ADI Standards of Excellence

ADI · Assistance Dogs International

The worldwide accreditation for assistance-dog programs, earned by peer review on a recurring cycle.

01 What It Is

Assistance Dogs International is the worldwide coalition that accredits assistance-dog programs, the organizations that breed, train and place dogs with disabled handlers. Its accreditation is recognized internationally as evidence that a program trains to an audited standard rather than its own private one. Membership is voluntary, but for a serious program it is the mark to hold.

02 What It Covers

The standards span the whole of a program’s work: humane training methods, the tasks a dog is trained to perform, the education and ongoing support of the handler, and ethical breeding and dog welfare. The accreditation manual is reviewed and updated annually, so the standard a program is held to keeps pace with current practice.

03 How It Is Checked

Accreditation is a peer-review process. A program submits documentation in advance, then a trained assessor carries out a multi-day on-site survey, interviewing staff, clients and volunteers, reviewing files, and observing training and facilities. The assessor’s recommendation goes to a review committee that decides the outcome, and every accredited organization must be re-accredited every five years to keep its status.

04 Why It Matters

A disabled handler depends on a service dog for safety and independence, and cannot easily judge the program that trained it. ADI accreditation, recognized by transport networks and public bodies, tells them a program has had its training, ethics and welfare independently examined against an international standard rather than asserted.

Common Questions

Is it mandatory?

No. Membership is voluntary, but for a serious assistance-dog program it is the mark to hold, recognized internationally as evidence a program trains to an audited standard rather than its own private one.

Who runs it?

Assistance Dogs International, the worldwide coalition that accredits assistance-dog programs.

What does it cover?

The whole of a program’s work: humane training methods, the tasks a dog is trained to perform, the education and ongoing support of the handler, and ethical breeding and dog welfare. The manual is reviewed annually.

How is it assessed?

Through peer review: a program submits documentation, then a trained assessor carries out a multi-day on-site survey, interviewing staff, clients and volunteers, reviewing files and observing training, before a review committee decides.

How is it kept current?

Every accredited organization must be re-accredited every five years.

Why does it matter?

A disabled handler depends on a service dog and cannot easily judge the program that trained it. ADI accreditation, recognized by transport networks and public bodies, means the program has been independently examined against an international standard.

Primary sources

What is accreditation?, ADIassistancedogsinternational.org
Summary of standardsassistancedogsinternational.org