Coventry University accused of blocking assistance dog at work

A disabled woman claims Coventry University prevented her from working with her assistance dog on campus. The case raises questions about workplace obligations under disability discrimination law.

What the law says

Under the Equality Act 2010, employers must make reasonable adjustments for disabled employees, which includes permitting legitimate assistance dogs. Universities are public bodies with specific duties to eliminate discrimination. Refusing access to an assistance dog without substantial justification may constitute unlawful disability discrimination.

If this happens to you

Document all refusals in writing and request the university's specific reasons. Contact the Equality and Human Rights Commission or seek legal advice about potential discrimination claims. Report the incident to the Assistance Dog Registry to help identify patterns of non-compliance.

Source: The Coventry Observer

Free answers to any UK assistance dog rights question: ask the Rights Assistant.

ADR
Written & reviewed by the ADR Team
Assistance Dog Registry, supporting UK assistance dog handlers since 2020

We're a UK-based team dedicated to assistance dog handlers. Since 2020 we've supplied 20,000+ assistance dog ID cards and supported thousands of handlers, owner-trained and charity-trained alike. Our guidance on the Equality Act 2010 and assistance dog access rights is referenced in UK public-sector accessibility policy and relied on by NHS staff, employers and carers. We're not a government body: registration is voluntary, and we'll always tell you so honestly. Learn more about us →  |  [email protected]

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