People with Disabilities & SD Awareness

This subject of certifying ones service animal has been a contriversal topic for many years now and still going strong today. Unfortunately many companies are taking advantage of this issue by scamming people with disabilities, especially those that are just learning about service animals and their rights and responsibilities of being partnered with one.

Unfortunately some of these companies are now including Service Animals In Training! The big problem with that is that under the ADA when it was written in 1990 and is clarified in the new Amendment Act 2009; Service Animals in Training are NOT covered under such Act.

Do NOT be stooped by these scam artist with their slick wording to just get your money for something that is unlawful to demand! Do NOT help the businesses by showing these papers for what will happen the next time you go there and forgot to take such papers or to those that don't have such. All these companies are doing is muddling up the waters per say making it more confusing and sending the wrong message out. Just adding more to the Stress Level of just being Independent and having the same Civil Rights as others.

It is time to get the facts straight about such topic (ie Certification)!

Dept. Of Justice (Questionare for Business) 2008!

2. Q: What is a service animal?

A: The ADA defines a service animal as any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability. If they meet this definition, animals are considered service animals under the ADA regardless of whether they have been licensed or certified by a state or local government.

Americans with Disabilities Act Amendment Act 2009 (ADAAA):

Definition of Service Animal:
"The term service animal includes individually trained animals that do work or perform tasks for the benefit of individuals with disabilities, including psychiatric, cognitive, and mental disabilities. This language simply clarifies the Department’s longstanding position and is not a new position."

The Department has always required that service animals be individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, but has never imposed any type of formal training requirements or certification process. While some groups have urged the Department to modify this position, the Department does not believe such a modification would serve the array of individuals with disabilities who use service animals."

Resource: Definition and Certification Clause

However people who has Emotional Support Animals or Theraputic pets must show documents and these documents are not Certification Papers. Therefore still do not be dragged into purchasing such papers, why help such a scam. The documents are from Medical Professionals Only! Emotional Support Animals or Theraputic Pets are NOT Service Animals by the definition of the ADA and clarification under the ADAAA 2009 therefore these documents will not gain you access to public businesses such as restaurants, hotels, stores anyway. They only cover you to have an ESA or Theraputic Pet under the Fair Housing Act and the Department of Transportation (Air Carrier Act) but NOT under the ADA or the ADAAA!

Americans with Disabilities Act Admendment Act 2009:

New regulatory text in § 36.104 to formalize its position on emotional support/comfort animals, which is that "animals whose sole function is to provide emotional support, comfort, therapy, companionship, therapeutic benefits, or promote emotional well-being are not service animals." The Department wishes to state, however, that the exclusion of emotional support animals from ADA coverage does not mean that individuals with psychiatric, cognitive, or mental disabilities cannot use service animals.

Resource: Emotional Support Animal Clause