Service Animals
Service animals accompanying persons with disabilities are permitted on the Indiana University South Bend campus. Service animals are animals trained to assist people with disabilities in their daily living activities. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a service animal as “any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including, but not limited to, guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals with impaired hearing to intruders or sounds, providing minimal protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, or fetching dropped items.” An animal that meets this definition is considered a service animal regardless of whether it has been licensed or certified by a state or local government or a training program.
The person a service animal assists is typically referred to as a partner. The partner’s disability may not be visible. If you are unsure whether an animal is a pet or a service animal, you may ask if the animal is a pet. You may exercise your judgment as to whether a person’s statements about the functions of the animal make it reasonable to think that the animal is a service animal. Although you may ask the person how the animal is assisting them, you may not ask for details about their disability.
Information faculty, staff, and students should know about service animals
A service dog can be any breed or size. They might wear specialized equipment, such as a backpack, harness, or special collar or leash, but this is not required.
You must allow a service animal to accompany the partner at all times, anywhere and everywhere on campus. The courts have upheld the rights of service animal owners to take service animals into food service locations.
- Do not pet a service animal without first asking permission. Service animals are trained to be protective of their partner, and touching the animal might distract them from their work.
- Speak to the partner first.
- Do not deliberately startle, spook, tease, or taunt a service animal.
- Do not feed a service animal.
- Do not separate or attempt to separate a partner from their service animal.
- In the case of an emergency, every effort should be made to keep the animal with its partner. However, the first effort should be towards the partner. This may necessitate leaving an animal behind in certain emergency situations.
Requirements for service animals and their partners
The service animal cannot pose a direct threat to the health and safety of those on campus.
Local ordinances regarding animals apply to service animals, including requirements for immunization, licensing, noise, restraint, at-large animals, and dangerous animals. Dogs must wear a license tag and a current rabies vaccination tag.
The partner must be in full control of the animal at all times, including using a leash as appropriate for the disability. The care and supervision of a service animal are solely the responsibility of its partner. The animal must be maintained and always used in ways that do not create safety hazards for other people.
The partner is responsible for cleaning up the animal’s feces. The partner should always carry equipment and bags sufficient to clean up and properly dispose of the animal’s feces. Partners who are not physically able to pick up and dispose of feces are responsible for making all necessary arrangements for assistance. The University is not responsible for these services.
Emotional support animals are not specifically trained as service animals and are only allowed in housing per the Fair Housing Act. Emotional support animals are not covered by ADA law.
Personal Care Attendants
Providing a personal care attendant (PCA) is entirely the responsibility of the student needing this care while on campus. Indiana University South Bend does not provide, assist, or train personal care attendants. A student can contact the Accessible Educational Services office for referral information about obtaining a PCA.
Parking Services
A student with a disability who wishes to park a vehicle in a space designated for disability parking must obtain an IU South Bend disabled parking permit and a state parking permit. The Parking Services office issues a two-week temporary permit to allow the applicant to visit a physician. Upon written documentation from a physician, parking services will extend the issuance of a temporary campus permit for up to 30 days. If the disabled permit is required for more than 30 days, the applicant must obtain the state permit within the 30-day period.
The issuance of parking permits is managed through the Parking Services office and not through AES. The parking services office is located in room 115 and can be contacted at 574-520-5528.
