Assistance animals are not a single, uniform group. They vary considerably in the species involved, the disabilities they support, the tasks they perform and the environments in which they work. While dogs are by far the most common assistance animal worldwide, other species may also be used in limited circumstances where they are appropriate, lawful and capable of safely performing required tasks.

For occupational therapists, understanding the diversity of assistance animal roles is essential when considering whether an assistance animal may form part of a person’s support plan. Knowledge of the different types of assistance animals, their capabilities and limitations, and the pathways by which they are trained helps occupational therapists collaborate effectively with assistance animal providers, develop realistic expectations and ensure recommendations remain person-centred and welfare-focused.

This module introduces the broad range of assistance animal types, explores the roles they perform across different disability groups, and examines the various pathways through which assistance animals are selected, trained and partnered with handlers.

Module Learning Outcomes

By the end of this module, students will be able to:

1. Differentiate between the various types of assistance animals and the roles they perform.
2. Describe the functional tasks performed by assistance animals across a range of disability groups.
3. Explain the similarities and differences between owner-trained, organisation-trained and hybrid training pathways.
4. Recognise the strengths and limitations of different species and breeds commonly used as assistance animals.
5. Apply an understanding of assistance animal roles and pathways to support collaborative, evidence-informed occupational therapy practice.