The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new lands but in seeing with new eyes.”
Disability Support Services (DSS), CSU, Chico
Service Animals
Policy
The definition of a service animal in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has two key components. First, a service animal is “any animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including but not limited to, guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals who are hearing impaired to intruders or pulling a wheelchair, or fetching dropped items.” Second, a service animal must be trained to behave properly in places of public accommodation. Inappropriate behavior that disrupts the normal course of business or threatens the health or safety of others is automatic grounds for excluding the team from the premises. If an animal meets this definition, it is considered a service animal regardless of whether or not it has been verified by a training program.
Service animals must be permitted to accompany a person with a disability everywhere on campus or off campus as the activity (internship, field work) pertains to the curriculum.
Requirements of service animals and their handlers:
- Dogs must be licensed and vaccinated in accordance with county* regulations.
- Other types of animals must have vaccinations appropriate for that type of animal.
- Animals must be in good health.
- Animals must be on a leash or harness at all times.
- The handler must be in full control of the animal at all times.
* Animals can be licensed by students' county of residence.
SInce CSU, Chico prohibits animals on campus, students who use a service animal are encouraged to sign the Service Animal agreement (PDF, 52k) available at Disability Support Services, and provide a DSS accommodation form to instructors.
Companion or therapy animals
Companion or therapy animals are considered to be animals that have reliable, predictable behavior and are selected to visit with people with disabilities or people who are elderly as a therapy tool or for companionship. A companion or therapy animal may be an integral part of a person’s life, but does not accompany a person with a disability all the time. Thus, laws pertaining to service animals do not pertain to therapy or companion animals.
References:
Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990
Rehabilitation Act, Section 504