How are service animals defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act?

How are service animals defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act?

• A. dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities
• B. any animal trained to assist people with disabilities
• C. dogs that are trained to perform tasks for any person
• D. cats that perform tasks for people with disabilities

Answer: (A)

Under the ADA, a service animal is a dog that has been individually trained to perform work or tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability. The tasks must be directly related to the person’s disability—for example, guiding a visually impaired person, alerting to sounds for someone with hearing loss, or pulling a wheelchair. The emphasis is on the dog's specialized training to aid a specific individual, not on any animal or on general assistance. This definition excludes cats and other animals, and it excludes dogs trained to assist in a way not connected to a particular disability or to help anyone regardless of disability.

Under the ADA, a service animal is a dog that has been individually trained to perform work or tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability. The tasks must be directly related to the person’s disability—for example, guiding a visually impaired person, alerting to sounds for someone with hearing loss, or pulling a wheelchair. The emphasis is on the dog's specialized training to aid a specific individual, not on any animal or on general assistance. This definition excludes cats and other animals, and it excludes dogs trained to assist in a way not connected to a particular disability or to help anyone regardless of disability.