ADUK was pleased to join colleagues from ADI – Assistance Dogs International/ADEu and the Assistance Dog Assessment Association last night for an APDAWG event held in the Houses of Parliament.
Together, we met with MPs and service providers to discuss the ongoing reality of access refusals and the gaps within the Equality Act 2010 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (NI). Although the law gives disabled people the right to enter public spaces with their assistance dogs, research from ADI and the International Guide Dog Federation shows that 79% of UK partnerships still faced an access refusal in 2024.
Several of our members spoke directly with parliamentarians and policy influencers about the impact this has on their daily lives. Later in the evening, members of the public joined us to hear moving first-hand accounts from our panel – including Steve Darling MP – on the life-changing role of assistance dogs and the isolation caused when access is denied.
ADUK is calling for three key changes:
- A stronger and clearer definition of assistance dogs in law.
- Legislation to set out consistent training and welfare standards.
- Better education and accountability for service providers.
We look forward to building on this event and continuing to work with policymakers to secure meaningful change for assistance dog partnerships across the UK.
