By admin on Tuesday, October 10, 2000 - 01:39 pm:
Posted by Lynn on August 08, 2000 at 22:50:34:
If you are having difficulty with an employer or a landlord because you now need a dog to help you with some functions of your daily life, please be advised that assistance animals are protected under the federal guidelines of the ADA. What is needed is a statement from your physician in which he/she indicates that the animal is medically necessary for you to function normally in your daily activities. AND THAT'S ALL THAT NEEDS TO BE SAID. The employer, landlord,restauranteur, etc., is forbidden by the rules of the ADA to ask any specific questions about your condition. Your animal is NOT A PET and that's all you need to say. You CANNOT BE EVICTED because you have this animal; the landlord/employer etc must make REASONABLE provisions to accomodate the animal. You in turn must also keep the animal completely under your control AT ALL TIMES. If the animal (or you) pose a hazard to other peoples' safety, you may be asked to remove the animal from the premises. Certain states may ask that you carry a small ID which indicates that the animal is for assistance. Others may want the animal to wear a special tag. Some may not require anything. May I suggest that anyone experiencing problems because of having an assistance dog (note, I am not saying a guide dog) contact Delta Society in Renton, WA. Delta is the national organization which trains specialists to travel the country speaking to groups and governmental agencies about the access rights of service animals and their owners. The fall 1999 issue of the Delta magazine Interaction is almost exclusively devoted to the issues faced by those who need assistance animals. Delta Society's web site is www.deltasociety.org From there you will want to visit the site for Service Animal Center. There are many materials available to the public--some are free while others can be purchased for a nominal price. Many states also have Service Animal Access Specialists who have been trained and certified by Delta; if available, these people should be happy to speak to local organizations or individuals about access issues. Ask Delta who is trained for your area. Thanks to Callie for her post of 7/26/00...she raised an extremely critical issue facing many people who have health problems. I hope this post helps someone...many of you answered my plea on 7/6/00 on how to find a good doc for my husband who was recently diagnosed with occult wetMD. Best wishes to all. Lynn
Posted by Mary Alice on August 09, 2000 at 09:02:02:
In Reply to: Assistance dogs are not necessarily guide dogs. In many cases they are protected under the laws of the ADA. posted by Lynn on August 08, 2000 at 22:50:34: Thanks for your message and advice about assistance dogs, Lynn. AMDF web site visitors can read more about the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and how it may affect those who have macular degeneration by going to the HOME page on this web site. Then go to Help and Advice. One of the buttons under that topic is "Legal Protection." It includes a ewll-written and thoughtful review of the ADA and macular degeneration by Attorny Maryrita Dobiel. Another way to get there from the HOME Page is to the Site Map; then to Legal Protection. FYI. Happy Reading! Mary Alice Posted by sam Krause on August 15, 2000 at 15:09:08: In Reply to: Re: Legal Protection, Macular Degeneration and the ADA. posted by Mary Alice on August 09, 2000 at 09:02:02: We make Rx eyeglasses with melanin. Melanin, the pigment found naturally in the skin and eyes, prevents macular degeneration and cataracts.