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Here are some common examples of disabilities and conditions where a person may legitimately use a service dog. Under the ADA and many state laws, a service dog must be individually trained to perform specific work or tasks directly related to the person’s disability.

Physical Disabilities

Mobility Impairments

A service dog may help someone who has difficulty walking, balancing, or moving.

Examples:

• Wheelchair users

• Multiple sclerosis (MS)

• Cerebral palsy

• Muscular dystrophy

• Arthritis

• Paralysis

• Amputations

• Spinal cord injuries

Tasks may include:

• Retrieving dropped items

• Opening doors

• Pulling a wheelchair

• Assisting with balance

• Helping the handler stand or transfer

Blindness or Low Vision

Guide dogs assist people who are blind or visually impaired.

Tasks may include:

• Navigating obstacles

• Stopping at curbs and stairs

• Finding doors or exits

• Leading safely through crowds

Deafness or Hearing Loss

Hearing dogs alert handlers to important sounds.

Examples:

• Doorbells

• Fire alarms

• Crying babies

• Someone calling the person’s name

Medical Conditions

Diabetes

Diabetic alert dogs can detect blood sugar changes.

Tasks may include:

• Alerting to low or high blood sugar

• Retrieving glucose supplies

• Getting help during emergencies

Seizure Disorders / Epilepsy

Seizure response dogs assist during or after seizures.

Tasks may include:

• Alerting before a seizure (for some handlers)

• Protecting the person during a seizure

• Fetching medication

• Activating emergency systems

• Getting assistance from others

Cardiac Conditions

People with heart conditions may use service dogs.

Examples:

• POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome)

• Heart arrhythmias

• Syncope/fainting disorders

Tasks may include:

• Alerting before fainting episodes

• Assisting with stability

• Retrieving medication

• Seeking help

Severe Allergies

Some service dogs are trained to detect allergens.

Examples:

• Peanut allergies

• Gluten allergies

Tasks may include:

• Detecting allergens in food or environments

• Alerting the handler before exposure

Psychiatric Disabilities

Psychiatric service dogs are different from emotional support animals (ESAs). They must be trained to perform specific tasks related to a psychiatric disability.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Tasks may include:

• Waking from nightmares

• Interrupting panic attacks

• Creating personal space in crowds

• Guiding the handler to exits

• Medication reminders

Common among:

• Veterans

• First responders

• Assault survivors

• Trauma survivors

Anxiety Disorders

A psychiatric service dog may help with severe, disabling anxiety.

Tasks may include:

• Interrupting panic attacks

• Deep pressure therapy

• Grounding during dissociation

• Guiding the person to safety

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Service dogs may assist autistic individuals.

Tasks may include:

• Preventing wandering/elopement

• Interrupting self-harming behaviors

• Providing grounding and sensory regulation

• Assisting with transitions and routines

Depression or Bipolar Disorder

If disabling, a service dog may assist with:

• Medication reminders

• Interrupting harmful behaviors

• Encouraging daily functioning

• Alerting to psychiatric episodes

Other Disabilities

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Tasks may include:

• Memory reminders

• Orientation assistance

• Balance support

• Finding help during confusion episodes

Chronic Illnesses

Examples:

• Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS)

• Chronic fatigue syndrome

• Fibromyalgia

Tasks may include:

• Mobility support

• Retrieving items

• Alerting to medical episodes

• Assistance during fatigue flare-ups

Important Legal Note

A person does not need to:

• Use a wheelchair

• “Look disabled”

• Have visible impairments

to legally use a service dog.

Under the ADA, a disability can be:

• Physical

• Sensory

• Psychiatric

• Intellectual

• Neurological

• Invisible/non-apparent

The key legal requirement is:

• The person has a disability, and

• The dog is specifically trained to perform tasks related to that disability.

Examples of Tasks That Qualify

Examples of trained service dog tasks include:

• Guiding

• Alerting to sounds

• Retrieving items

• Medical alerts

• Interrupting panic attacks

• Deep pressure therapy

• Mobility assistance

• Medication reminders

• Seizure response

• Allergen detection

Examples That Generally Do NOT Qualify Alone

Comfort alone is not enough for a service dog under the ADA.

Examples that generally do not qualify by themselves:

• Providing companionship only

• Emotional support without trained tasks

• Making someone feel calmer merely by presence

Those animals may qualify instead as:

• Emotional support animals (ESAs)

• Therapy animals

which have different legal protections than service dogs.

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