Butte School District

8425

Service Animals

For the purposes of this policy, service animal means any dog 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. Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, are not service animals for the purpose of this definition.

The District shall permit the use of a miniature horse by an individual with a disability, according to the assessments factors as outlined in Policy 8425P, if the miniature horse has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of the individual with a disability.

The Butte School District will permit the use of service animals by an individual with a disability according to federal regulations. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the handler’s disability. Examples of work or tasks include, but are not limited to, assisting individuals who are blind or have low vision with navigation and other tasks, alerting individuals who are deaf or hard or hearing to the presence of people or sounds, providing non violent protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, assisting an individual during a seizure, alerting individuals to the presence of allergens, retrieving items such as medicine or the telephone, providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability to individuals with mobility disabilities, and helping persons with psychiatric and neurological disabilities by preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors.

The crime deterrent effects of an animal’s presence and the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship do not constitute work or tasks for the purpose of this definition.

The District may ask an individual with a disability to remove a service animal from the premises if:

•    The animal is out of control and the animal’s handler does not take effective action to control it; or

•    The animal is not housebroken.

The District is not responsible for the care or supervision of the service animal.

Individuals with disabilities shall be permitted to be accompanied by their service animals in all areas of the District’s facilities where members of the public, participants in services, programs or activities, or invitees, as relevant, are allowed to go.
 
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Cross Reference:    Policy 8425P    Procedure for allowance of service animals.
    Policy 8425F    Service Animals in District Facilities Form
    Policy 2161    Special Education
    Policy 2162    Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Legal Reference:    28CFR 35.136 Service Animals
Policy History:        

Adopted on: 12/19/11

Reviewed on:

Revised on: