Psychiatric assistance dog
Psychiatric Service Dogs are a specific type of assistance dog. Psychiatric Service Dogs, also known as PSDs, are individually trained to assist their handler with a psychiatric disability, including, but not limited to Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Autism, Anxiety Disorders, and Schizophrenia.
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA, 1990), a dog is considered a "service dog" if it has been "individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability." Disability is defined as a "mental or physical condition which substantially limits a major life activity"
Psychiatric service dogs must be trained to perform tasks that mitigate their handler's disability, and are not emotional support animals. Some tasks that psychiatric service dogs can be trained to do include:
- Blocking at curbs to prevent a dissociated handler from stepping out into traffic
- Doing a room search for a handler with PTSD
- Hallucination discernment
- Guiding a disoriented handler
- Interrupting repetitive actions, such as skin-picking
Psychiatric service dogs may any breed suited for public access work. Many are trained by the person who will become the dog's handler, ideally with the assistance of a professional trainer. However, assistance dog organizations are increasingly recognizing the need for dogs to help individuals with psychiatric disabilities.
In the United States, the Americans with Disabilities Act allow handlers of psychiatric service dogs the same rights and protections afforded to those with other types of assistance dogs. Some state laws also provide protection to PSD handlers.
External links
- Bazelon's List of Limitations on Major Life Activities for Psychiatric Disabilities
- Service Dog Tasks for Psychiatric Disabilities
- Psychiatric Service Dogs
- [www.adionline.org Assistance Dogs International]