A service animal is 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.  In some circumstances, a miniature horse may be considered a service animal.   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. Examples of work or tasks include but are not limited to, assisting individuals who are blind or have low vision with navigation and other tasks, alerting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to the presence of people or sounds, providing non-violent protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, assisting an individual during a seizure, alerting individuals to the presence of allergens, retrieving items such as medicine or the telephone, providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability to individuals with mobility disabilities, and helping persons with psychiatric and neurological disabilities by preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors.

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. Individuals with disabilities shall be permitted to be accompanied by their service animals in all areas of Lorain County Community College (LCCC) where members of the public, participants in services, programs or activities, or invitees are allowed to go.

College staff, with assistance from LCCC Campus Security, may ask an individual with a disability to remove a service animal from the premises if the animal is out of control and the animal’s handler does not take effective action to control it, or the animal is not housebroken.  College staff is not responsible for any aspects of caring for a service animal.  A service animal shall be under the control of its handler at all times.  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).

In the event of conflicting accommodations, the Accessibility Services Office will provide assistance to reach a resolution.

College staff will 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.  Staff may ask if the animal is required because of a disability and what work or task the animal has been trained to perform. LCCC will not require documentation, such as proof that the animal has been certified, trained, or licensed as a service animal.  Generally, staff will 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).