The service animal must be able to accompany the person with a disability to all areas of the facility where guests are normally permitted to stay. A person accompanied by a service animal cannot be separated from other customers. Please read our Michigan Service Animal FAQs below before representing or registering an animal as a service animal in Michigan. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a service animal as any dog* that has been individually trained to provide assistance to a person with a disability. An animal that meets this description is considered a service animal for ADA purposes, regardless of whether the animal is certified by a specific organization or bears identification markers. Some state and local laws also define service animals more broadly than the ADA. Information on these laws can be obtained from the competent Office of the Prosecutor General. The ADA defines a service animal as any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal that has been individually trained to assist a person with a disability. If they meet this definition, animals are considered service animals for ADA purposes, regardless of whether they have been authorized or certified by a state or local government. One. In general, yes. Service animals must be allowed in patients` rooms and everywhere else in the hospital, the public and patients are allowed to go.

They cannot be excluded on the grounds that staff can provide the same services. One. In general, yes. Some people with disabilities may use more than one service animal to perform different tasks. For example, a person with a visual impairment and seizure disorder may use a service animal to help find a trail and another that is trained as a seizure warning dog. Other people may need two service animals for the same task, such as one person who needs two dogs to support them stably while walking. The staff can ask both admissible questions (see question 7) for each dog. If both dogs can be accommodated, both should be allowed. However, in some circumstances, it may not be possible to accommodate more than one service animal. For example, in a small, crowded restaurant, only one dog can fit under the table. The only other place for the second dog would be in the hallway, which would block the space between the tables. In this case, the staff may request that one of the dogs be left outside.

You can ask if the animal is a service animal and inquire about the tasks for which the service animal has been trained. However, you may not need identification documents for the animal or ask about the person`s disability. One. In situations where it is not obvious that the dog is a service animal, staff can only ask two specific questions: (1) Is the dog a service animal because of a disability? and (2) for what job or task was the dog trained? Staff cannot request documentation for the dog, require the dog to demonstrate its task, or inquire about the nature of the person`s disability. A. No. Municipalities that prohibit certain breeds of dogs must make an exception for a service animal of a prohibited breed, unless the dog poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others. Under the ADA`s “direct threat” provisions, local jurisdictions must decide on a case-by-case basis whether a particular service animal can be excluded based on the actual behavior or background of that particular animal, but they cannot exclude a service animal because of fears or generalizations about how an animal or breed might behave. It is important to note that racial restrictions vary considerably from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.

In fact, some jurisdictions do not have racial restrictions. The handler is responsible for the care and supervision of the service animal. If a service animal behaves in an unacceptable manner and the person with a disability does not control the animal, a business or other facility is not required to allow the animal onto its premises. Uncontrolled barking, jumping on other people or running away from the handler are examples of unacceptable behaviour for a service animal. A company has the right to deny access to a dog that interferes with its activities. For example, a service dog that barks repeatedly and interferes with the enjoyment of another movie customer may be asked to leave the room. Businesses, public programs and transportation service providers may exclude a service animal if the animal`s behaviour poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others. If a service animal growls at other customers in a grocery store, the handler may be asked to remove the animal.

One. The ADA does not require affected companies to change their policies, practices, or procedures if doing so would “materially change” the nature of the goods, services, programs, or activities made available to the public. Nor does it override legitimate security requirements. If the approval of service animals fundamentally changes the nature of a service or program, service animals may be prohibited. If a particular service animal is out of control and the handler does not take effective measures to control it, or if it is not broken, that animal may be excluded. A. No. Under the ADA, the dog must already be trained before it can be taken to public places. However, some national or local laws apply to animals that are still in training. ADA Title II and Section 504 Complaints – The Department of Education`s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) applies ADA Title II and Section 504 as they apply to education.

Those who have been denied access because of a service animal can file a complaint with the OCR or file a private lawsuit in federal court. An OCR complaint must be filed within 180 calendar days of the date of the alleged discrimination, unless the deadline for submission is extended for cause.