[Oagdu] Summary of new VA rules per guide dogs/Service Dogs

[meandthedog at oberlin.net]

Our hospital in Oberlin even allows people who have pets, to come visit them.
I use my dog at the hospital to visit friends and never have had one quest
asked.
Me and Ms. P.





 Hi all,
> I saw this on another list, so wanted to pass it along to you all as
> well.
> Deanna
>
> Forwarded message:
>
> The general intent is to make going into a VA hospital with a service dog
> as an outpatient or a Visitor very similar to visiting a regular public
> hospital which is governed by the ADA. The rules are not identical but
> they are a lot closer than they used to be.
>
>
> 1) no prenotification will be required for these types of visits.
>
>
> 2) no special certification or equipment will be required for the dog.
>
>
> 3) the same rules will apply regardless of who trained the dog or the type
> of disability the dog is trained to mitigate. So the same rules for a dog
> trained to assist a person who is blind or a person who has PTSD or a
> person who uses a wheelchair.
>
>
> 4) The "under control" Standard will be very similar to the ADA. Voice
> control will be allowed if the person's disability prevents using a leash.
> Dogs who are not under the handler's control can be excluded.
>
>
> 5) The areas and reasons in the hospital where the dog might be excluded
> for day visitors are now pretty much identical to the ADA. In fact they
> directly reference the ADA in a number of places.
>
>
> 6) any breed of dog can be used as a service dog. However, the ADA does
> allow miniature horses under some circumstances, and the VA will not allow
> miniature horses as A service animal. Horses might be allowed for animal
> therapy programs that's an entirely different issue.
>
>
> 7) triad teams are recognized where the person with the disability is not
> the same person who is the dog's handler. The VA is using the term
> "alternate handler" for the situation.
>
>
> 8) just like the ADA, the regulations do not extend to service dogs in
> training or emotional support animals. The new VA regulations use the same
> "work or tasks" language as the ADA and refer further to the ADA for
> examples.
>
>
> The biggest ongoing area of difference between the VA regulations and the
> ADA regulations appears to be for residential treatment programs. This is
> a complicated issue under the ADA as well, but the VA is Pretty much
> saying out front they don't expect there to be any overlap with the fair
> housing act type regulations and they're requiring some things like proof
> of the dog's vaccinations. But they have moved from a 100% denial to a
> consideration on a case-by-case basis if the dog is part of the patient's
> written treatment plan.
>
>
> Anyway, that's just a quick summary, so if you do you have any specific
> questions look for more detailed resources. But it is quite a big change.
> Prior to this, the VA left it up to each facility administrator to
> establish their Service animal policy and there was a lot of variation.
> Some VA facilities allowed only ADI/I GDF graduates, others allowed dogs
> from other trainers but only after pre-registration and individual
> interviews, some facilities had breed restrictions, some facilities had
> diagnosis restrictions.
>
>
> I personally am one of those who have said for a long time that I felt the
> VA rules should be the same as the ADA rules so I am quite pleased to see
> this shift.
>
>
>
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