SIST EN 17984-6:2025
(Main)Assistance Dogs - Part 6: Accessibility and Universal Access
Assistance Dogs - Part 6: Accessibility and Universal Access
This European standard specifies requirements and recommendations for the accessibility of public and private spaces and universal access for assistance dog teams in an active status.
The accessibility requirements and recommendations for assistance dog teams in this European standard are applicable across the full spectrum of the built environment both indoor and outdoor (e.g. social service, medical and educational facilities, public institutions, cultural venues, sporting venues, hotel accommodation, public transport, parks, nature reserves).
The purpose of this European standard is to improve the accessibility for assistance dog teams ensuring their rights under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, so that they have the same opportunities as all citizens and can participate independently in all areas of life.
This European standard provides:
• Specific requirements of assistance dog teams to support accessibility and to achieve universal access.
• Responsibilities of assistance dog teams to enhance the public acceptance of assistance dogs.
• Guidance for specific services and areas to be accessed.
• Guidance for the implementation of accessibility measures at public and private bodies responsible for the built environment including transport and travel systems.
This European standard includes all private spaces, where public is generally admitted, or where public can be accommodated (e.g. office buildings, waiting rooms, common areas of apartment buildings).
This European standard may be applied to improve accessibility of assistance dog teams in the workplace.
This European standard may be applied to assistance dogs in training and puppies preparing for an assistance dog role.
Assistenzhunde - Barrierefreiheit und universeller Zugang
Dieses Dokument legt Anforderungen an und Empfehlungen für die Barrierefreiheit öffentlicher und privater Räume und den universellen Zugang für Assistenzhundeteams im aktiven Zustand fest.
Die in diesem Dokument enthaltenen Anforderungen an und Empfehlungen für die Barrierefreiheit von Assistenzhundeteams sind für das gesamte Spektrum der gebauten Umwelt, sowohl im Innen- als auch im Außenbereich (z. B. Dienstleistungen im sozialen Bereich, medizinische und Bildungseinrichtungen, öffentliche Einrichtungen, kulturelle Einrichtungen, Sportstätten, Hotelunterkünfte, öffentliche Verkehrsmittel, Parks, Naturschutzgebiete) anwendbar.
Das Ziel dieses Dokuments ist es, die Barrierefreiheit für Assistenzhundeteams zu verbessern und ihre Rechte nach dem Übereinkommen über die Rechte von Menschen mit Behinderungen der Vereinten Nationen sicherzustellen, damit sie die gleichen Chancen wie alle Bürger haben und unabhängig in allen Lebensbereichen teilnehmen können.
Dieses Dokument stellt zur Verfügung:
- besondere Anforderungen an Assistenzhundeteams zur Unterstützung der Barrierefreiheit und zum Erreichen eines allgemeinen Zugangs;
- Verantwortlichkeiten von Assistenzhundeteams, um die öffentliche Akzeptanz von Assistenzhunden zu erhöhen;
- eine Anleitung für besondere Dienstleistungen und Bereiche, zu denen Zugang erhalten werden muss;
- Anleitung für die Umsetzung von Maßnahmen zur Barrierefreiheit bei öffentlichen und privaten Einrichtungen, die für die gebaute Umwelt einschließlich Verkehrs- und Reisesystemen verantwortlich sind.
Dieses Dokument umfasst alle privaten Räume, in denen die Öffentlichkeit allgemein zugelassen ist oder in denen die Öffentlichkeit untergebracht werden kann (z. B. Bürogebäude, Warteräume, Gemeinschaftsbereiche von Wohngebäuden).
Dieses Dokument kann angewendet werden, um die Barrierefreiheit von Assistenzhundeteams am Arbeitsplatz zu verbessern.
Dieses Dokument kann auf Assistenzhunde in Ausbildung und auf Welpen angewendet werden, die sich auf die Rolle eines Assistenzhundes vorbereiten.
Chiens d'assistance - Partie 6: Accessibilité et accès universel
Le présent document précise les exigences et recommandations pour l’accessibilité des espaces publics et privés et l’accès universel aux équipes de chien d’assistance de statut actif.
Les exigences et recommandations en matière d’accessibilité des équipes de chien d’assistance énoncées dans le présent document sont applicables au spectre complet de l’environnement bâti à la fois en intérieur et en extérieur (par exemple, services sociaux, établissements médicaux et de formation, institutions publiques, sites culturels, centres sportifs, hôtels, transports publics, parcs, réserves naturelles).
L’objectif du présent document est d’améliorer l’accessibilité des équipes de chien d’assistance en garantissant leurs droits conformément à la Convention des Nations Unies relative aux droits des personnes handicapées, afin qu’elles aient les mêmes opportunités que tous les citoyens et puissent agir de manière indépendante dans tous les domaines de la vie.
Le présent document fournit :
- les exigences spécifiques des équipes de chien d’assistance pour favoriser l’accessibilité et permettre un accès universel ;
- les responsabilités des équipes de chien d’assistance pour accroître l’acceptation des chiens d’assistance par le public ;
- des recommandations concernant les services spécifiques et les zones d’accès ;
- des recommandations pour la mise en œuvre des mesures d’accessibilité par les entités publiques et privées responsables de l’environnement bâti, y compris les systèmes de transport et de voyage.
Le présent document inclut tous les espaces privés dans lesquels le public est généralement admis, ou dans lesquels le public peut être accueilli (par exemple, immeubles de bureaux, salles d’attente, parties communes des immeubles d’habitation).
Le présent document peut être appliqué pour améliorer l’accessibilité des équipes de chien d’assistance sur les lieux de travail.
Le présent document peut être appliqué aux chiens d’assistance en cours d’éducation et aux chiots qui deviendront des chiens d’assistance.
Psi pomočniki - 6. del: Dostopnost in vsesplošni dostop
General Information
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-januar-2025
Psi pomočniki - 6. del: Dostopnost in univerzalni dostop
Assistance Dogs - Part 6: Accessibility and Universal Access
Assistenzhunde - Barrierefreiheit und universeller Zugang
Chiens d'assistance - Partie 6: Accessibilité et accès universel
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 17984-6:2024
ICS:
03.080.99 Druge storitve Other services
11.180.99 Drugi standardi v zvezi s Other standards related to
pripomočki za invalide aids for disabled and
handicapped people
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
EN 17984-6
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
November 2024
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 65.020.30; 11.180.99
English Version
Assistance dogs - Part 6: Accessibility and universal access
Chiens d'assistance - Partie 6 : Accessibilité et accès Assistenzhunde - Teil 6: Barrierefreiheit und
universel universeller Zugang
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 30 September 2024.
CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2024 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 17984-6:2024 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 General provisions for the accessibility for assistance dog teams . 6
4.1 General. 6
4.2 Barriers . 6
4.3 Specific requirements of assistance dog teams . 7
4.4 Responsibilities of the assistance dog teams . 8
4.4.1 General. 8
4.4.2 Further responsibilities . 8
5 Specific services and areas to be accessed. 8
5.1 Built environment . 8
5.1.1 General. 8
5.1.2 Transport and travel systems . 9
5.2 Prohibited areas . 10
6 Implementation of accessibility measures . 10
6.1 General. 10
6.2 Leadership and commitment . 11
6.3 Implementation . 11
6.4 Accessible information . 11
Annex A (informative) Best practice . 13
A.1 Communication and interaction with assistance dog team. 13
A.2 Transport and travel . 13
A.3 Accommodation, restaurants, shops, cultural institutions and other indoor facilities
................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Bibliography . 15
European foreword
This document (EN 17984-6:2024) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 452 “Assistance
Dogs”, the secretariat of which is held by UNI.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by May 2025, and conflicting national standards shall be
withdrawn at the latest by May 2025.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document is part of a series of European Standards under the general title Assistance dogs, which
will comprise the following parts:
— Part 1: Vocabulary;
— Part 2: Dog lifetime welfare;
— Part 3: Competencies for assistance dogs professionals;
— Part 4: Pre-training, training and tasks;
— Part 5: Client services;
— Part 6: Accessibility and universal access.
This document will be read in conjunction with EN 17984-1, prEN 17984-2, prEN 17984-3 and
prEN 17984-4 as the series is technically linked and to be read conjointly.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards body.
A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,
Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North
Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the United
Kingdom.
Introduction
Although access to public transport or public institutions is guaranteed by national legislation in various
European countries and by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
(UNCRPD), many assistance dog users still encounter significant problems due to the lack of consistent
accessibility standards across Europe. This results in users being denied their rights to board public
transport or enter public places, either as a result of common misconceptions or ignorance of existing
regulations on assistance dogs, or because assistance dogs and their users are perceived as an
inconvenience.
Assistance dogs play a vital role in the lives of many persons with disabilities. They increase
independence, social participation and allow a greater level of safety for persons with disabilities.
Recognizing the importance of promoting accessibility for persons with disabilities in the context of built
environment and transportation, and that accessibility is a means of achieving inclusive societies and
development, this document specifies requirements and recommendations for the accessibility of public
and private spaces and universal access for assistance dog teams in an active status.
For the purpose of this document, public space refers to a space or place either public or private property,
where public is generally admitted.
The European Commission (EC) issued several mandates in the past addressed to CEN/CENELEC and
ETSI to facilitate accessibility for persons with disabilities, e.g. Mandate 473 on accessibility following the
Design for All approach, Mandate 420 on accessibility in the built environment, Mandate 376 in support
of European accessibility requirements for public procurement of products and services in the ICT
domain. And finally, the European Accessibility act (a directive) that aims to improve the functioning of
the internal market for accessible products and services, by removing barriers created by divergent
legislation in Member States. This facilitates the work of service and transport providers and
organizations and brings benefits to persons with disabilities in the European Union.
Furthermore, the Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030 intends to tackle the
diverse challenges that persons with disabilities face. It aims to progress on all areas of the United Nations
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, both at EU and Member State level.
This document contributes to the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in Europe. On the issue of accessibility (Article 9), the
Convention requires countries to identify and eliminate obstacles and barriers and ensure that persons
with disabilities can access their environment, transportation, public facilities and services, and
information and communications technologies. Personal mobility and independence are to be fostered
by facilitating affordable personal mobility, training in mobility skills and access to mobility aids, devices,
assistive technologies and forms of live assistance (Article 20).
For the purposes of this document, an assistance dog team means a working combination of a beneficiary,
an assistance dog and possibly a supervising handler. It is also referred to as an assistance dog team in
an active status.
An assistance dog as an assistive aid or a form of live assistance performs tasks to increase independence
and to mitigate limitations of a person with a disability. Since this can only be achieved through
socialization and training, it is important that dogs and puppies being prepared for an assistance dog role
are given access as assistance dog teams in an active status.
NOTE National legislation can determine access provisions for assistance dogs in training and puppies.
1 Scope
This document specifies requirements and recommendations for the accessibility of public and private
spaces and universal access for assistance dog teams in an active status.
The accessibility requirements and recommendations for assistance dog teams in this document are
applicable across the full spectrum of the built environment both indoor and outdoor (e.g. social service,
medical and educational facilities, public institutions, cultural venues, sporting venues, hotel
accommodation, public transport, parks, nature reserves).
The purpose of this document is to improve the accessibility for assistance dog teams ensuring their
rights under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, so that they have
the same opportunities as all citizens and can participate independently in all areas of life.
This document provides:
— specific requirements of assistance dog teams to support accessibility and to achieve universal
access;
— responsibilities of assistance dog teams to enhance the public acceptance of assistance dogs;
— guidance for specific services and areas to be accessed;
— guidance for the implementation of accessibility measures at public and private bodies responsible
for the built environment including transport and travel systems.
This document includes all private spaces where the public are generally admitted, or where the public
can be accommodated (e.g. office buildings, waiting rooms, common areas of apartment buildings).
This document can be applied to improve accessibility of assistance dog teams in the workplace.
This document can be applied to assistance dogs in training and puppies preparing for an assistance dog
role.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
...
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-januar-2025
Psi pomočniki - 6. del: Dostopnost in vsesplošni dostop
Assistance Dogs - Part 6: Accessibility and Universal Access
Assistenzhunde - Barrierefreiheit und universeller Zugang
Chiens d'assistance - Partie 6: Accessibilité et accès universel
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 17984-6:2024
ICS:
03.080.99 Druge storitve Other services
11.180.99 Drugi standardi v zvezi s Other standards related to
pripomočki za invalide aids for disabled and
handicapped people
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
EN 17984-6
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
November 2024
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 65.020.30; 11.180.99
English Version
Assistance dogs - Part 6: Accessibility and universal access
Chiens d'assistance - Partie 6 : Accessibilité et accès Assistenzhunde - Teil 6: Barrierefreiheit und
universel universeller Zugang
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 30 September 2024.
CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2024 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 17984-6:2024 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 General provisions for the accessibility for assistance dog teams . 6
4.1 General. 6
4.2 Barriers . 6
4.3 Specific requirements of assistance dog teams . 7
4.4 Responsibilities of the assistance dog teams . 8
4.4.1 General. 8
4.4.2 Further responsibilities . 8
5 Specific services and areas to be accessed. 8
5.1 Built environment . 8
5.1.1 General. 8
5.1.2 Transport and travel systems . 9
5.2 Prohibited areas . 10
6 Implementation of accessibility measures . 10
6.1 General. 10
6.2 Leadership and commitment . 11
6.3 Implementation . 11
6.4 Accessible information . 11
Annex A (informative) Best practice . 13
A.1 Communication and interaction with assistance dog team. 13
A.2 Transport and travel . 13
A.3 Accommodation, restaurants, shops, cultural institutions and other indoor facilities
................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Bibliography . 15
European foreword
This document (EN 17984-6:2024) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 452 “Assistance
Dogs”, the secretariat of which is held by UNI.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by May 2025, and conflicting national standards shall be
withdrawn at the latest by May 2025.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document is part of a series of European Standards under the general title Assistance dogs, which
will comprise the following parts:
— Part 1: Vocabulary;
— Part 2: Dog lifetime welfare;
— Part 3: Competencies for assistance dogs professionals;
— Part 4: Pre-training, training and tasks;
— Part 5: Client services;
— Part 6: Accessibility and universal access.
This document will be read in conjunction with EN 17984-1, prEN 17984-2, prEN 17984-3 and
prEN 17984-4 as the series is technically linked and to be read conjointly.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards body.
A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,
Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North
Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the United
Kingdom.
Introduction
Although access to public transport or public institutions is guaranteed by national legislation in various
European countries and by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
(UNCRPD), many assistance dog users still encounter significant problems due to the lack of consistent
accessibility standards across Europe. This results in users being denied their rights to board public
transport or enter public places, either as a result of common misconceptions or ignorance of existing
regulations on assistance dogs, or because assistance dogs and their users are perceived as an
inconvenience.
Assistance dogs play a vital role in the lives of many persons with disabilities. They increase
independence, social participation and allow a greater level of safety for persons with disabilities.
Recognizing the importance of promoting accessibility for persons with disabilities in the context of built
environment and transportation, and that accessibility is a means of achieving inclusive societies and
development, this document specifies requirements and recommendations for the accessibility of public
and private spaces and universal access for assistance dog teams in an active status.
For the purpose of this document, public space refers to a space or place either public or private property,
where public is generally admitted.
The European Commission (EC) issued several mandates in the past addressed to CEN/CENELEC and
ETSI to facilitate accessibility for persons with disabilities, e.g. Mandate 473 on accessibility following the
Design for All approach, Mandate 420 on accessibility in the built environment, Mandate 376 in support
of European accessibility requirements for public procurement of products and services in the ICT
domain. And finally, the European Accessibility act (a directive) that aims to improve the functioning of
the internal market for accessible products and services, by removing barriers created by divergent
legislation in Member States. This facilitates the work of service and transport providers and
organizations and brings benefits to persons with disabilities in the European Union.
Furthermore, the Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030 intends to tackle the
diverse challenges that persons with disabilities face. It aims to progress on all areas of the United Nations
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, both at EU and Member State level.
This document contributes to the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in Europe. On the issue of accessibility (Article 9), the
Convention requires countries to identify and eliminate obstacles and barriers and ensure that persons
with disabilities can access their environment, transportation, public facilities and services, and
information and communications technologies. Personal mobility and independence are to be fostered
by facilitating affordable personal mobility, training in mobility skills and access to mobility aids, devices,
assistive technologies and forms of live assistance (Article 20).
For the purposes of this document, an assistance dog team means a working combination of a beneficiary,
an assistance dog and possibly a supervising handler. It is also referred to as an assistance dog team in
an active status.
An assistance dog as an assistive aid or a form of live assistance performs tasks to increase independence
and to mitigate limitations of a person with a disability. Since this can only be achieved through
socialization and training, it is important that dogs and puppies being prepared for an assistance dog role
are given access as assistance dog teams in an active status.
NOTE National legislation can determine access provisions for assistance dogs in training and puppies.
1 Scope
This document specifies requirements and recommendations for the accessibility of public and private
spaces and universal access for assistance dog teams in an active status.
The accessibility requirements and recommendations for assistance dog teams in this document are
applicable across the full spectrum of the built environment both indoor and outdoor (e.g. social service,
medical and educational facilities, public institutions, cultural venues, sporting venues, hotel
accommodation, public transport, parks, nature reserves).
The purpose of this document is to improve the accessibility for assistance dog teams ensuring their
rights under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, so that they have
the same opportunities as all citizens and can participate independently in all areas of life.
This document provides:
— specific requirements of assistance dog teams to support accessibility and to achieve universal
access;
— responsibilities of assistance dog teams to enhance the public acceptance of assistance dogs;
— guidance for specific services and areas to be accessed;
— guidance for the implementation of accessibility measures at public and private bodies responsible
for the built environment including transport and travel systems.
This document includes all private spaces where the public are generally admitted, or where the public
can be accommodated (e.g. office buildings, waiting rooms, common areas of apartment buildings).
This document can be applied to improve accessibility of assistance dog teams in the workplace.
This document can be applied to assistance dogs in training and puppies preparing for an assistance dog
role.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
E
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
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