Assistance Dogs: Benefit people, carers, and budgets.

I learned about disability the hard way; with my Assistance Dog I have grown stronger and wiser. As a result, I feel passionate about helping others to learn about disability, and the life changing benefits Assistance Dogs provide.

My Assistance Dog has brought me a sense of security and confidence I thought was gone forever- yet my experiences in Healthcare as a professional and as a person receiving services have taught me that there is a serious lack of understanding about the roles, rights, and benefits of Assistance Dogs,

This seminar will look at the types of support Dogs currently can provide, the paths to having an Assistance Dog, the legal rights of Assistance Dogs and their handlers, the benefits Assistance Dogs provide for disabled people and their carers/families, and the benefits to the Health and Social Care system. It will include helping professionals and disabled people consider when an Assistance Dog might be an appropriate intervention, as well as the responsibilities and requirements inherent to having an Assistance Dog.