Just as importantly, the dog “also offers unconditional love, becoming a friend who is always there for them, and a positive focus for the whole family.”

Exploring the world, learning from experience and making friends are important for all children, but for some children with autism it can be incredibly challenging. Assistance dogs can give these children a degree of independence without the significant safety risks which often go with the condition - for example by attaching them to the dog’s harness with a belt, which stops them from running off whilst at the same time allowing them a sense of being independent from their parent.

As children with disabilities become older, the independence offered by an assistance dog becomes even more important. Teenagers don’t want their parents around all the time, they want to be independent - having an assistance dog means they can go to a friend’s house, to the cinema or bowling - join in all the things their mates are doing.

Assistance dogs also allow their users to travel and go on holiday in ways most of us take for granted - although many still face access barriers which limit genuine independence. ADI certified assistance dogs make it easier for their users to access transport, hospitality venues, parks and other public places. Most airlines, for example, will only allow assistance dogs which have been trained by ADI or International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF) members to travel in the cabin with their users. Frustratingly, there are no global or even Europe-wide regulations covering travel with assistance dogs - something that ADI and ADEu are working hard to change. In the meantime, individual countries and airlines determine their own regulations, meaning that disabled people with an assistance dog are often forced to compromise their independence.

European Independent Living Day is not only for celebrating independence - indeed, the organisers encourage disabled people and their supporters to protest against continuing inequality, discrimination and exclusion. As ENIL notes, “Ironically, disabled people are often expected to prove their ability to be entirely self-sufficient before they are permitted the same latitude others take for granted.” Independence is not simply about physical needs, it’s a state of mind. People with disabilities should make their own decisions about what sort of support they need, when they need it and how it is offered. Assistance dogs are by no means the complete answer, but for many people they represent a huge step towards greater autonomy and independent living.

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Chris Diefenthaler is the Executive Director for Assistance Dogs International (ADI), who works with the international and regional boards to oversee the daily operations, provide information to the public about the high standards developed by ADI and helps direct potential assistance dog consumers to the appropriate member organization that can meet their needs.

From my experience of twenty-five years managing a variety of nonprofit organizations including as an executive director of an assistance dog organization, I have a strong understanding of the issues and challenges facing assistance dog organizations. I really enjoy providing support to our members by organizing educational conferences/seminars, providing networking opportunities and sharing best practices and information to continually improve our member’s programs and services. I have a black lab, Tori, that has a wonderful sweet temperament and an ornery orange tabby cat, Scout. I enjoy outdoor activities with my husband, playing tennis, biking and walking at our local parks.  

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