The updated regulations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that are in effect as of March 15, 2011 significantly affect access for people with various service or emotional support animals. Below are some key points to keep in mind.

Changes to ADA’s Definition of Service Animal

• Only dogs (and in some rare cases miniature horses) that are trained to perform tasks for an individual with a physical or mental disability are now considered service animals under the ADA.

• This means that other trained animals such as cats or monkeys or birds are no longer allowed in public as service animals.

• Likewise, emotional support or assistance animals that help alleviate symptoms for people with psychiatric disabilities are not covered under the ADA.

San Francisco Agencies Use Broader Definition

San Francisco policy will remain unchanged for all city services and for all housing. Both the Fair Housing Amendments Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which cities are required to comply with, have a broader definition of service animal. With this broader definition, the City’s current policy will remain in effect for most situations.

This means you can bring your service/support animal (of any species) into:

• city and county buildings, agencies and departments such as City Hall, the Department of Public Health, or the County Clerk;

• contracted agencies and programs such as public health clinics, case management or mental health services;

• public or private housing, including single room occupancy residential hotels (SROs), homeless shelters and residential treatment programs funded by or contracted with the City.

Under the new ADA definition, however, there may be private establishments that will choose to restrict access to service animals that are not dogs, and other support animals. These places include restaurants, cafeterias or retailers; hotels, motels, art galleries, and movie theaters; and offices of private doctors, lawyers and other practitioners not contracted with the city.

For more information regarding these updated regulations, please contact the intake staff at the Mayor’s Office on Disability, 401 Van Ness, Room 300, San Francisco, CA 94102; call 415-554-6789 (415-554-6799 for TTY); or e-mail [email protected].

Susan Mizner is the director of the Mayor’s Office on Disability.