Occupational therapists (OT) are valuable members of inter-disciplinary teams that can refer clients for service dogs (Winkle, Herlache-Pretzer, et al., 2020). OTs can work with the client to determine if a service dog will be an appropriate tool that suits the client’s lifestyle. The OT can also help identify tasks that the client would benefit from (Winkle, Herlache-Pretzer, et al., 2020). Occupational therapists can work in the pre and post-placement processes to help the client learn functional skills associated with the care of the service dog. Additionally, OTs can help the client understand their rights with the service dog according to the Americans with Disabilities Act, public accommodations, Fair Housing Act, and The Air Carrier Access Act (Winkle, Ni, et al., 2020). This knowledge promotes self-advocacy and empowerment while using a service dog.

Occupation-Based Assessments:

• Occupational therapists (OT) can work with handlers after the match in an outpatient or home health setting. The OT can conduct occupational assessments such as:​

  • The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure

    • ​Identifies challenges that are personally important to the client and determines changes in self-perception of occupational performance over time.

  • The AOTA Occupational Profile

    • A summary of the client's occupational history and experiences including supports and barriers to participation in meaningful occupations.​

  • The Modified Interest Checklist 

    • Gathers information about the client's interest and engagement in over 60 areas of activities in the past, present, and future.​

  • The Role Checklist, Version 3

    • Measures participation and satisfaction in 10 different roles and why the client may or may not be participating in the role. ​

• Activity analysis of ADLs/IADLs with the service dog to ensure proper body mechanics and ergonomics to prevent injury and maintain correct body alignment. 

Occupational Therapy Interventions:

• Adaptive Equipment: the OT can recommend adaptive devices to increase the handler's independence and help determine if additional task training is necessary for the service dog.

• Work Wellness: ensure the handler's work environment is suited for service dog work, assist in making environmental changes based on specific needs. 

• Routines: the OT can work with the handler after the match to address daily routines and time management.

• Roles: the OT can assist with role transitions and role exploration with the client as they begin learning what it means to be a "handler" and the transition back to civilian life post-deployment.

​