[nagdu] Clearing up confusion over service animals

[Dailyah]

Whoops!  Apologies for not signing my post just now.  It's Dailyah!

Dailyah



>________________________________
> From: Ginger Kutsch <GingerKutsch at yahoo.com>
>To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org> 
>Sent: Sunday, August 4, 2013 6:36 PM
>Subject: [nagdu] Clearing up confusion over service animals
> 
>
>Clearing up confusion over service animals
>
>Tips By Dennis Dotson 
>
>Lincoln County Sheriff 
>
>Friday, August 2, 2013
>
>Source:
>http://www.thenewsguard.com/opinion/article_649a87bc-fb00-11e2-9f5e-0019bb29
>63f4.html
>
>
>
>Service animals may be of any type or breed of dog and need not be certified
>by any governmental agency or service group. Some service animals, such as
>guide dogs, may be readily identifiable, but many don't have a distinctive
>symbol, harness, or collar.
>
>
>
>It's important to understand that service animals are not pets and may be
>trained by an individual or organization to assist individuals with
>disabilities. People should not attempt to pet the animal or offer food
>items.
>
>
>
>The following examples are just some of the ways service animals may be used
>to provide assistance:
>
>.Guiding people who are blind or have poor vision;
>
>.Alerting people who are deaf or hard of hearing;
>
>.Retrieving or picking up items, opening doors, or flipping switches for
>people with disabilities who have limited use of their hands, arms or legs;
>
>.Pulling wheelchairs;
>
>.Providing physical support and assisting people with physical disabilities
>with stability and balance;
>
>.Doing work or performing tasks for persons with traumatic brain injury,
>intellectual disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities, such as reminding a
>person with depression to take medication or to wake the person;
>
>.Alerting a person with anxiety to the onset of panic attacks, providing
>tactile stimulation to calm a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,
>assisting people with schizophrenia to distinguish between hallucinations
>and reality, and helping people with traumatic brain injury to locate
>misplaced items, find places or follow daily routines.
>
>Under the ADA, service animals assisting individuals with disabilities are
>permitted in all public facilities and areas where the general public is
>allowed. If an animal exhibits vicious behavior, poses a direct threat to
>the health of others, or unreasonably disrupts or interferes with normal
>business operations, the employee may direct the partner/handler to remove
>the animal from the premises.
>
>
>
>Barking alone is not a threat nor does a direct threat exist if the
>partner/handler takes prompt effective action to control the animal. Each
>incident must be considered individually and past incidents alone are not
>cause for excluding a service animal. Removal of a service animal may not be
>used as a reason to refuse service to an individual with disabilities.
>
>
>
>Businesses are required by federal law to permit service animals to
>accompany their partner/handler in all areas that other customers or members
>of the public are allowed. If it is unclear whether an animal meets the
>definition of a service animal, an employee may ask the individual only the
>following questions:
>
>.Is the animal required because of a disability?
>
>.What task or service has this animal been trained to do?
>
>If the individual explains that the animal is required because of a
>disability and has been trained to work or perform at least one task, the
>animal meets the definition of a service animal and no further question as
>to the animal's status should be asked. The person should not be asked
>questions about his/her disabilities nor should the person be asked to
>provide any license, certification or ID card for the service animal.
>
>
>
>Any individual who, as a result of his/her disability, believes he/she has
>been discriminated against should contact the Civil Rights Division of the
>U.S. Department of Justice.
>
>
>
>For more information and tips, visit our web site at
>www.lincolncountysheriff.net and on your Smartphone via the "MobilePatrol"
>app and Like us on Facebook at Lincoln County Sheriff's Office - Oregon.
>
>_______________________________________________
>nagdu mailing list
>nagdu at nfbnet.org
>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/dailyahpatt%40yahoo.com
>
>
>