Service Dogs
Service dogs are welcome at South Seattle College. The Americans with Disabilities Act and Washington State Revised Code define a service dog as one individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability.
Generally, colleges must permit service dogs to accompany people with disabilities in all areas where members of the public are allowed. For students this includes the classroom, restrooms, hallways, library, dining areas, and most other areas where students are allowed. Exceptions to service dog admittance may include areas where a sterile or sanitary environment is required, such as food preparation areas.
When it is not obvious what service a dog provides, staff may ask two questions: 1) Is the dog a service dog required due to a disability, and 2) What work or task has the dog been trained to perform. Staff may not ask about the person’s disability, require medical documentation, identification for the dog, or ask that the dog demonstrate the work or task. Service dogs are not required to wear identifying vests and do not need to be certified as service dogs. The ADA does not place any restrictions on the breed of dog that may be trained as a service dog. Miniature horses may be trained and permitted as service animals where reasonable.
Service dogs must be licensed and vaccinated according to local ordinances and state regulations. The dog must be under the care and control of its handler at all times. Under the ADA, service dogs must be harnessed or leashed, unless this would interfere with the dog’s work. In that case, the handler must maintain control through voice, signal, or other effective controls.
A service dog may be excluded if the dog is out of control and the student/handler does not take effective action to control the dog, or if the dog is not house broken. Annoyance or distraction to staff or students is not a valid reason to exclude a service dog. Staff are not required to provide care, food or supervision for a service dog and should refrain from direct interaction with the dog as this may interfere with the task or work being performed. The student/handler is required to clean up after the dog.
A student/handler does not need an accommodation form for a service dog to be allowed in the classroom. However Access Services may, with permission of the student, notify faculty that a service dog will be present in the classroom. In the event that other students or faculty have allergies to dogs, both the individual with the allergy and the student with the service dog will need to be accommodated. Access Services can assist in coordinating these accommodations.
In order to create a welcoming environment for the person using a service dog, it is recommended that staff direct any questions or concerns to Campus Security or Access Services. Students using service dogs may also be referred to Access Services if they need additional services or classroom accommodations.
Employees who require use of a service dog should contact Human Resources.
Access Services: Access.South@seattlecolleges.edu or 206-934-5137
Campus Security: 206-934-5157 or 206-934-0911