Ada Service Dog Definition

A service animal means 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.

Ada service dog definition.

Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ada. Under title iii of the federal americans with disabilities act ada and virtually all state laws a service animal is an animal that has been trained to perform work or tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability. A service dog is a specifically task trained to help an individual with a disability that substantially limits one or more life activities. If the dog has been trained to sense that an anxiety attack is about to happen and take a specific action to help avoid the attack or lessen its impact that would qualify as a service animal.

Disabilities may include visual difficulties hearing impairments post traumatic stress disorder ptsd seizures ambulatory issues mental illness diabetes autism and more depending upon the applicable law. This definition does not affect or limit the broader definition of assistance animal under the fair housing act or the broader definition of service animal under the air carrier access act. The ada makes a distinction between psychiatric service animals and emotional support animals. The definition of a service animal under each of these laws is different from the definition under the ada.