[Artemisia] service animals at SCA events

[Rebecca Mikkelsen]

Thank you, Gefjon, for bringing this information to our attention.  I don't think it is off-topic for this list.  There are many people in the SCA who like to bring their animals to events, and many of those animals do not meet these new guidelines.

Rebecca

> Interesting information:  This change in the ADA went into effect Tuesday,
> March 15th 2011 (first change in something like 20 yrs!)
> 
> New defination to "service animals":  (from the ADA gov. fact sheet)
> "Service Animals. The rule defines "service animal" as a dog that has been
> individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an
> individual with a disability. The rule states that other animals, whether
> wild or domestic, do not qualify as service animals. Dogs that are not
> trained to perform tasks that mitigate the effects of a disability,
> including dogs that are used purely for emotional support, are not service
> animals."  ( from the actual legal text:  The crime deterrent effects of an
> animal?s presence and the provision of emotional support, well-being,
> comfort, or companionship do not constitute work or tasks for the purposes
> of this definition.)
> 
> (there are some very limited circumstances where min. horses are allowed as
> service animals)
> 
> Two Questions may now be asked: 
> "A public accommodation shall 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. A public accommodation may ask if the
> animal is required because of a disability and what work or task the animal
> has been trained to perform. A public accommodation shall not require
> documentation, such as proof that the animal has been certified, trained, or
> licensed as a service animal. Generally, a public accommodation may not make
> these inquiries about a service animal when it is readily apparent that an
> animal is trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a
> disability (e.g., the dog is observed guiding an individual who is blind or
> has low vision, pulling a person?s wheelchair, or providing assistance with
> stability or balance to an individual with an observable mobility
> disability). "
> 
> Animal under handler?s control. "A service animal shall be under the control
> of its handler. A service animal shall have a harness, leash, or other
> tether, unless either the handler is unable because of a disability to use a
> harness, leash, or other tether, or the use of a harness, leash, or other
> tether would interfere with the service animal?s safe, effective performance
> of work or tasks, in which case the service animal must be otherwise under
> the handler?s control (e.g., voice control, signals, or other effective
> means)." 
> 
> I actually spoke on the phone to a rep. from the ADA gov. information site
> and she was very clear that if a dog is not trained to perform a specific
> task it is no longer considered a service animal and is not *required* to be
> admitted to public events and places.  She was also quite clear that if a
> non-profit org. holds an offical event and allows non-members to attend,
> then it qualifies as a "public" event under ADA guidelines.    
> 
> There were a considerable number of other changes that went into effect,
> mostly concerninng access to buildings and facilities.  Since they didn't
> effect our festival (buildings and grounds are already accessable) I didn't
> bother researching the details.
> 
> For complete (rather long and boring, lol!) texts of the ADA, including the
> new revisions look here:
>   http://www.ada.gov/regs2010/ADAregs2010.htm
> 
> Gefjon