What is a Service Dog?
Service dogs are trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities. Examples of tasking include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties.
Service animals are working animals, not pets. The task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA
(Americans with Disabilities Act, 2010).
What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapists (OT) facilitate participation in everyday activities (occupations). OTs ask "what matters to you?" not "what's the matter with you?" Common settings an OT will work in include pediatrics, skilled nursing facilities, home health, etc. Occupational therapists focus on helping clients regain function so they can participate fully in all meaningful activities.
This website was created as part of a research project that explores how occupational therapists can be involved in matching and working with service dogs and their handlers. See the "Occupational Therapy" tab for more information.
Your guide to finding your perfect match!
Veteran Handlers
Find out if a service dog is right for you, as well as how to navigate your VA benefits and any grants you may be eligible for.
Civilian Handlers
Learn about your rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act, how to choose a training facility, and the costs associated with a service dog.
Occupational Therapists
Learn more about the research project exploring the role of occupational therapy in the matching process between service dogs and veteran handlers.
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