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If the Ouch! article of old, won't you guide my sleigh tonight is to be believed, Santa's official alternative sleigh pullers are assistance dogs. These canine Christmas helpers have been dominating the disability news over the past seven days, presumably in order to raise their profile ahead of next weekend's big event.

Ramping up the pre-Christmas Disability cute factor is the Â鶹Éç Hampshire story about Hounds for Heroes, a new organisation which has just started training six assistance dogs especially for injured soldiers.

Then there's the . The special school Molly attends has banned her guide dog Unis from its dining room and assembly hall. Molly is unhappy with the decision, which is due to another student's allergy to the black Labrador.

And late last Sunday evening, Joanna Jones, faced an extra night in England, after easyJet refused her access to a flight from Gatwick to Belfast with her guide dog Orla. The airline required written proof of Orla's working dog status, something Joanna says that she has never had to produce in 12 years of making that same journey. On receipt of a confirmation email from the charity Guide Dogs, easyJet flew both passengers home the following morning, at no extra cost.

Elsewhere in the news:

A wheelchair user is one of the Wallington 'elf-nappers' hunted over garden centre theft (Â鶹Éç News)

Social care reform: Fears over funding plan (Â鶹Éç News)

(Joe Public blog, The Guardian)

Welfare reform testing NI's 'parity principle' (Â鶹Éç News)

Dementia care: Hospitals 'must make improvements' (Â鶹Éç News)

(The Guardian)

Gay marriage improves mental health (Â鶹Éç News)

Abortion 'does not raise' mental health risk (Â鶹Éç News)

Assisted suicide: General Medical Council to publish guidance (Â鶹Éç News)

(The Guardian)

(The Guardian)

(Joe Public blog, The Guardian)

(Mail Online)

A Teenage girl's account of living with ME (Â鶹Éç News)

The singer who finds freedom from Tourette's (Â鶹Éç News)

(Comment is free, The Guardian)

(Guardian Sport)

DR Congo election: Deaf anger at ban on texting (Â鶹Éç News)

Guernsey has 'a lot more barriers' for disabled people (Â鶹Éç News)

(The Guardian)

(The Guardian)