Explaining Service Dogs & ESAs

Understanding Service Dogs

Most people are familiar with service dogs. We see them from time to time either on-campus or going about our daily activities within the community. The Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA or "ADA" for short) defines a service animal as,

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 for the purposes of this definition. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the individual's disability.

To translate: the federal, state, and municipal governments only recognizes dogs (and on extremely rare occasions miniature horses) as service animals. They are trained to do specific tasks for one individual and one individual only in direct relation to that person's disability. They are allowed in every space where humans are allowed.

Remember: never approach someone's service dog to interact with it like you might with a pet. This could distract them from the job(s) they are performing and potentially endanger either the dog or their human.

The most popular breeds for service dogs are overwhelmingly the Labrador and Golden Retrievers. This is because of their relative trainability but also their "soft mouth" retrieval methods which make them ideally suited for many types of service jobs.

Understanding Emotional Support Animals

Known as an "ESA," this is any kind of (usually domesticated and non-reptilian) animal that provides therapeutic emotional support for individuals with documented disabilities. ESAs are protected by Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) which means they are allowed to live in housing that does not allow animals. This protection does not extend to any other spaces.

At OCU, there is an application process for an ESA that requires specific documentation from both the student making the request and a licensed professional familiar with their case. The documents should answer these questions:

1. What major life functions (moving, eating, sleeping, etc.) are substantially limited by the student's condition(s)?

2. What are the functional limitations of the student's impairment(s)? For example does the student have anxiety that makes it hard to sleep?

3. How will an ESA lessen, relieve, or help one or more of the symptoms of Question 1 or the limitations of Question 2?

Once the application and supporting documents are received, they are reviewed and a determination is made. If the animal qualifies, it is granted access to student housing only and not allowed in any other space.

An animal that does not qualify as a service dog or an ESA is considered by OCU to be a pet. Currently, the University does not allow pets on campus. And even though there are many places online to purchase it, "certification" of neither service dogs nor emotional support animals is required by law and these "certifications" are not considered adequate documentation at OCU.

Questions?

My name is Kara Morrow and I am the Assistant Director for Disability and Access Services (DAS) which is housed in the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Before joining OCU, I worked for the State of Oklahoma interpreting the application of laws and provisions around disability for over 10 years. I have been able to use that experience in my connections with students, and I look forward to engaging with many more of you! If you have any questions (especially about the info below!), please feel free to contact me at kamorrow@okcu.edu, das@okcu.edu or call at (405) 208-5895.