Service Animal Policy for Programs and Facilities

Lincolnway Special Recreation Association (LWSRA) is committed to providing equal access to its programs, services, activities, and facilities in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. This policy explains the rights and responsibilities of individuals who use service animals while participating in LWSRA programs or visiting LWSRA facilities. The purpose of these procedures is to ensure that participants and authorized users and visitors with disabilities who have service animals can participate in and benefit from LWSRA services, programs, and activities and to ensure that LWSRA does not discriminate on the basis of disability as identified in Titles I and II of the ADA.

Visitors may be accompanied by a service animal when observing programs and activities or enjoying LWSRA’s Facilities without making a request for a reasonable modification. Questions and concerns about these policies can be directed to LWSRA’s ADA Coordinator or the Director.

Definitions:
(a) Service Animal: A dog that has been individually trained to perform specific tasks for a person with a disability. In certain circumstances, a miniature horse may also qualify as a service animal. Individuals wishing to bring a miniature horse should contact LWSRA’s ADA Coordinator in advance when possible.

Examples of tasks include:

  • Guiding individuals who are blind or visually impaired 
  • Alerting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing
  • Pulling a wheelchair
  • Retrieving dropped items
  • Alerting an individual to allergens or medical conditions

Animals whose sole function is to provide emotional support, comfort, or companionship are not considered service animals under the ADA and are not permitted in LWSRA facilities unless otherwise authorized.

(b) Partner/Handler: A person with a disability who uses a service animal as a reasonable modification or a trainer.

(c) Team: A partner/handler and a service animal. The two (2) work as a cohesive team in accomplishing the tasks of daily living.

(d) Trainee: In accordance with Illinois law, a dog being trained to become a service animal has the same access rights when accompanied by a trainer and under control.

Where Service Animals Are Permitted
Service animals are permitted to accompany individuals with disabilities in all areas of LWSRA facilities and programs where participants or visitors are normally allowed.

When a Service Animal May Be Restricted or Removed
LWSRA may ask that a service animal be removed if:

  • The animal is not under control and the handler does not take effective action to control it;
  • The animal poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others;
  • The animal’s behavior fundamentally alters the nature of the program/activity; or
  • The animal is not housebroken.

If removal is required, LWSRA will work with the individual to determine whether other reasonable modifications can be provided.

Responsibilities of Service Animal Handlers
Individuals who use service animals are responsible for:

  • Keeping the animal under control at all times
  • Using a leash, harness, or tether unless doing so interferes with the animal’s work
  • Ensuring the animal is housebroken
  • Cleaning up after the animal (unless physically unable to do so)
  • Maintaining required licensing and vaccinations
  • Complying with applicable state and local animal control and licensing laws

The care and supervision of the service animal are solely the responsibility of the handler.

Responsibilities of Staff and Visitors
Staff, participants, and visitors must:

  • Allow service animals to accompany their handler
  • Not pet, feed, or distract a service animal without permission
  • Not separate a service animal from its handler

Inquiries Regarding Service Animals
If it is not obvious that an animal is a service animal, LWSRA staff may ask only:

  1. Is the animal required because of a disability?
  2. What work or task has the animal been trained to perform?

Staff will not ask about the nature of a person’s disability.

Emergency Situations
During emergencies, emergency responders (ER) will focus on assisting the individual and will make reasonable efforts to keep the service animal with the handler when it is safe to do so. An animal may become disoriented from the smell of smoke in a fire or Facility emergency or from sirens, wind noise, or shaking and moving ground. A partner/handler, service animal, and team may be confused in any stressful situation. ERs will remember that an animal may be trying to be protective and, in its confusion, should not be considered harmful. ERs should make every effort to keep a service animal with its partner/handler; however, the ER’s first effort should be toward the partner/handler, which may result in the animal being left behind in some emergency evacuation situations.

LWSRA reserves the right to enforce this policy consistent with applicable law.