JAN Webcast Best Practices West Virginia University REHABILITATION COUNSELING Best Practices Employment and Service Dogs: Perspectives from Assistance Dog Experts JAN Webcast Margaret K. Glenn, EdD, CRC Associate Professor of Rehabilitation Counseling, Switzer Fellow West Virginia University Marcie Davis, President of Davis Innovations, Inc. Founder of International Assistance Dog Week, Author of “Working Like Dogs: The Assistance Dog Guidebook,” Host of the Working Like Dogs radio show

Definition What is a service dog?

Service Dog Definition under the ADA A dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability.

Definition What types of service do service dogs provide?

Definition Examples of tasks: Guiding people who are blind; Alerting people who are deaf; Providing physical assistance to someone who uses a wheelchair such as retrieving dropped items or pulling a wheelchair; Protecting a person who is having a seizure; Reminding a person with mental disabilities to take prescribed medications; Calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder during an anxiety attack, etc. Definition

Service Dog Super Powers I help to: Lower blood pressure, reduce epinephrine and norepinephrine, reduce anxiety, increase endorphins, increase oxytocin. What's your superpower? INSERT SUPER POWER DOG SHOT HERE Service Dog Super Powers n e u r o c h e m i c a l s c o n n e c t i o n w i t h o t h e r s p h y s i c a l & p s y c h o l o g i c a l p a i n b l o o d p r e s s u r e

What this looks like for the person with a disability Increased confidence Decreased health concerns Increased independence Increased social interactions What this looks like for the person with a disability

What might this look like at work? Healthy work relationships Modification of tension Productivity increases “Winston’s naked!” What might this look like at work?

ADA Access Where are service dogs allowed?

ADA Access ADA Title II and III - State and local governments, businesses, & nonprofit organizations that serve the public generally must allow service animals to accompany people with disabilities in all areas of the facility where the public is normally allowed to go. http://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm

Service Dogs and the ADA Does Title I of the ADA require employers to automatically allow employees with disabilities to bring their service animals to work?

Service Dogs and the ADA Rests on the standard of reasonable accommodation

Service Dogs and the ADA: Questions from employers What are some of the questions an employer can ask an employee or applicant about their service dog? What kind of documentation can employers ask for?

Service Dogs and the ADA : Main questions for the employment arena Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? Accommodation documentation Allows for medical needs & What work or task has the dog been trained to perform? Specifics about training Service Dogs and the ADA : Main questions for the employment arena

Service Dogs and the ADA : Potential concerns in Accommodation Allergies Fear of dogs Disruption in the workplace Etiquette Service Dogs and the ADA : Potential concerns in Accommodation

Service Dogs and the ADA: Disruption A person with a disability cannot be asked to remove his service animal unless: The dog is out of control and the handler does not take effective action to control it or The dog is not housebroken. Undue hardship is determined by employer. ADA Title II and Title III - Must offer the person with a disability the opportunity to obtain goods or services without the animal’s presence Service Dogs and the ADA: Disruption

Service Dogs and the ADA: What you will most likely experience

How do you create a successful partnership in the workplace? Service Dogs at Work How do you create a successful partnership in the workplace? What issues should you anticipate and be prepared to address?

So how do we make it work at work? Exploratory Study of Elements of Successful Service Dog Partnerships in the Workplace Categories Dog preparation Monitoring Employee competence Legal knowledge Information and education Coworker preparation Switzer Distinguished Research Fellowship, National Institute on Disability & Rehabilitation Research 27 Medications Force hospitalizations So how do we make it work at work?

Dog Preparation Maintenance of behavior and task completion is expected of the service dog team. AKA - Training a Dane to ride in a plane

Monitoring Every owner is responsible for his/her dog’s behavior (and well-being).

Feeding Bathing Behavior Vet Care Creating boundaries (physical and social) Walking dog Rest breaks for dog during the day Employee Competence Able to articulate the specific job related or supportive task(s) that will include the service dog.

An informed understanding by employer & employee or applicant of the parameters, including limits, regarding the person with disabilities' legal rights, both state & federal, to the use of service dogs in the workplace. Legal Knowledge

Information & Education Availability of educational materials about service dog teams in the workplace for potential employers & job seekers

Service Dogs at Work How can an employer and the employee prepare for a service dog to come to work?

Service Dogs at Work: Remember Communication is key Addressing it as an accommodation Talking to the employee about his/her individual needs is important Think of the service dog as an assistive device & A new coworker! Service Dogs at Work: Remember

Service Dogs at Work: Tips on welcoming your new colleague

Questions? Resources JAN Resources on Service Animals http://askjan.org/topics/servanim.htm www.workinglikedogs.com www.assistancedogweek.org www.servicedogsintheworkplace.com Glenn, M. (2013). Exploratory study of the elements of successful service dog partnerships in the workplace, ISRN Rehabilitation, Vol. 2013, http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/278025 Questions? Resources

We would like to thank our rock star canine models Hearts of Gold Service Dogs Human Animal Bond Org & WVU Morgantown, WV Gander the Service Dog Operation Fetch with Veteran Traveler http://veterantraveler.com/fetch-travels-gander/ Sir Thomas Parkinson Service Dog http://www.limyoga.com/service_dog_parkinsons/ Rethy - http://www.respectthevest.com Parker Pup Therapy Dog - http://www.parkerpup.com We would like to thank our rock star canine models

West Virginia University REHABILITATION COUNSELING Questions? Contact information: Margaret Glenn, EdD 304.293.2276 MKGlenn@mail.wvu.edu Marcie Davis 505-424-6631 davisinnovates@gmail.com