Category Archives: Health

New ADA Service Animal Definition

I’ve been using a service dog for over 13 years. During this time, I’ve run into some unhappy situations regarding access and personal privacy. Recently, the DOJ released revised ADA Title II and III regulations, which included a new definition of a service animal that I was elated to see. These regulations should make it easier for businesses to discern whether or not an animal entering with a handler is a service animal and make it easier for organizations and people with disabilities to appropriately train service animals. For example, the regulations answer questions such as

  • Which species can work as service animals?
  • What types of disabilities do service animals help?
  • What types of tasks should a service animal be trained to perform?
  • What behavior is appropriate and inappropriate for a service animal?
  • What questions area businesses permitted to ask a person with a disability who works with a service animal?
  • Are emotional support or comfort animals permitted in public settings under the ADA

as well as many other questions.

To help everyone understand the changes, I’ve included the ADA’s section-by-section analysis and response to public comments. I plan to post my own comments about the changes in the coming weeks. Overall, I was happy with what was implemented but there are still areas where I wish they would have been more stringent.

I urge anyone who works with a service animal, has a family member or friend who works with a service animal, is training a service animal or runs a business to take the time to read both the changes in the regulations and the commentary in their entirety.

For complete information on these revised regulations, see ADA Regs 2010. All sections regarding services animals from the ADA Regs 2010 follow.

Homemade Bouillon Powder

Bouillon is a staple in most people’s pantry. Because not everyone has the time to make our own stocks or the pantry space to hold the aseptic containers, many turn to bouillon cubes and powders. Most of these contain one of more of the following “flavor enhancers”: monosodium glutamate, hydrolyzed vegetable proteins, autolyzed yeast, hydrolyzed [...]

Obama vs. Clinton

Given that the policy differences between these two candidates are small, what is the real difference between them? Lawrence Lessig takes a look. Click To Play Character. Moral Courage: principle vs. expediency Integrity. Political Indecency: swiftboating Action. Real Change: Who will inspire & lead us towards peace?

Yummy Brownies

A big thank you GreenFeet.com! I recently ordered a couple of 2L Frigoverre pitchers and one of the lids was defective. Normally, stores have you send the object back, making you responsible for the return shipping but not GreenFeet.com! They told me to keep the pitcher and are sending me a new one. It will [...]

Linum usitatissimum: The Very Common Flax

Flax has been cultivated for its fiber and seeds since 3000 BCE. Charlemagne passed laws requiring its consumption because it was considered to be so healthy. And with good reason, too, it turns out. Flax contains high levels of lignans and omega-3 fatty acids, the health benefits of which include: Reducing inflammation in illnesses such [...]