Assistance Dog Application Process

Key Dates:

• 11th February: Registrations are open for our information session webinars. Fill out the interest form to book your place in ONE of two webinars online. The link to the form will be available from this date until Sunday 23rd February. You can find the interest form here: https://www.autismassistancedogsireland.ie/interest-form/
• w/c 24th February: Two Zoom webinars are held at these dates: 25th February 11AM and 27th February 2:30PM. Please ensure that you attend ONE of two. This is mandatory to attend for those looking to apply for an Assistance Dog. The CEO, training team, and the Client Manager will be hosting these sessions. Each webinar should last 1.5-2 hours.
• March: The Assistance Dog Application Portal officially opens. The link and credentials needed for application will only be available to those who have attended the webinar. Fiona, our Client Manager will send an email to you in advance of the portal opening.

Our Application Process…

Fill in the interest form

From the 11th February, the interest form will officially open and you can choose which webinar to attend.

Attending a webinar

Join ONE of two webinars (25th OR 27th) for info on the eligibility criteria. Each webinar lasts 1.5-2 hours.

Filling in the application

In March, a link will be sent to ONLY those who attended the webinars. This is the application portal.

Lottery Draw

After the application portal closes, a lottery will commence with the help of a third-party witness.

Calls & Assessments

If successful, we will get in touch with further information on assessments and home visits.

Attending Class Training

Applicants will wait 18-24 months to be matched with an Assistance Dog and attend training in Cork.

NB: If you are unsuccessful in the lottery draw, we will not be holding your application and personal information. As we regularly change our eligibility criteria, you must re-apply in 2026 when the process opens again.