Disruptions in Transportation and Medical Care Experienced by Handlers of Assistance Dogs in Australia

Abstract

ABSTRACT Anecdotal reports and limited available empirical evidence indicate that assistance-dog handlers are often denied access to places they are legally entitled to take their assistance dog. However, the frequency and contexts of access denials in Australia have not been established, and the emotional impacts of these denials are not well described. Furthermore, qualitative findings suggest that impromptu interactions with other people and dogs within the community can have both positive and negative impacts on the handler and assistance dog; larger-scale, quantitative research is needed. The aim of this study was to characterize the frequency and contexts, and emotional impacts, of assistance-dog access denials among handlers in Australia, as well as handler interactions with people and dogs. Handlers (n = 77) throughout Australia completed an online survey. Commercial passenger vehicles (CPVs, e.g., Uber/taxi) were the most commonly reported context for access denials, reportedly occurring about half the time, followed by hotels, restaurants, and cafés. Bystander support was rare in any setting. Some participants reported avoiding CPVs (52%), restaurants (13%), and medical/dental centers (13%) owing to prior access denials. The emotional impacts of the denials were very negative (e.g., annoyed, excluded, anxious, hurt). Having a visible or invisible disability had no bearing on the frequency of access denials, nor did having a conventional (e.g., Labrador Retriever) versus unconventional (e.g., Pug) breed of assistance dog. Unexpected interactions with people and other dogs were common; participants reported having a positive social interaction as a good outcome, and the dog becoming temporarily distracted as a common negative outcome. Unfortunately, eight participants (10%) had to retire a dog as an outcome of a negative interaction. Some free-text responses indicated that the reporting process for access denials is onerous and ineffective. Future research should seek to understand whether this can be remedied.