Service Lab Dogs

The effort to get more diversity in scientific fields has hit a snag when it comes to researchers with disabilities: service dogs are prohibited from all animal research facilities around the United States. So, when Joey Ramp tried to take the final lab course that would allow her to start a Ph.D. program in neuroscience, she found she couldn’t because the lab uses live rats and her service dog Sampson isn’t allowed in the room. Ramp, who is now the CEO of Empower Ability Consulting, advocates for better disability access in research labs.