Service Animal Accommodation Requests
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), service animals that are trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability are considered reasonable accommodations. Service animals are typically dogs, but miniature horses may also be covered if conducive to the work environment. Professional training is not necessary, but the service animals must be taught to perform a specific task when assistance is needed. For this reason, emotional service or companion animals are not covered as a reasonable accommodation under the ADA. Accommodation requests for service animals can be confusing for employers; however, service animal requests should be treated as would any other accommodation. A few helpful tips include: consider alternative options, request appropriate documentation, set specific guidelines, and establish a uniform policy. Learn more here.