[nabs-l] Students with guide dogs

[Antonio M. Guimaraes Jr.]

Minh,

I think this issue requires a pick your battles approach.

The school official probably shot off the answer that sounded best to them at the time they were writing your email message, and they did not consult any requirements by any school department in order to draft a response.

This reason sounded good to them at that time, so they shut off an email to you with that as an excuse.

I might treat this as a practice for bigger battles with my dog. Respond with a denial to provide the documentation as requested, and see what the responses. Stand your ground, state the facts, and they will back off.

There are enough battles guide dog users must fight, and practicing your technique may come in handy. Smiles.

That said, I do not see a big deal with simply providing this documentation someone decided it was reasonable to request.

It is important to say they should not require this information, but that they have the right to request it. You on the other hand have the right to deny giving that the documents.

You might as well reasoned with people who might be reasonable. They may go to bat for you later if you are discriminated against because of your choice to use a service animal.

There is no right way to deal with this issue. That is why you ask, and got lots of opinions, even though 99% of them had nothing to do with your question.

These are my thoughts.

I hope you go get some practice.

Best,

Antonio









On Aug 30, 2013, at 6:07 PM, minh ha <minh.ha927 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hello all,
> 
> I hope all of your semesters are off to a great start. I just moved
> into my dorm yesterday and am settling down with my guide dog. I have
> a question regarding disability services and the questions they can
> ask about a service animal. I received a message from my DS office
> today inquiring whether my guide is all up to dates on her vaccines
> and if she is licensed. I wrote back asking about the relevancy of
> this question because under the ADA, the only two questions public
> places are allowed to ask are "is the animal a service animal" and
> "what services do they perfor." The dean replied that every university
> requires this information of their students with service animals in
> case dining services need this information. From your knowledge, is
> this true? I'm just trying to figure out what my rights are as a
> college student with a service animal. I do understand there are
> safetyconcerns involved, however, I feel as though my guide has
> nothing to do with the services that DS is providing me. Also, I
> attend a private institution so maybe the requirements are different.
> Any information you can give is greatly appreciated.
> 
> Cheers,
> Minh
> 
> -- 
> "All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty
> recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity:
> but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on
> their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible." T. E. Lawrence
> 
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