Getting started on learning about service dogs can be very confusing, and there are many different laws, acts and regulations that apply for all kinds of situations. We want to make it easy for everyone to be able to access reliable resources easily, and in one convenient place. This list will include everything from key laws and accommodation rights to training, training log examples, optional testing, task lists, different organizations that help place handlers with service dogs, how to file a complaint, and other additional resources.
Laws / Acts
Americans with Disabilities Act | ADA
http://www.ada.gov/regs2010/service_animal_qa.html
https://adata.org/publication/service-animals-booklet
http://www.ada.gov/pubs/adastatute08.htm#12102
https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-110publ325/html/PLAW-110publ325.htm
ADA Frequently Asked Questions | FAQ https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/service_animal_qa.html#cert
ADA Service Dog Requirements
https://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm
State Laws
https://www.animallaw.info/topic/table-state-assistance-animal-laws (check with individual state’s .gov websites to be sure)
Federal Housing Act | FHA
https://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=servanimals_ntcfheo2013-01.pdf
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission | EEOC https://www.eeoc.gov/facts/restaurant_guide.html (see #25)
Air Carrier Access Act | ACAA
https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=ae47679a5dc0b0cdd685abc7e3437dbb&mc=true&node=pt14.4.382&rgn=div5
Federal Transit Authority | FTA
https://www.transit.dot.gov/regulations-and-guidance/civil-rights-ada/civil-rightsada
Task Lists / Tests / Training Resources
International Association of Assistance Dog Partners | IAADP Guide & Service Dog Tasks
http://www.iaadp.org/tasks.html
International Association of Assistance Dog Partners | IAADP Psychiatric Service Dog Tasks
http://www.iaadp.org/psd_tasks.html
International Association of Assistance Dog Partners | IAADP Public Access Standards
http://www.iaadp.org/iaadp-minimum-training-standards-for-public-access.html
American Kennel Club | AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC)
http://www.akc.org/cgc-pledge/
Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test
http://www.volhard.com/pages/pat.php
Training Log Resources
http://www.iaadp.org/iaadp-minimum-training-standards-for-public-access.html#sample
Fundraising Ideas
Service Dog Fundraising Brainstorm on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/groups/268909033482160/
Gear Buy/Trade/Sell
Service Dog Gear Swap on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/groups/441820919335918/
Additional Resources
International Crisis & Suicide Prevention Lines
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_suicide_crisis_lines
Job Accommodation Network | JAN
https://askjan.org/
Assistance Dogs International | ADI
https://www.assistancedogsinternational.org/
International Association of Assistance Dog Partners | IAADP
http://www.iaadp.org/
File A Complaint
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is the Agency that Enforces the ADA.
Filing a complaint with the DOJ: http://www.justice.gov/crt/complain…
Public Facilities and Accommodations
Title II of the ADA covers state and local government facilities, activities, and programs. Title III of the ADA covers places of public accommodations. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act covers federal government facilities, activities, and programs. It also covers the entities that receive federal funding.
Title II and Title III Complaints – These can be filed through private lawsuits in federal court or directed to the U.S. Department of Justice.
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Civil Rights Division
Disability Rights Section – NYA
Washington, DC 20530
http://www.ada.gov(link is external)
800-514-0301 (v)
800-514-0383 (TTY)
Section 504 Complaints – These must be made to the specific federal agency that oversees the program or funding.
to speak with an ADA Specialist. All calls are confidential.
Employment
Title I of the ADA and Section 501 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act prohibits discrimination in employment. The ADA covers private employers with 15 or more employees; Section 501 applies to federal agencies, and Section 504 applies to any program or entity receiving federal financial assistance.
ADA Complaints – A person must file a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) within 180 days of an alleged violation of the ADA. This deadline may be extended to 300 days if there is a state or local fair employment practices agency that also has jurisdiction over this matter. Complaints may be filed in person, by mail, or by telephone by contacting the nearest EEOC office. This number is listed in most telephone directories under “U.S. Government.” For more information:
http://www.eeoc.gov/contact/index.cfm(link is external)
800-669-4000 (voice)
800-669-6820 (TTY)
Section 501 Complaints – Federal employees must contact their agency’s Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) officer within 45 days of an alleged Section 501 violation.
Section 504 Complaints – These must be filed with the federal agency that funded the employer.
Housing
The Fair Housing Act (FHA), as amended in 1988, applies to housing. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in all housing programs and activities that are either conducted by the federal government or receive federal financial assistance. Title II of the ADA applies to housing provided by state or local government entities.
Complaints – Housing complaints may be filed with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity.
http://www.hud.gov/fairhousing
800-669-9777 (voice)
800-927-9275 (TTY)
Education
Students with disabilities in public schools (K-12) are covered by Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Title II of the ADA, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Students with disabilities in public postsecondary education are covered by Title II and Section 504. Title III of the ADA applies to private schools (K-12 and post-secondary) that are not operated by religious entities. Private schools that receive federal funding are also covered by Section 504.
IDEA Complaints – Parents can request a due process hearing and a review from the state educational agency if applicable in that state. They also can appeal the state agency’s decision to state or federal court. You may contact the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) for further information or to provide your own thoughts and ideas on how they may better serve individuals with disabilities, their families and their communities.
For more information contact:
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20202-7100
202-245-7468 (voice)
Title II of the ADA and Section 504 Complaints – The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in the Department of Education enforces Title II of the ADA and Section 504 as they apply to education. Those who have had access denied due to a service animal may file a complaint with OCR or file a private lawsuit in federal court. An OCR complaint must be filed within 180 calendar days of the date of the alleged discrimination, unless the time for filing is extended for good cause. Before filing an OCR complaint against an institution, an individual may want to find out about the institution’s grievance process and use that process to have the complaint resolved. However, an individual is not required by law to use the institutional grievance process before filing a complaint with OCR. If someone uses an institutional grievance process and then chooses to file the complaint with OCR, the complaint must be filed with OCR within 60 days after the last act of the institutional grievance process.
For more information contact:
U.S. Department of Education
Office for Civil Rights
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20202-1100
Customer Service: 800-421-3481 (voice)
800-877-8339 (TTY)
E-mail: OCR@ed.gov(link sends e-mail)
http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/howto.html
Title III Complaints – These may be filed with the Department of Justice.
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Civil Rights Division
Disability Rights Section – NYA
Washington, DC 20530
http://www.ada.gov/(link is external)
800-514-0301 (v)
800-514-0383 (TTY)
Transportation
Title II of the ADA applies to public transportation while Title III of the ADA applies to transportation provided by private entities. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act applies to federal entities and recipients of federal funding that provide transportation.
Title II and Section 504 Complaints – These may be filed with the Federal Transit Administration’s Office of Civil Rights. For more information, contact:
Director, FTA Office of Civil Rights
East Building – 5th Floor, TCR
1200 New Jersey Ave., S.E.
Washington, DC 20590
FTA ADA Assistance Line: 888-446-4511 (Voice)
800-877-8339 (Federal Information Relay Service)
http://www.fta.dot.gov/civil_rights.html
http://www.fta.dot.gov/12874_3889.html(Complaint Form)
Title III Complaints – These may be filed with the Department of Justice.
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Civil Rights Division
Disability Rights Section – NYA
Washington, DC 20530
http://www.ada.gov
800-514-0301 (v)
800-514-0383 (TTY)
Note: A person does not have to file a complaint with the respective federal agency before filing a lawsuit in federal court.
Air Transportation
The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) covers airlines. Its regulations clarify what animals are considered service animals and explain how each type of animal should be treated.ACAA complaints may be submitted to the Department of Transportation’s Aviation Consumer Protection Division.
Air travelers who experience disability-related air travel service problems may call the hotline at:
800-778-4838 (voice)
800- 455-9880 (TTY)
Air travelers who would like the Department of Transportation (DOT) to investigate a complaint about a disability issue must submit their complaint in writing or via e-mail to:
Aviation Consumer Protection Division
Attn: C-75-D
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Ave, S.E.
Washington, DC 20590
** For additional information and questions about your rights under any of these laws, contact your regional ADA center at 800-949-4232 (voice/TTY).
Washington State Service Dog Association 