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The first regular use of animals to assist individuals with disabilities was probably the training of dogs to assist people who were visually impaired.  The first dog guide school in the United States was The Seeing Eye, Inc. established in 1929.  For many years The Seeing Eye was the only training school for dog guides in this country.

Since the 1960’s, the practice of using animals to enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities (not just visually impaired individuals) has become more widespread.   Founded in 1975, Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) was organized to provide highly-trained assistance dogs for children and adults with disabilities.  Assistance Dogs International, Inc. (ADI), a coalition of not for profit organizations founded in 1987 that train and place assistance dogs, developed minimum standards, guidelines and ethics for its member organizations to follow.

The first Federal legislation to directly address public access rights of people with disabilities who have service animals was the Air Carrier Access Act of 1986.  The act amended the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to provide that prohibitions of discrimination against people with disabilities apply to air carriers.  In a comprehensive housing rights bill, The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, specific rights to people with disabilities were provided for by prohibiting discrimination in the sale or rental of a dwelling based on handicap.  Additionally, national access rights for people with disabilities to be accompanied by their service animals became a reality with the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

The use of service animals has greatly improved the quality of life for people with disabilities.  While people with disabilities in America still confront barriers, the three major Federal laws mentioned above aim to defeat such discrimination by guaranteeing access and accommodation rights to people with disabilities who use service animals.