Recently it came to the Assistance Dog Councils’ attention and broke us to see that, without even consulting the Assistance Dog community (the wider community not just those involved), certain charities and organisation groups are putting their personal point of view over the top of teams like Owner Trained. That they are actively working to remove their independence and ability to navigate the world that isn’t fully accessible to start with.
One owner-trained member stated: “I look at the 6 months I’ve spent training and working with my assistance dog, the blood, sweat and tears put into him so he can give back and we can move forward happy and healthy together. All these achievements both for him and me personally, the comments from family and friends who say they are finally seeing a better me. Here I’m now concerned it could be taken from me just because I chose to take a route best suited for my needs.”   It is distressing that it appears there are people who want to take that away from them and many like them. This gatekeeping is playing with vulnerable people’s daily independence, with a claimed authority where there is none. With the appearance of trying to monopolise this branch of mobility or auxiliary aid when there is no need or laws requiring them to do so. Not to mention some statements are coming from people who are fully abled, to speak on the “behalf” of the disabled people their charities claim to help, where is the true understanding of the lives those people live and the day-to-day issues they deal with?   They make statements that come across as hostile and condemning. No one should feel that their choice of the pathway with their assistance dog journey is wrong.  We, of course, will bring to light the harm these statements can make and make sure the law’s correct information is shared so anyone who does have the aid of these dogs gets the support and help they need.

We are petitioning today to stop the monopoly on assistance dogs from ADUK/ADI and to stop the standardisation of assistance dogs due to the limits it will cause for owner-trained assistance dogs and the wait lists of charities. Please sign and share so all those people who choose routes suitable for them to get the help, support and access they require/deserve. 

The monopolisation and standardisation means that Owner Trained Assistance Dogs are constantly being discriminated against and refused entry to businesses and other service providers. 
if this continues then more and more disabled people with Assistance Dogs will be put at risk of being discriminated against.

If this is allowed to continue then the discrimination that this causes will be at the fault of those doing the monopolisation. ADUK/ADI
We need the government to act and call these statements what they are: Discrimination arising due to disability in the form of their statements and their actions