Articles
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Service Animals Overview
Service animals are one of the most asked about topics on the Northeast ADA Center’s technical assistance hotline. -
The ADA and Service Animal Handlers
What should a service animal handler know about rights and responsibilities when they go into the community with the animal? -
The ADA and Service Animals
What’s a service animal? The answer depends on the situation, and this FAQ article explains the basics. -
The Spirit of the ADA and Your Business
If you are merely complying with the ADA to meet a legal requirement, you’re missing the true purpose—or spirit—of the ADA. -
The ADA and Transportation Providers
Consider why accessible transportation is so important and find an overview of requirements for public and private transportation from the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Blog Posts
- Service Animals and Social Media (My Lassie Moment)
In June of 2018, Sarah Aswell, a freelance writer and comedian, posted an article titled If a Service Dog Approaches You without Their Owner, They Need Your Help on the website ScaryMommy. The article... - Service Animals at Work in the Human Workplace by Joe Zesski and Angela Winfield
Is it mandatory to allow service animals in the workplace? This is a tricky question. And, like most tricky questions, the answer is it depends. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), if t... - All the Buzz About Emotional Support Animals
By Chris Sweet When I provide technical assistance to our various stakeholders that call into the Northeast ADA Center, a rec... - No Dogs Allowed? Service Animals at Work
One of the most frequently asked about topics at the Northeast ADA Center is service animals. Often, these questions relate to service animals in businesses and public spaces; or about the right to ha... - Service Animals in Housing
Often, when a person feels that their rights are being infringed upon relative to their disability, the first thing that comes to mind is the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA). While t...
News
- Generalizations, Speculation and Stereotypes about Individuals with Disabilities Do Not Justify Refusal to Accommodate Use of Service Animals under the ADA
10/16/2019- On August 30, 2019, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, covering New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, issued a precedential opinion in an important case interp... - Check out the Northeast ADA Center's New Infographics!
04/17/2019- Did you know that the Northeast ADA Center makes infographics with easy to understand facts, statistics, and tips about disability and the ADA? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for our wee... - Animals on Planes a Challenge for Airlines, Passengers
02/22/2018- When Marlin Jackson arrived at his row on a Delta flight from Atlanta to San Diego in June, a man with a sizable dog on his lap already occupied the middle seat. Jackson squeezed by them to his window... - September is National Service Dog Month
08/21/2019- They provide companionship, inspire confidence, and live to serve, protect, and assist their handlers. Guide dogs, seeing eye dogs, service pets, and assistance animals are helping their humans perfor... - DOT Proposal Restricts Service Animals on Planes: So Long to the Emotional Support Peacock?
02/19/2020- In January, the Department of Transportation proposed amendments to the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) regulations. The proposed amendments are intended to clarify the rights and responsibilities of ai...
Webinars
- ADA: 101.1 Defining Disability
03/26/2021- This presentation will build on the introduction to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) given in the webinar, ADA-101. Intended for those new to the ADA or for those wanting a refresher, this we... - Service Animal Scenarios
03/27/2019- Chris Sweet, Northeast ADA Technical Assistance and Outreach Specialist, will present Service Animal Scenarios. Service animals often appear in popular media as a topic of contention as airlines, sto... - Is That a Service Animal: What Rights Apply Where
01/24/2018- The Northeast ADA Center is often asked about service animals. It can be confusing for individuals with disabilities, businesses, transit providers, and landlords to know what rights a person with a d... - Air Travel for Individuals with Disabilities: Intersection of the Air Carriers Access Act and the ADA
11/18/2015- A recent study by the Open Doors Organization revealed that in the past two years, more than 26 million adults with disabilities traveled for business or pleasure. While legislation such as the Air Ca... - Issues, Impacts and Implications of an Aging Workforce
10/14/2015- The aging population is growing and the number of older adults in the workforce is rising, which presents multiple challenges to organizations. Age discrimination and the increased prevalence of disab...
Downloadables (Fact Sheets, etc)
- Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals Are Not the Same
- Q&A - Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals in Single Family Homes Used as Vacation Rentals: ADA and FHA Implications
- Key Facts about Service Animals for Disaster Shelter Workers
Disaster Shelters must permit a person with a disability to be accompanied by their service animal, even if the shelter has a “No Pets” policy. - Service Animals
- Including Older People with Disabilities
Infographics
Infographics
Ask About The ADA
- Service Animals on Public Transit
Q: Are the rules for service animals different on public transportation than they are for service animals in other areas like restaurants and stores? A: The biggest difference between the Dept. of Tr... - The difference between service animals, emotional support animals, or therapy animals can be confusing. Are they all covered under the ADA?
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service animal is defined as a dog, and sometimes a miniature horse, that has been trained to complete a specific task relative to the needs of an in... - Are service animals permitted in disaster shelters?
Yes. Permitting a service animal can be a form of reasonable modification of a policy. Typically, a service animal should be permitted to go where the public is allowed to go. The handler must be a pe... - Do service animals need to wear a vest that identifies them as service animals?
No, a simple leash or harness is all that is required for a service animal. A service animal must always be under the control of its handler. No identifiers for a service animal such as a vest or an I... - Can my service animal sit in a shopping cart or up on restaurant seating with me?
No. Shopping carts, seating, and other places for consumer use are for people and service animal handlers only. Service animals are to remain on the floor and must be under the control of the owner at...