Guidelines about Service Animals
Service Animal Guidelines
Disability Resources, Education and Access Management would like to take this opportunity to provide you with some background information as well as tips for having a service animal in your class.
What is a service animal?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a service animal as any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability. Service animals perform some of the functions and tasks that the individual with a disability cannot perform for him/herself.
What are a few specific types of service animals?
Hearing dogs are trained to alert persons with hearing impairments to sounds.
Guide dogs serve as a travel tool for persons with visual impairments.
Service dogs are trained to perform tasks for individuals with mobility impairments (e.g. pulling wheelchairs, carrying and picking things up, or assisting persons with balance).
How can I tell if an animal is really a service animal and not just a pet?
Some, but not all, service animals wear special collars and harnesses. Some, but not all, are licensed or certified and have identification papers.
When can a service animal be asked to leave the classroom?
A service animal whose behavior poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others, is ill, or unclean may be asked to leave. Please contact DREAM with concerns.
When in the presence of a service animal, please keep the following items in mind:
- Allow a service animal to accompany the partner at all times and everywhere on campus, unless an area poses a direct threat to the well being of the service animal (e.g. laboratories, mechanical rooms, etc).
- Do not pet a service animal; petting a service animal when the animal is working distracts the animal from the task at hand.
- Do not feed a service animal. The service animal may have specific dietary requirements.
- Do not deliberately startle a service animal.
- Do not separate or attempt to separate a partner/handler from his/her service animal.
If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Disability Resources, Education, and Access Management at 323-4134 or on-campus at extension 4134.
