Communicable Disease and Occupational Exposure to Blood- borne Pathogens�����������������������������������������������������������������������������

Responsibilities of the Person with a Disability

The care and supervision of a Service Animal or an Animal as an Accommodation is the responsibility of the person with a disability who is using the animal’s services� This individual must ensure the animal is in good health, is current on required immunizations, and is licensed in accordance with Buncombe County and Asheville City regulations� The burden of proof of licensure and immunizations remains with the person with a disability� Dogs must wear a rabies tab at all times� (NC Rabies Law- NCGS� §130A-185) The Service Animal or Animal as an Accommodation must be under the control of the person with a disability or handler at all times� A Service Animal or Animal as an Accommodation must be restrained by a leash or other appropriate device that does not exceed six (6) feet in length or otherwise be under the control of the person with a disability if the leash or tether will interfere with the ability of the Service Animal to perform required tasks� Persons with a disability who have a Service Animal are encouraged, but not required, to contact Support Services in the K� Ray Bailey Student Services Center to register as a student requesting accommodations� Individuals registering with this office will be provided with information about other accommodations for which the individual may be eligible� Individuals with Service Animals on other campus sites may contact Support Services via phone at 828-398-7581 or email supportservices@abtech�edu� Persons with a disability requiring an Animal as an Accommodation are required to contact Support Services in the K� Ray Bailey Student Services Center to determine specific accommodations for which the individual may be eligible prior to being permitted to bring an animal to campus� Individuals approved for accommodations which include an animal will receive a letter of accommodation that must be kept with the animal at all times and must be provided to any campus official upon request�

Responsibilities of the College Community

If the need for a Service Animal is clear, individuals may not question the presence of the animal on campus� If the need for a Service Animal is not apparent, members of the campus community are permitted to ask the individual two questions: 1� Is the animal required because of a disability? 2� What work or task(s) has the animal been individually trained to perform? At no point may campus community members require a Service Animal to demonstrate the tasks for which they have been trained nor may they inquire as to the nature of the individual’s disability� If an individual indicates the animal is an Animal as an Accommodation (oftentimes referred to as an Emotional Support (“Comfort”) Animal in popular vernacular), the letter of accommodation must be provided to the requesting college official� If the letter of accommodation is not in the possession of the individual, the college official should contact Support Services for verification of accommodation or the animal may be removed from campus� Individuals with medical issues who may be impacted by the presence of a Service Animal or an Animal as an Accommodation should communicate with Support Services or Human Resources if they have a concern about exposure to said animal� The individual with the concern will be asked to provide medical documentation that identifies a disability and the need for a reasonable accommodation�

Consequences for Violations

The College has the authority to remove a Service Animal or Animal as an Accommodation from its facilities or properties if the animal becomes unruly or disruptive, unclean and/or unhealthy to the extent that the animal’s behavior or condition poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others or otherwise causes a fundamental alteration in the College’s services, programs, or activities� The person with a disability is responsible for the costs of repair to any damage to College property caused by the service animal�

It is a Class 3 misdemeanor “to disguise an animal as a service animal or service animal in training” (N�C�G�S� § 168-4�5)� In other words, it is a crime under North Carolina law to attempt to obtain access for an animal under the false pretense that it is a service animal� In addition, it is a violation of the Asheville Animal Ordinance to conceal any animal for the purpose of evading any federal, state or local law� Additionally, any student who violates any portion of this procedure is subject to discipline under the Student Code of Conduct in addition to any applicable federal, state, or local laws�

A-B Tech shall not exclude individuals with communicable diseases unless a determination is made that the individual presents a health risk to himself or others� It is the policy of the College to consider the educational or employment status of those with a communicable disease on an individual basis based on the program of study or work assignment� It is the policy of the College to comply with federal regulations and state statutes regarding blood-borne pathogens as set forth in the Federal Register, 29 CFR� § 1910�1030, and the North Carolina Administrative Code, 10A NCAC 41A, by attempting to limit/prevent occupational exposure of employees