Service Animals

The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a service animal as an animal that is individually trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities such as guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling wheelchairs, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, or performing other special tasks. Service animals are not pets, but working animals. Service animals perform some functions and tasks that persons with a disability cannot perform himself/herself. Animals are considered “service animals” under the ADA, if they meet this definition, regardless of whether they have been licensed or certified by a state or local government. Animals whose sole purpose is to provide a person with a disability emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship are not considered service animals.

Some students with disabilities use service animals to allow greater independence and mobility. The following guidelines apply to service animals at CWC:

• A service animal is allowed to accompany an individual with a disability to most areas on campus where students are normally allowed to go including housing.
• An individual with a service animal may not be segregated from other students.
• A service animal may be excluded from a facility, including a classroom, if that animal poses a direct threat to the health and safety of others.
• A service animal may be excluded from a facility, including a classroom, if that animal’s behavior, such as barking, is disruptive to the other participants within the facility.
• If a service animal is excluded from a facility, the individual with a disability will be given the option of continued classroom participation with accommodations or may withdraw from the class.
• The service animal must be clean, in good health, with current rabies vaccines.
• Service animals must be on a leash at all times.
• Service animals are required to wear a vaccination tag at all times.
• All owners and or users of service animals are responsible to clean up after and properly dispose of their animal’s feces while on campus.