Diabetes Alert Dogs

Comment

Comment by PaulaO 21 hours ago

Beth, having diabetes does not automatically mean the person is granted protection under the ADA. As with any disability, there must be one or more life activities impacted.

From the EEOC:

1. When is diabetes a disability under the ADA?

Diabetes is a disability when it substantially limits one or more of a person's major life activities. Major life activities are basic activities that an average person can perform with little or no difficulty, such as eating or caring for oneself. Diabetes also is a disability when it causes side effects or complications that substantially limit a major life activity. Even if diabetes is not currently substantially limiting because it is controlled by diet, exercise, oral medication, and/or insulin, and there are no serious side effects, the condition may be a disability because it was substantially limiting in the past (i.e., before it was diagnosed and adequately treated). Finally, diabetes is a disability when it does not significantly affect a person's everyday activities, but the employer treats the individual as if it does. For example, an employer may assume that a person is totally unable to work because he has diabetes. Under the ADA, the determination of whether an individual has a disability is made on a case-by-case basis.

http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/diabetes.html

My brother has diabetes that is wonderfully controlled via diet and medication. His employer does not treat him any differently because of the condition. No part of his life is limited. He would not be protected by the ADA and so would not be able to take a SD with him.

I am a big advocate for the ADA and for Service Dogs. I will fight for your already granted right to have a SD. Sometimes, I can get forceful about the ADA especially if I think someone is "cheating" just so they can have a cool SD by their side. I do not tolerate posers or dogs that should not be out in public. We fought hard to get the ADA to begin with and we fought hard to get it back (the Supreme Court managed to gut it so bad that very very few people were qualified for protection). If at any time I step on toes here, please let me know.

Know your rights. Know when and how you are protected. Know which law applies when. The ADA does not cover housing (Fair Housing Act) or airplanes (Air Carrier Access Act). It does not cover federal offices/businesses (Rehabilitation Act of 1973, I think) and it does not cover churches (except under certain circumstances).

Comment by PaulaO 21 hours ago

I've never heard of a public access test. It is not a requirement of SDs but I can see benefits to it. It would be great if people could just use common sense when it comes to SDs but....I've met people with SDs dressed in costumes, were dog and child aggressive, were not house trained, and were just general nuisances. They give the rest of us a bad rep. Mike (my pup) will take the Canine Good Citizen test just because I think it would be cool. I've never taken a dog through it. We'll also do the Temperament Test, I think.

The problem with showing paperwork is that the business then expects the next team to have the paperwork as well.

You are so right about being calm and knowing your rights! Don't panic. Just state the facts. If necessary, ask that the police be called. I know of a lot of people who carry "denied access" forms (that they created). It has places for date, time, location, and names. It clearly states the law and says "I the undersigned, having been informed of the law, choose to ignore this law and deny access to the person with a disability." But these are people who know the law inside and out and are prepared to go to court if necessary.

I've never been denied. I've been questioned many times, but all it takes is me being calm, stating yes, she is a SD and helps me as a person with a disability. Act as if you know exactly what you are doing. If the dog acts the same, you'll not meet much resistance. If the dog is quiet and calm, it isn't difficult to gain access.

The only place I have ever had a lot of trouble was with the DMV. They saw my SD and denied my driver's license because I was blind! But I'm not. It was and is a mess straightening it out. I have to get re-evaluated every two years to prove I am still not blind.

Comment by Alertdogsfordiabetics 1 day ago

You are so right Paula.

The main thing to remember with a service dog is that since they will be with you in every situation (school, work, shopping, dr office etc.) they must be public access trained as well. A trainer can public access certify your dog providing paperwork that states that as a team you pass certain criteria for being acceptable to enter public areas with no threat to anyone. However the criteria is basic and most service dogs go far beyond that.

Having paperwork with you may not be the law but it may help to deflect any questions about the legitimacy of your team. Better to be armed with proof than to wish you did in a confrontational situation. Although it is my understanding of the ADA law that the only question that can be asked by the staff or management of a place of business is "is this a service dog." You have the right to take a service dog with you wherever you go, but there may be times when out of ignorance of the law some will go farther. It is at these times you must be prepared to address the situation with your own course of action. Calm assertiveness is a good tactic in such instances. Knowing your rights and acting on them without fear goes a long ways in the DAD world.

Also, it is important to remember that when you do take a service dog with you into the public arena management does have the right to remove you from the premises if your dog or you and your dog as a team are disrupting to their business. That makes it so much more important that you are fully trained in public access.

God bless

Comment by Beth 1 day ago

Well, diabetes is considered a disablity as far as the ADA is concerned.

Comment by PaulaO 1 day ago

The hard part lately is meeting whatever the definition of a "person with a disability" happens to be. Oy.

And no, the ADA does not mention 3 tasks. I don't think it ever did. The ADA is a federal law and individual states have additional laws on their books that pertain to Service Dogs. Some of these laws are better, most are not. It could be that you read about a state law stipulating the 3 tasks.

Other myths include that the dog can only come from a program, that you must carry paperwork and/or identification for that dog, and that there is an actual test the dog must pass.

Comment by Beth 1 day ago

That is not correct Krisit. The law reads (from ADA website):

The ADA defines a service animal as any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability. If they meet this definition, animals are considered service animals under the ADA regardless of whether they have been licensed or certified by a state or local government.

Service animals perform some of the functions and tasks that the individual with a disability cannot perform for him or herself. "Seeing eye dogs" are one type of service animal, used by some individuals who are blind. This is the type of service animal with which most people are familiar. But there are service animals that assist persons with other kinds of disabilities in their day-to-day activities. Some examples include:

_____Alerting persons with hearing impairments to sounds.

_____ Pulling wheelchairs or carrying and picking up things for persons with mobility impairments.

_____Assisting persons with mobility impairments with balance.

Now where does it say that they must perform 3 tasks.

Comment by Kristi Brashier 1 day ago

Actually, by law, a service dog must be able to perform 3 tasks that the person can not do for themselves.

Comment by Alertdogsfordiabetics 1 day ago

If you already have a dog that is alerting you that is great. If it is not obedience trained I would suggest that you get that done, either on your own or with the help of a trainer. Any trainer can public access certify you and the dog as a team. Along with the obedience training you will want to encourage the alerting. That can be done with samples from a low or you can use an actual low for training. Not hard to do you just need to be committed.

One of the most important aspects of consistent alerting is good obedience from your dog. You cannot let down on the obedience or respect your dog has for you.

God bless

Ida

Don't forget to check out my site www.alertdogsfordiabetics.com I have some affiliate stores there that are intended to help defray the cost of a dog for my clients

Comment by Beth 1 day ago

That's a pretty big advantage Paula!

Comment by PaulaO 1 day ago

The only advantage to having that label on your dog is being able to take him/her with you everywhere.

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