Mobility Issues, Fine Motor Impairment, and Service Dogs

According to the October 2024 briefing UK Disability Statistics: Prevalence and Life Experiences, an estimated 11% of children in the UK have a disability consistent with definitions in the Equality Act 2010. Of those, mobility is cited as the most frequently reported, accounting for 48% of the reports. These estimates are based on self-reported data and as such are subject to statistical uncertainty, and reporting is not compulsory, so results must be interpreted as estimates, not definitive, but they are high enough to raise concerns about the need to improve success among students in secondary schools and higher education, particularly in STEM fields that involve laboratory work. These students will need a wide variety of adjustments and may also be accompanied by an assistance dog, with its own need for safe practices in the laboratory.