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WHAT IS AN ASSISTANCE ANIMAL? (ESA & PSD)
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, "An assistance animal is an animal that works, provides assistance, or performs tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability, or that provides emotional support that alleviates one or more identified effects of a person’s disability. An assistance animal is not a pet."
Source: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/assistance_animals
OBLIGATIONS OF PROPERTY MANAGERS
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Individuals with a disability may request to keep an assistance animal as a reasonable accommodation to a housing provider’s pet restrictions.
Housing providers cannot refuse to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices, or services when such accommodations may be necessary to afford a person with a disability the equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling.
The Fair Housing Act requires a housing provider to allow a reasonable accommodation involving an assistance animal in situations that meet all the following conditions:
A request was made to the housing provider by or for a person with a disability
The request was supported by reliable disability-related information, if the disability and the disability-related need for the animal were not apparent and the housing provider requested such information, and
The housing provider has not demonstrated that:
Granting the request would impose an undue financial and administrative burden on the housing provider
The request would fundamentally alter the essential nature of the housing provider’s operations
The specific assistance animal in question would pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others despite any other reasonable accommodations that could eliminate or reduce the threat
The request would not result in significant physical damage to the property of others despite any other reasonable accommodations that could eliminate or reduce the physical damage
Examples
A reasonable accommodation request for an assistance animal may include, for example:
A request to live with an assistance animal at a property where a housing provider has a no-pets policy or
A request to waive a pet deposit, fee, or other rule as to an assistance animal.
Filing a Complaint
If you believe you have been unlawfully denied a reasonable accommodation for an assistance animal or have otherwise experienced discrimination in housing, you can file a complaint with FHEO.
PSYCHIATRIC SERVICE DOGS
According to the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, "The ADA [Americans with Disabilities Act 1990;2008] explains what businesses and state/local governments must do to make sure that they do not discriminate against a member of the public with a disability who uses a service animal.
Generally, businesses and non-profits that are open to the public as well as state/local governments must allow service animals to go most places where the public can go. This is true even if they have a “no pets” policy.
Click to Download Service Dog Reference Packet
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ESA & PSD
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, "If the dog’s mere presence provides comfort, it is not a service animal under the ADA. But if the dog is trained to perform a task related to a person’s disability, it is a service animal under the ADA. For example, 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, the dog is a service animal."
EXAMPLES OF PSYCHIATRIC SERVICE DOG TASKS
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, a service dog must be trained to perform at least one task that helps you with your disability. YOU CAN BE THE TRAINER or you hire a dog trainer to assist. Examples of training tasks include, but are not limited to the following list:
Depression/Bipolar
Provide Medication Reminders
Alert Handler to Episodes of Rage or Strong Emotion
Wake up handler each morning
Recognize mood disruption and provide tactile stimulation
Prompt handler to exercise, eat, and bathe
Stabilize Handler’s Routine
Retrieve self-care kit
Anxiety/Social Stress
Stabilize Handler’s Routine
Recognize signs of anxiety and respond with tactile stimulation
Prompt handler to exercise and eat
Sit, stand, and walk next to handler during social interactions
Retrieve self-care kit
Panic
Lay Across Handler to Provide Deep Pressure Therapy During Panic Attacks
Bark to gain attention of others
Retrieve self-care kit
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD
Provide Tactile Grounding Via Nuzzling or Licking
Apply Gentle Teeth Pressure to Forearm to Interrupt Dissociative Episode
Wake Up Handler Having Nightmares
Interrupt Flashbacks
Search House
Stabilize Handler’s Routine
Retrieve Psychiatric Self-Care Kit
OCD/Depression/Borderline
Interrupt Repetitive Self Harm, picking, checking, counting
Sit next to or on the lap of the handler to provide a distraction
Retrieve Self Care Kit
Psychotic/thought disorders
Provide “Reality Check” so Handler Can Verify Hallucinations Aren’t Present
ADD/ADHD
Sit on handlers feet, lap, or lean to calm restless limbs
Stay next to handler to provide a distraction during long periods of sitting, working, standing
Bereavement
Recognize mood disruption and respond with tactile stimulation
Stabilize Handler’s Routine
PSYCHIATRIC SERVICE DOG SELF-CARE KIT
We recommend having a kit of useful items to assist you in the event of elevated anxiety, mood disruption, panic attacks, and other major exacerbation of your symptoms. We recommend you train your service dog to recognize signs of distress and retrieve your kit. Items in your kit could include the following, but are not limited to these items. Try new things in your kit and be creative.
Depression/Bipolar
Safety plan (3x5 index card)
Treatment goal (3x5 index card)
List of coping strategies (3x5 index card)
Coloring book/journal
Personal encouragement reminders
Favorite photo
Favorite snack/drink
Medication
Phone/tablet
Headphones
Etc.
Anxiety/Social Stress
Treatment goal
List of coping strategies
Coloring book/journal
Phone/tablet
Headphones
Favorite candle with lighter
Cologne, perfume, oil, and/or scented lotion
Favorite snack, gum, candy
Water
Medication
Massage roller/ball
Book, brain games, puzzles
Panic
Treatment goal
Balloons to breathe in/out in
Stethoscope to listen to your breathing
Phone/tablet
Headphones
Water
Medication
Heat pad or cold pack
Book, brain games, puzzles
Weighted lap/shoulder blanket
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD
Treatment goal
Balloons to breathe in/out
Phone/tablet
Headphones
Medication
Water
Favorite candle with lighter
Cologne, perfume, oil, and/or scented lotion
Favorite snack, gum, candy
Heat pad or cold/pack
Coloring book and/or journal
Weighted lap/shoulder blanket
OCD/Depression/Borderline
Treatment goal
Phone/tablet
Headphones
Book, brain games, puzzles
Medication
Water
Psychotic/thought disorders
Treatment goal
List of coping skills
Phone/tablet
Headphones
Medication
Water
ADD/ADHD
Fidget toys
Medication
Water
Bereavement
Phone/tablet
Headphones
Coloring book and/or journal
Favorite candle with lighter
Weighted lap/shoulder blanket
Discuss your Psychiatric Self-Care Kit with your Licensed Mental Health Provider or contact us for more information info@challenger-point.com
AIR TRAVEL - FLYING WITH A PSYCHIATRIC SERVICE DOG
Unfortunately, no airlines accommodate Emotional Support Animals; however, all airlines are required by the Air Carrier Access Act to evaluate and consider accommodating individuals with disabilities and trained psychiatric service dogs. Read more about flying with a PSD here (CLICK - AIR CARRIER ACCESS ACT)
PSYCHIATRIC SERVICE DOG FAQ - AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
Please read the following frequently asked questions about psychiatric service dogs from the ADA official website. Please contact the Practice with any questions, comments, or concerns. We're happy to help you navigate this process!