Most universities in the UK only allow assistance dogs into their university buildings if they have been registered by "Assistance Dogs UK". The law in the UK for public businesses is to allow all well-trained and well-behaved assistance dogs into their establishments and not do so would breach the equality act of 2010. This doesn’t seem to apply to universities.

Assistance Dogs UK only accredits assistance dogs that mitigate a physical disability apart from children with autism. This leaves people with neuro-developmental disorders, psychiatric disorders, and learning disabilities unable to take their fully qualified assistance dogs to university just because they have been trained by a different organisation. This could mean that universities are not meeting reasonable adjustments for their disabled students and staff.

Currently we are trying to get the following universities to amend their policies: The University of Leeds and Sheffield Hallam. Although most other universities have the same policies! We have found some inclusive assistance dog policies such as those at: York St Johns, Manchester Metropolitan University, Writtle University College, University of Glasgow, University of Cambridge and Edinburgh Napier University! We believe other universities can and should amend their policies to be in line with these! 

My friend is an autistic adult who is entitled to a support dog to help them with independence, mitigate meltdowns and help prevent anxiety. Their dog would be trained with three specific skills to help them access public areas. Denying them the dog as an auxiliary aid is denying them their independence! 

Credit for photo: Sharon Lawrence