By Peer Advisor, Liam R., Fall 2015

What is a Service Animal? Service animals are animals that are trained to assist people with disabilities; they provide more than generic help. They provide a friend who is always there for you, a support for troubling days, and pet that you’ve probably always wanted. There are a multitude of animals that can be used for helping those with disabilities, some documented are birds, horses, monkeys, and more common in the service animal industry: dogs. In the US, however, only dogs and miniature horses are legally considered to be eligible for this type of service. The animal assistance community categorized three types of animals that can be used for assistance: 1.Guide animal- To guide the blind 2.Hearing animal- To signal the hearing impaired 3.Service animal- To do work for people with disabilities other than blindness or deafness. 4.Emotional Support animal- An animal that makes the owner feel better emotionally. 5.Animal-assisted Therapy- therapy that uses contact with animals to improve patients’ social, emotional, or cognitive functions. 6.Working animal- An animal that has been trained to do tasks. Thanks to a few governing laws (i.e., US Fair Housing Act, Air Carrier Access Act, and the Americans Disabilities Act), these animals are federally protected, and individual states can expand upon this coverage.

Florida and Service Animals Service animals in the State of Florida are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and can therefore be admissible to most places that he/she’s owner is going, depending on they type of service that is provided with the animal. Americans with Disabilities Act Service animals are allowed in public places such as public schools, public colleges and universities, public accommodations and commercial facilities (i.e., restaurants, hospitals, etc.), housing (i.e., college housing), and any public transportation in the state of Florida.

Watch these videos to learn about training service animals:

Links to information on service animals booklet?utm_source=ADA+Center+Service+animal+booklet+announcement&utm_c ampaign=SVC+Animal+booklet&utm_medium= \ booklet?utm_source=ADA+Center+Service+animal+booklet+announcement&utm_c ampaign=SVC+Animal+booklet&utm_medium= \ d_Career_Roadmap.html d_Career_Roadmap.html

Bibliography and References 1. Wikipedia; 2. Americans with Disabilities Act division form; YouTube; 4. Division Rights of Florida: Service Animals; animals animals