Attachment
I
Procedures for Service Animals at
In compliance with the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Texas State recognizes that service
animals can play an important and necessary role in fostering the independence
of some individuals with disabilities. Consequently, an appropriately trained
animal, under the control of the disabled individual, may be allowed in campus
facilities where animals would typically not be permitted (Texas Human
Resources Code, Chapter 121).
Only service animals that
meet the criteria below will be exempt from rules that otherwise restrict or
prohibit animals on campus.
·
Individuals requiring
use of a service animal must demonstrate that the service animal is needed as a
reasonable accommodation which is linked to their specific disability. In cases where the disability is not readily
apparent or easily perceivable documentation of disability may be requested.
Ø
Students provide
appropriate documentation to the Office of Disability Services.
Ø
Faculty and staff
provide documentation to Human Resources.
·
For the purposes of
these guidelines, a service animal must meet the following criteria:
Ø
The animal is of a type
commonly accepted and trained for performing a task or function for disabled
individuals.
Ø
The service animal is
individually trained to perform a specific task or tasks not instinctual to the
animal on behalf of an individual with a disability.
Ø
Training of the animal
is of a type appropriate for the disability.
·
A clear and explicit
rationale must exist for the function or service that the animal will
fulfill. An example is a guide dog for
the blind, a hearing dog which can alert a deaf individual to important sounds
including a ringing telephone or doorbell, or a dog trained to provide minimal
protection or rescue work.
·
Any animal posing a
direct threat to the health or safety others, or exhibiting repeated disruptive
behavior, may be denied access to university facilities.
·
Any animal whose
presence would fundamentally alter the nature of a specific program or service
will be excluded. However, the person
with a disability will be allowed to participate without the animal. This determination would be made on a
case-by-case basis.
In addition to meeting the
above criteria, the following guidelines will be used for requests to have
service animals reside in university housing.
·
Individuals receive
authorization for the service animal in university housing as an appropriate
accommodation prior to the animal moving into residence.
·
Specific room or
apartment assignments will be determined by a collaboration between Residence
Life, the Office of Disability Services, and the individual making the request
taking into account the individual’s needs, the animal’s needs, and the needs
of those living in proximity.
·
Student agrees to be
responsible for any damages to property caused by behavior of the service
animal. Students with disabilities who
have officially met Texas State criteria to have a service animal on campus or
in university housing will not be required to pay a fee or deposit for this
animal.
·
If a student with a
disability needs an emotional support animal in university housing to ease the
symptoms of a disability the student must submit a written request to Residence
Life. The request should: 1) describe
the disability; 2) explain how the requested support animal would help; and 3)
include a note from a physician or therapist verifying the need for the support
animal. The request and supporting
documentation must demonstrate a relationship between the student’s ability to
function and the support of the animal.
A support animal is permitted in university housing but not in other
campus facilities.
For questions or additional
information, students should contact the Office of Disability Services and
faculty and staff should contact Human Resources.
Office of
Disability Services
Texas
State University-San Marcos
Suite 5-5.1, LBJ Student Center
601
University Drive
San Marcos,
TX 78666
512-245-3451
(Voice/TTY)
Human
Resources
Texas
State University-San Marcos
340 JC
Kellam
601
University Drive
San
Marcos, TX 78666
512-245-2557
Residence
Life
Texas
State University-San Marcos
320 JC
Kellam
601
University Drive
San
Marcos, TX 78666
512-245-2382