Blue Dog's Blog

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.