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Service Animals
A service animal is trained to perform some of the functions and tasks that people with disabilities cannot perform themselves. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service animal is defined as:
Any dog (or miniature horse) that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.
Examples of the animals’ tasks:
- Guiding an individual who is blind or has low vision;
- Pulling a person’s wheelchair;
- Assisting during seizure (alerting the individual that a seizure is imminent, nudging that person to a safer environment);
- Retrieving medicine or other items (from bags or backpacks);
- Helping an individual with a psychiatric condition such as dissociative identity disorder, to remain grounded;
- Preventing/interrupting impulsive or destructive behavior;
- Assisting with balance, stability; and/or
- Providing non-violent protection or rescue work (cannot qualify if behaves aggressively).
Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, are not service animals for the purposes of this definition.
The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the handler’s disability. The crime deterrent effects of an animals’ presence and provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship do not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of this definition.
In compliance with the ADA, service animals are welcome on the LASC campus. Students with disabilities requiring assistance of a service animal on campus should first contact DSPS to register as a student with a disability and complete a DSPS Service Animal Agreement. The Director of DSPS (or designee) will evaluate the disability and recommend any additional accommodations appropriate to the functional limitations of the disability.
Requirements of service animals and their owners/handlers include:
- Dogs must be licensed in accordance with county regulations and wear vaccination tags.
- Animals must be in good health.
- An animal must be on a leash at all times.
- The handler must control the animal at all times. The care and supervision of an animal is solely the responsibility of its partner/handler.
- The handler should provide DSPS information as to how the animal accommodates for his/her disability.
LASC may exclude a service animal from all or part of its property if a handler fails to comply with these restrictions in a manner that fundamentally alters the nature of LASC programs or services, or poses a threat to the health or safety of others.
Parking for Individuals with Disabilities
There are “DISABLED” designated parking stalls in student parking lots throughout the campus. Vehicles parked in these stalls must display a valid disabled permit/placard. Students with disabilities must follow all Student Parking Policies and are subject to citation for any violation of the parking regulations.