Well duh, which is why I said SERVICE ANIMAL.
That’s the point. Service dogs don’t. Pets might. So how do you ensure your dealing with the former, not the latter?
It is quite obvious from reading the ADA rules that have been already linked to in one form or another that the school is usually allowed to inquire as to what the dog does.
I know some people think the ADA gives them a magic shield that prevents anyone from challenging them at anytime, and to even suggest otherwise gives them the right to instant $$$, but this isn’t supported in law or fact.
To suggest that a school isn’t allowed to inquire NOR document that this occurred is silly and not supportable other than by belief.
I don’t believe the school would be allowed to charge for this.
I don’t believe it is the same as someone going into a store - you are going to be around other students and teachers for a prolonged period of time.
Not all animals are protected under the ADA - but some of those may actually be protected under other laws. Not all parts of the ADA apply to all places.
It is totally reasonable to have a policy in place that says some part of the university/college will decide which animals are ok - and where. A therapy dog would be totally appropriate for an individual living in campus housing, but not in class.
Your average security guard shouldn’t be making these decisions - nor should some guy on the internet be able to just put a “service animal” vest on whatever he wants and say - yep - gotta let me in or I am going to sue you.
Geeze - I can’t believe this is even slightly being compared to stuff like a store. So what if some crazy lad brings her pet lizard into the 7-11 - she is going to be gone in 5 minutes. Students shouldn’t have to sit next to someone for an entire semester cause he likes his dog and doesn’t want to leave him home.
There are dozens and dozens of colleges on the internet that have policies related to service animals - requiring some level of approval. Do people really think all of these have stupid lawyers on their staff?
Get over yourself. Your sense of entitlement is way out of proportion to the practical necessity of the university to determine you have a legitimately required service animal. Given how many people try to make this claim without substantiation just to have their pets around it’s entirely reasonable for the university to require this certification.
Your back seems way up on this way entirely out of proportion to the requirement. Most people with legitimately required service animals are happy to cooperate with these requests. Do you have paperwork certifying your animal is a required service animal for your disability?
There is no such paperwork or certifying agency.
I know it SEEMS like there would be, to prevent people from passing pets off as service animals. But there ISN’T.
Probably. As a general thing, any exception from normal rules is something the school wants to have documented, both action and cause, to cover their asses. Otherwise, there’s nothing to stop other students from accusing the instructor of playing favorites and giving someone preferential treatment. Then too, someone with a disability requiring a service dog would usually benefit from other accommodations, and it can potentially turn into a shitstorm if they allow one accommodation without documentation but not others.
If OP doesn’t register his pet as a service animal, then the college has no way to apply this distinction.
Interestingly what you can inquire is very limited
http://www.anythingpawsable.com/service-animals/how-can-i-tell-if-a-service-dog-is-legitimate/
Leo I don’t understand why you haven’t spoken with anyone at LAGCC or the Deaf Studies program to resolve this. Have you even sent an email to your teacher informing them of what happened?
In answer to the question in the OP, that’s what you should do. Email your teacher, and your program director. Given they work in the ASL-Interpreting / Deaf Studies program they may have some slight familiarity with accommodations. Tell them what happened.
If you wish to pursue a legal claim one avenue is the New York City Commission on Human Rights. It costs you nothing, and they will prosecute on your behalf.
Unless he’s had some accident happen in the last week it does not appear the OP is congenitally deaf.
I didn’t say he was Deaf. To my knowledge he’s taking classes in American Sign Language.
I don’t know this for a fact, but I am assuming it, because I’ve taken ASL classes there, and we talked about it. LAGCC is the most well known and prestigious trainer of ASL interpreters in the NYC area, and offers ASL continuing education classes at an incredibly cheap price.
FYI - A service animal and a therapy animal are not the same thing. Therapy animals enjoy no protections under ADA.
As a data point, the college where I work does register information about students who use assisting devices such as wheelchairs. Do you know that your school does not do this? Because if that’s your issue, it might turn out that they do. Problem solved.
Thanks to some. That’s what cops do: they ask for id or a license. I show it to them, when necessary. The mutt of course has a City-issued license around his neck.
I like to be on as few lists as possible.
Also,
On the other hand, astro would have been spared doing roundabout research on the Internet about my health status and make an assumption in order to make a point about my opinions or thoughts, if only I were on an authorized list about that status, and he could just check.
And, astro, I am deaf.
Final (I hope) decision on the school thing.
I met with a lawyer at the NYC Dept. of Human Rights, who went to her boss, who went to her boss, and the answer came back, as far as I care to understand it.
There is an exception for some institutions, including CUNY, where “regular” presence (although of course I spend less time there than I do at many shops, but law’s law), where they can require a statement on file from a medical professional about the Service Animal’s particular skills, ie, “services.” It is illegal for them to require any knowledge of what the disability is.
Housing is a whole different ball of wax.
So know my new doctor goes on record for something he knows zero about in general (Service Dog skills, capabilities, or training) and knows only from my telling him. He did say in the letter that Buddy is friendly and well behaved, however, from direct and considered professional observation.
So all of us who told you to register were on the money then?
I thought you said in the locked MPSIMS thread that you aren’t deaf.
StG
So you took time during finals to go see a lawyer and your Dr. instead of just registering your dog with the school. Got it.