Animals 101: Examples of Work, Assistance, and Emotional Support

Service animals and emotional support animals help people with disabilities. Let's look at the amazing work they do:

Service Animals:

Service dogs do special tasks for people with disabilities. They help in many ways, like:

1. Helping someone who is blind or has low vision: Guides them and doing tasks.
2. Helping the deaf or hard of hearing: Tells them about sounds or people.
3. Keeping people safe: Protects and helps when needed.
4. Pulling a wheelchair: Helps better movement.
5. Warning about seizures: Lets people know before a seizure and helping during.
6. Detecting allergens: Tells people if there are things they're allergic to.
7. Emergency help: Brings the phone or gets help.
8. Supporting mobility: Helps with balance for those who have trouble moving.

Emotional Support Animals (ESAs):

Animals also give important help to people facing mental challenges, like:

1. Stopping bad behaviors: Prevents impulsive or destructive actions.
2. Reminding to take medicine: Helps people remember to take their prescribed medicines.
3. Checking health: Notices changes in blood sugar levels for those with diabetes.
4. Supporting PTSD: Comforts during anxiety attacks from traumatic experiences.
5. Managing stress and pain: Helps people deal with stress or pain from disabilities.
6. Encouraging socializing: Makes it easier to leave home and interact with others.
7. Boosting mental health: Gives a reason to keep living for those with major depression.
8. Providing comfort: Makes people feel better by helping specific symptoms or effects.

There are many ways their support can make a big difference for people with disabilities.