The NDIA’s Research and Evaluation Branch has completed a comprehensive systematic review to understand the benefits of assistance dogs or pets for people with autism.
Assistance dogs have been specially trained by an accredited assistance animal provider to assist a person with disability do at least three things they wouldn’t be able to do because of their disability. They are also trained to a high level of obedience to reliably support people with disability when out in the community.

What did the NDIS find?
It was found that parents had mixed experiences of assistance animals:
• Parents thought assistance dogs benefitted the child and family, including helping the child socially, with emotional regulation and decreasing stress for the parents. However, these seem to be the same benefits described by parents of children with autism with a pet dog.
• Many parents were not prepared for the practicalities of owning an assistance dog such as the time, energy and dedication required to look after the dog’s wellbeing..
• Many parents reported being denied access to public places with the dog because of a lack of community awareness about autism and the role of assistance dogs.

It is likely that some individuals will respond well to animal-assisted supports. However, the evidence does not suggest that assistance dogs are more effective than pets. These findings will inform the development of guidelines about Assistance Animals and the NDIS.

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