1.08 Service Animals

Scope

This policy applies to faculty, teachers, staff, students, and guests in all offices and divisions of Gallaudet University.

Policy

Gallaudet University has made numerous accommodations and implemented many technological enhancements to facilitate a fully accessible, barrier-free environment. Gallaudet will, upon disclosure, attempt to make other reasonable accommodations if needed. More detailed information about the University's Reasonable Accommodation Policy (#1,10) can be found in the Administration and Operations Manual.

The University permits service animals, which are individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability, on campus and in its public facilities where the University community and members of the public are normally allowed, including food service areas. Long-term users of service animals (faculty, teachers, staff and students) are required to formally register the animal with the Office for Students with Disabilities (students) or Executive Director, Facilities (faculty, teachers and staff). Owners will be required to supply evidence of current vaccination(s) common for the type of animal. Evidence that an animal is an individually trained service animal may be requested. The University requests, but does not require, the owners to obtain a University ID card for the service animal. Short-term visitors (1 - 7 days) with service animals are free to bring a service animal on campus without formally registering the animal.

Service animals must be kept under control at all times and on a leash in public areas (exceptions to the leash requirement would be in those instances where the animal must perform a task requiring it to travel beyond the length of the restraint, or the person is unable to maintain the animal on a leash due to a disability). The owner is responsible for ensuring the immediate clean-up and the proper disposal of all animal waste. Individuals with disabilities who cannot physically clean up after their own service animal need to make the necessary arrangements for assistance. The University is not responsible for these services. The owner is responsible for protecting University property from damage by the service animal, and any damage beyond typical use will be the financial responsibility of the owner. A service animal may be excluded from the campus if the animal poses a direct threat to the health and/or safety of others, the service animal is out of control and the service animal's owner does not take effective action to control it, or the conduct of the service animal interferes with the educational process. Service animals that are ill should not be taken into public areas. Service animals are not permitted in private residences, residence hall rooms, or apartments without the permission of the occupant(s).

Students who plan to reside on campus with their service animal need to make the necessary arrangements with Campus Life and the Office of Students with Disabilities at least 30 days before prospective housing will be needed for the service animal. Service animals must be on a leash at all times when outside of a residential room (see exceptions to leash requirement above).

Employees who are required to live on campus and who live in specially designated housing may be permitted to keep personal pets with the approval of their administrative officer. Owners are responsible for the care and conduct of the animal. All other personal pets (i.e. animals other than service animals) are not permitted on campus.

The University follows all applicable laws and regulations to protect the health and safety of the campus community and those animals which it permits on campus. Any individual who believes he/she is denied access to buildings or programs because of their service animals should immediately inform the Director of Equal Opportunity Programs or the appropriate senior administrator or administrative officer.

Any conflicts between owners/users and others on campus should be referred to the Department of Public Safety or the Director of Equal Opportunity Programs. Anyone in violation of this policy may be subject to disciplinary action.