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Lions, Tigers, and Bears – OH MY! Service and Assistance Animals in the Job Corps Program

Objectives Identify the differences between a “service” animal and an “assistance” animalArticulate the 2 inquiries that can be made to determine if an animal qualifies as a “service” animal List several tasks that a service animal may perform for a person with a disabilityIdentify the related policy resources for completing the interactive reasonable accommodation processDescribe how center staff can prepare for the arrival of a service/assistance animal2

3 Has your center ever had a service and/or assistance animal?Yes or No?

Service Animals 4

Question What are service animals? 5

Answer A service animal is any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, are not service animals. Service Animals Defined 6

Question What are some tasks that a service animal may perform for a person with a disability? 7

Answer Service Animals Examples of Tasks - Assisting 8 Pulling a person’s wheelchair Fetching or picking up an item for a person Assisting a person who is blind or has low vision with navigation and other tasks by providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability to a person with a mobility disability

Answer Service Animals Examples of Tasks - Alerting 9 Alerting a person who is deaf or hard of hearing to the presence of people or sounds (e.g., when there is a knock at the door) Alerting a person during a seizure (e.g., stand guard over the person during a seizure, go for help, or predict a seizure and warn the person in advance to sit down or move to a safe place)

Service Dog Seizure Disorder10

Service Dog Diabetes11

Answer Service Animal Examples of Tasks - Other 12 Interrupting for a person with psychiatric or neurological disorders (e.g., interrupting self-mutilation for people with dissociative identity disorders) Reminding a person with a psychiatric disability to take medicine or retrieving medicine Providing safety checks, or room searches, or turning on lights for a person with post-traumatic stress disorder

Service Dog PTSD13

Question Must a service animal wear a vest or some other form of identification to show that they are a service dog? 14

Answer Service dog handlers (the person using the service dog are not required to show any type of identification. Service dogs are also not required to wear a vest. Many handlers, however, do use vests to show the general public that the dog is working and should not be petted or distracted. Service Animal Registration/Identification 15

Question Can a service animal be denied access to the center? 16

Answer A center cannot deny an individual with a service animal access to the center. Such access is legally mandated. Service Animals Access to Job Corps 17

Question What documentation can be requested related to a service animal? 18

Answer A Disability Coordinator (DC) must not ask about the nature or extent of a person’s disability, but may make two inquiries to determine whether an animal qualifies as a service animal: Is the animal required because of a disability? What work or task has the animal been trained to perform? Service Animal Documentation 19

Question Who is responsible for the care and supervision of the service animal? 20

Answer The student is responsible for the care or supervision of the service animal. Service Animal Care Responsibility 21

Question What expectations can the center have for the service animal? 22

Answer The center can expect that the service animal: is currently vaccinated against rabies is within the student’s control at all times is housebroken Service Animals Expectations 23

Question Can a student’s service animal accompany the student in all areas of the center? 24

Answer A student with a service animal must be permitted to be accompanied by his/her service animal in all areas of the center where students are allowed to go. Service Animals Access to Center Facilities 25

26 Allergies or fear of dogs are valid reasons for denying access to a student using a service animal…Yes or No?

Question What if other students or center staff are allergic to or fearful of the service animal? 27

Answer Allergies and fear of dogs are not valid reasons for denying access to a student using a service animal. Allergies to Service Animal 28

Allergies (cont.)29 Suggestions for addressing issues related to allergies include: Try to keep the animal and staff/students who are allergic in different areas of the center and establish different paths of travel for each student Provide the student with a private roomUse a portable air purifier and add HEPA filters to existing ventilation system Avoid use of common areas at the same time

Question How can center staff make sure they are prepared for the arrival of a service animal? 30

Answer A center cannot deny an individual with a service animal access to Job Corps as such access is legally mandated . A DC can contact the student prior to his/her arrival on center to discuss the Job Corps environment and related behavior expectations of the animal ensure s/he is comfortable with the care and supervision of the animal discuss any accommodations that will be needed to allow the student to attend to these necessary tasks. Preparing for the Arrival of a Service Animal 31

Question When may a service animal be excluded? 32

Answer A service animal may no longer be allowed if the animal: is out of control and the student does not take effective action to control it; or is not housebroken. In the event that the service animal is excluded, the student who uses the animal should be allowed to remain in Job Corps and may suggest alternative accommodations in lieu of the excluded animal. Service Animal Exclusions 33

Question Generally, may an individual bring his/her service animal into public establishments (e.g., restaurants, medical offices, etc.)? 34

Answer Yes, service animals are permitted to accompany their owners into public places. Service Animals in Public Places 35

Question May an individual have his or her service animal live or stay with him or her in establishments even if there is a “no pet/animal” policy? 36

Answer Yes, individuals are permitted to have their service animal stay or live with them even in “no pet policy” locations. Service Animals in “No Pet Policy” Locations 37

Assistance Animals 38

Question What are assistance animals? 39

Answer Assistance animals provide companionship, relieve loneliness, and sometimes help with depression and certain phobias, but do not have training to perform specific tasks that assist people with disabilities. Consequently, these animals do not meet the definition of service animal. “Assistance animals” is a term that includes “emotional support” or “comfort” animals. Assistance Animals Defined 40

Question Does Job Corps allow assistance animals? 41

Answer Job Corps will consider assistance animals as a reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis (see Appendix 605). Consideration will be given to the specific needs and request of the individual with the disability the type of animal the type of assistance it provides Are Assistance Animals Allowed in Job Corps? 42

Question What documentation can be requested related to an assistance animal? 43

Answer If the disability is not obvious and/or the reason the animal is needed is not clear, then documentation may be required to establish the existence of a disability the manner in which the animal alleviates one or more symptoms or effects of the disability the necessity of the animal in order for the student to participate in Job Corps Documentation Needed for Assistance Animal 44 It will not be enough for the student to present a prescription or a letter from their doctor summarily stating that they require the animal while in Job Corps.

Question Who is responsible for the care and supervision of the assistance animal? 45

Answer The student is responsible for the care and supervision of the assistance animal. Responsibility and Care/Supervision of the Assistance Animal 46

Question What expectations can the center have for the assistance animal? 47

Answer The center can expect that the assistance animal: is currently vaccinated against rabies, when appropriate is within the student’s control at all times (e.g., harness, leash, carrier) and that the animal’s behavior is appropriate is housebroken Expectations for an Assistance Animal 48

Question What should the RAC consider when reviewing a request for an assistance animal? 49

Answer During the RAC, discuss: behavior expectations the details of how the assistance animal will be cared for and monitored any accommodations that will be needed to allow the student to attend to these necessary tasks other specific accommodations needed by the student Reviewing a Request for an Assistance Animal 50

Answer Document the RAC meeting Create an accommodation plan for the student Consider developing a plan of what was agreed to as far as care, behavior, and monitoring related to the animal Documenting the RA Process 51

Question Can a center recommend the denial of a request for an assistance animal? 52

Answer Each request should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The process of recommending denial of an accommodation request is outlined in Appendix 605 . The DCs should contact their Regional Disability Coordinator if considering recommending the denial of a request for an assistance animal. Recommending Denial of an Assistance Animal 53

Question What if other students or center staff are allergic to or fearful of the assistance animal and when can assistance animals be excluded? Allergies and Exclusions of an Assistance Animal 54

Answer Allergies and fear of dogs are not valid reasons for denying access to a student using an assistance animal in the same manner it was not valid for a service animal. Suggestions for addressing issues related to allergies are the same as those previously discussed in relation to service animals. Assistance animals may be excluded under certain circumstances, again, in the same manner as a service animal. (see Exclusions of Service Animals) Allergies and Exclusions of an Assistance Animal 55

Question Generally, may an individual bring an assistance animal into public establishments (e.g., restaurants, medical offices, etc.)? 56

Answer Assistance Animals in Public Places 57 No, owners of public establishments do not have to permit entrance to an assistance animal.

Assistance Animal: Job Corps Scenario 58 Jeff & Kai

Jeff & Kai Jeff is a 19-yr-old applicant with anxiety disorder. Jeff is requesting to bring his assistance cat, Kai, to center.Jeff reports that Kai helps to relieve his anxiety.Jeff’s Chronic Care Management Plan (CCMP) indicates that he needs to take breaks throughout the day, and will need to meet with the CMHC twice a month.He has a letter from his doctor stating his support for the assistance animal for Jeff. 59

Jeff & Kai What information do you need to know to make a decision regarding allowing the assistance animal to come with the student to the center? Any specific documentation?How will the animal be cared for and monitored?What are the behavior expectations?Besides the assistance animal, what else do you need to consider?General accommodations related to Jeff’s anxiety. Examples may include:Breaks (can use anxiety reducing techniques taught by CMHC, etc.) Modified schedule (to see the CMHC) or the use of a special pass to Wellness60

Jeff & Kai What should the RAC consider if others on center have severe allergies to cats? Try and accommodate both the student who requires the cat and the student who is allergic. Adjust schedules for classes, lunchesRoom in dorms not near each otherAir purifiers/HEPA filters Student with cat wears clothes not stored in roomOTC allergy meds if student willingIt may require that an accommodation plan is developed for those that have severe allergies to the assistance animal(s). 61

Service Animal: Job Corps Scenario 62 Martina & Beau

Martina & Beau Martina is a 26 year old applicant.She has diabetes and a muscle disorder that causes her to have difficulty in grasping objects.Martina has a service animal, Beau. Beau alerts Martina to when her blood sugar levels move above or below normal ranges She wants to complete an office administration trade. 63 Martina & Beau

What should be the next step(s) the center takes?The center may only ask 2 questions related to a service dog!Is the animal required because of a disability? What work or task has the animal been trained to perform?Martina informed the center that Beau was a service dog and that he alerted her to changes in her blood sugar levels. So, now what is the next step?If Martina’s health care needs can be met on center, then the center must enroll her and allow Beau to be with her on center. 64Martina & Beau

Poll Responses Review Let’s see what we have learned!65

Best practices:Note: These practices are not are part of making decisions related to a service dog. These are preparatory practices before the dog’s arrival. Discuss the Job Corps environment and related behavior expectations of the animal.Ensure the student is comfortable with the care and supervision of the animal.Discuss any accommodations that will be needed to allow the student to attend to these necessary tasks.Train students and staff on appropriate behavior regarding interaction with a service dog. 66

Resources 67

Information Notice 17-05: Service Animals and Assistance Animalshttps://supportservices.jobcorps.gov/disability/Pages/default.aspx 68

The following resources may be helpful in teaching staff/students how to interact appropriately with a service animal. Service Animal Resources Entity Resource Guide Dog Foundation Etiquette ad guide dog information, this page also links to other resources including resources for students, teachers and researchers, brochures, newsletters and a video are available. https://www.guidedog.org/ Anything Pawsable Online magazine that provides resources created by the Service Dog community Provides dog news, disability news, events, training tips, interviews and personal stories http://www.anythingpawsable.com/aboutus/ 69

Job Corps Disability Website https://supportservices.jobcorps.gov/disability/Pages/default 70

Regional Disability Coordinators https://supportservices.jobcorps.gov/disability/Pages/default 71 Boston Kristen PhilbrookPhilbrook.Kristen@jobcorps.org Philadelphia Lydia KidderKidder.Lydia@jobcorps.org Atlanta and San Francisco Stephanie Karras Karras.Stephanie@jobcorps.org Dallas Alyssa Purificacion Olivas Purificacion.Alyssa@jobcorps.org Chicago Sharon Hong Hong.Sharon@jobcorps.org