Ada Service Dog Vs Emotional Support

7 in the case of a service animal or an emotional support animal if the disability is not obvious and or the reason the animal is needed is not clear an employer may request.

Ada service dog vs emotional support.

The ada defines a service animal as a dog that is individually trained to perform tasks or do work for the benefit of a person with a disability. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ada. And while it requires accommodating a true service animal defined as any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability the americans with disabilities act ada expressly excludes emotional support dogs from the protections granted in title iii which regulates public. Under title ii and title iii of the americans with disabilities act service dogs are defined as dogs that are trained.

Emotional support animals are simply that providing support for those in need. The ada makes a distinction between psychiatric service animals and emotional support animals. This definition does not affect or limit the broader definition of assistance animal under the fair housing act or the broader definition of service animal under the air carrier access act. While emotional support animals are used as part of some medical treatment plans they are not considered service animals under the americans with disabilities act ada.

In some cases a miniature horse may also qualify as a service animal under the ada the tasks or work the animal does must be directly related to the person s disability. Emotional support animals also called therapy or comfort animals have not been trained to perform work or tasks. Under title iii of the federal americans with disabilities act ada and virtually all state laws a service animal is an animal that has been trained to perform work or tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability. If the dog has been trained to sense that an anxiety attack is about to happen and take a specific action to help avoid the attack or lessen its impact that would qualify as a service animal.

The equal employment opportunity commission eeoc which enforces the employment provisions of the ada title i does not have a specific regulation on service animals. Emotional support animal vs.