What Assistance animals other than Guide and Hearing dogs should be recognised?
Broadly, any animal that has been specially trained to assist a person with a disability. This could include, amongst other things: a dog, or a monkey. QUESTION: Is the DDA Section 9 sufficiently clear about the circumstances to what it applies? ANSWER: Yes. Because there is a risk of exclusion of a legitimate use by attempting to be specific about the circumstances to which it applies. QUESTION: Does the DDA need to provide a general exception for measures reasonably necessary to protect public health rather than the Public Health Exception in Section 48? ANSWER: No. There is no greater health risk in allowing either Guide dogs, Hearing dogs or Assistance animals into premises where there is a health or hygiene issue. To allow one or two groups without the other would be discriminatory. To prevent any one of these groups access without their animal would be discriminatory. The DDA does NOT presently require evidence of the animal being trained to meet a need for assistance because of
