Accessible Learning Center (ALC) Residential Accommodations

A Service Animal is defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained, or untrained, are not service animals. Although not a “service animal,” the use of a miniature horse by an individual with a disability is permitted under the ADA in limited circumstances.

When it is not obvious or apparent what service an animal provides, NCF may ask: (1) if the animal is a Service Animal required because of a disability, and (2) what work or task the animal has been trained to perform. 

Work or tasks performed by the service animal must be directly related to the handler’s disability. Examples include, but are not limited to:

• pulling a wheelchair,
• 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,
• 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. Therapy animals and companion animals are not service animals under the ADA.

Service animals assisting individuals with disabilities are generally permitted in all facilities, NCF owned housing, transit vehicles, and programs on the NCF campus that are open to the public or students.  A service animal can be excluded from a facility if its presence poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others.

Students who wish to bring a service animal to campus are strongly encouraged to partner with the ALC beforehand, especially if other reasonable accommodations are required. If students want the option to register their service animal on campus with the animal’s current vaccination records, they can do this by filling out an online application with the ALC. 

Emotional Support Animal (ESA), sometimes called a therapy animal or companion animal, is an animal that is necessary to afford the student with a disability an equal opportunity to use and enjoy NCF owned housing and provides therapeutic benefit to an individual with a mental or psychiatric disability upon the recommendation of the student’s physician, psychiatrist, social worker, or other licensed mental health professional. An ESA is limited to the student’s specific residence assignment and designated outdoor areas on campus and is not permitted in academic buildings and other campus facilities. An ESA unlike service animals is recognized under the Rehabilitation Act or ADA.

All requests for emotional support animals should be directed to the Accessible Learning Center (ALC) process for “residential accommodation requests”. If a student requests more than one ESA a letter needs to be submitted for each request. The college will determine, on a case-by-case basis, and in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, whether the animal is a reasonable accommodation on campus. In doing so, the college will balance the needs of the individual student with the impact of animals on other campus patrons.

Emotional Support Animal Request Form (To be completed by a licensed provider).

NOTE:
The Accessible Learning Center strongly advises students against taking ownership of an animal PRIOR TO FULLY COMPLETING the ESA request process.  Students found in possession of an unauthorized animal in campus housing are subject to a daily fine and removal of the animal.

Care and Supervision:

Care and supervision of a service animal or emotional support animal is the responsibility of the individual who benefits from the animal’s use. The care, arrangements, and responsibilities for the service or emotional support animal, and the costs associated with the same, are the sole responsibility of the owner at all times.

Hygiene and Cleanliness:

Service animals and ESAs must be clean. Daily grooming and occasional baths should be utilized to keep animal odor to a minimum. Adequate flea prevention and control must be maintained. If an animal’s odor is offensive to other individuals, the owner will be directed to bathe the animal before returning to the facility. Repeated occurrences may result in the animal being temporarily barred from the facility until steps are taken to comply with the rules regarding cleanliness.

The owner/handler is also responsible for ensuring the clean-up of the animal’s waste and, when appropriate, must toilet the animal in areas designated by the college consistent with the reasonable capacity of the owner. If a disability prevents the owner/handler from cleaning up after a service animal, this information must be provided to the Accessible Learning Center (ALC) so the ALC can work with the individual with a disability on reasonable modifications to this rule.

Control:

The owner/handler is required to maintain control of the animal at all times. A service animal or emotional support animal must have a harness, leash, or carrier. If the handler is unable to use a harness, leash or carrier due to the handler’s disability, the service animal or ESA must be otherwise under the handler’s control. If the animal is not under the control of the handler, the college reserves the right to have the animal removed until such time as the animal is under the handler’s control.

Vaccination:

All individuals must abide by current city and state ordinances/laws pertaining to licensing and vaccination requirements for animals. It is the responsibility of the owner/handler of the animal to know about and comply with these ordinances and/or laws, some of which are noted below. ESAs that are cats and dogs must have current vaccination against rabies and wear a rabies vaccination tag. Local licensing and vaccination requirements are followed and must be kept up to date.

Licensing:

Sarasota County requires all dogs, cats and ferrets be licensed. ESA must always wear license tags which verify that the rabies shots required by law have been given.

Health:

ESAs to be housed in university housing must have an annual clean bill of health from a licensed veterinarian. Documentation can be an annual vaccination certificate for a dog or a cat or a veterinarian’s statement regarding the animal’s health for an animal that is not a dog or a cat. The University has authority to direct that the animal receives veterinary attention.

Other Conditions:

The University may place other reasonable conditions or restrictions on animals brought on to campus, depending on the nature and characteristics of the animal.

Liability:

The owner/handler of an animal is personally responsible for any damages to a facility or sponsored event due to that animal. Owners are financially responsible for the actions of service or ESAs including bodily injury, property damage, cleaning and/or replacement of furniture, carpet, blinds, and any and all other damages which may arise.